Subject: [Tweeters] Nisqually NWR 3/1/07
Date: Mar 1 17:00:08 2007
From: Scrubjay323 at aol.com - Scrubjay323 at aol.com


Tweets,

In spite of a less than good weather forcast 10 of us walked the outer dike
at Nisqually today. Fortunately the weatherman lied (again). While it was
cold and breezy at times we stayed dry.

There were plenty of highlights including an AMERICAN KESTRAL seen from the
visitor center observation deck, an EARED GREBE in with the HORNED GREBES out
at the far end of McAllister Creek, a flock of WESTERN MEADOWLARK along the
outer dike overlooking Nisqually Reach, a BONAPARTE'S GULL flying over the
grebes on McAllister Creek, and a couple of LINCOLN'S SPARROWS in the riparian
area along the Nisqually River side. However, the biggest highlight was
several VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS near the photo blind on the McAllister Creek side.

While there is lots of water on the refuge the number of waterfowl seems
down from a couple of week ago. Plenty of species, just not the numbers.
Species seen included CANADA and CACKLING CEESE, MALLARDS, NORTHERN PINTAIL,
NORTHERN SHOVELERS, GADWALL (most seen ever), GREEN-WINGED TEAL, AMERICAN WIGEON,
COMMON GOLDENEYE, BUFFLEHEAD, and all three MERGANSERS.

We had RING-BILLED and MEW GULLS in addition to the BONAPARTE'S, as well as
WESTERN AND GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS. The only shorebirds seen were a couple of
flocks of DUNLIN.

NORTHERN HARRIERS, RED-TAILED HAWKS and BALD EAGLES were common and we also
saw a COOPER'S HAWK hunting the outer flats overlooking Nisqually Reach.

We had both KINGLETS, BUSHTITS and FOX, SONG, WHITE-CROWNED, AND
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS, as well as SPOTTED TOWHEE and DARK-EYED JUNCO. RED-WINGED
BLACKBIRDS, HOUSE FINCH, and PINE SISKIN, along with BUSHTIT, DOWNEY WOODPECKER
and NORTHERN FLICKER rounded out our passerines.

All told we saw 58 species with BOBAPARTE'S GULL, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, and
BUSHTIT being new for the year. We now have 75 species for the year.

Mammals see included HARBOR SEAL, EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL, and OPOSSUM.

Until next Thursday when we do the short walk.....

Phil Kelley
Lacey, WA
scrubjay323 at aol.com
360-459-1499

" We were few and they were many. Now we are many and they are few"
Confucius

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