Tweets,
Friday morning I led 6 elementary age homeschoolers and their moms on a
birdwalk at Nisqually. It's great fun to see a few "naturals" take to
birding like a duck to water. I probably pushed the envelope an hour too
long for most, however. Fortunately the birds were tolerant of our ruckus,
even cooperative, especially the eagles, herons, geese and swallows flying
around (and nest building). An upside-down Brown Creeper was particularly
entertaining. A few mild surprises among the 45 species:
- no tanagers
- lingering Cackling Goose (pair) and Bufflehead, pintail (pair) & G-w Teal
(pair)
- cooperative Hermit Thrush (most students got to see it)
- Am Bittern flushed at the boardwalk bench at the opposite end of the pond
from the visitors center.
Among the other treats for the kids:
- Great looks at Wood Ducks, Cinnimon Teals, Hooded Mergansers
- Closeups of yellowthroat, goldfinch, Orange-cr Warbler, Red-w Blackbird
- Cliff, Barn, and Tree Swallows building nests or collecting material
around the visitors center
Yellow-rumped Warblers were still the most numerous; Yellowthroat and Yellow
Warbler the most vocal.
Good birding!
--Paul Hicks
phicks AT accessgrace.org