Tweets,

Yesterday 13 of us enjoyed a great walk at Nisqually as we walked the outer
dike under warm, sunny conditions. It wasn't shirt sleeve weather when we
started at 8:15 but it was soon after that.

Interestingly, while the water levels were up inside the dike out along
McAllister Creek there weren't many waterfowl about. I guess migration got to
them. We did see a few lingering NORTHERN PINTAIL and NORTHERN SHOVELERS and
MALLARDS, some with families, but the most common waterfowl were CINNAMON TEAL
and WOOD DUCKS. Out near the photo blind we did see our first RUDDY DUCK of
the year.

Shorebird numbers were also low although we did see WESTERN SANDPIPER,
DUNLIN, KILLDEER, and both GREATERN and LESSER YELLOWLEGS.

On the other hand, swallow numbers were way up. Both BARN and CLIFF
SWALLOWS were busy nest building at the visitor center and TREE, VIOLET-GREEN and
NORTHEN-ROUGH WINGED SWALLOW were seen on the refuge. PURPLE MARTINS were
active over the mouth of McAllister and appear to be nesting at Luhr Beach

Out on the sound it was pretty quiet, although we did see CASPIAN TERN,
BONAPARTE'S GULL, RING-BILLED GULL, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, GLAUCOUS-WESTERN HYBRID
GULL. and SURF SCOTER. There was a small tern sitting on a sandbar at the
outer edge of scope range that were couldn't quite get a handle on, probably
COMMON TERN.

The real fun was in the riparian areas where we had many spring migrants.
Seen included BAND-TAILED PIGEON, PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER, CEDAR WAXWING,
WESTERN TANAGER, and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, all new for the year. The "yellow"
warbler family also was in evidence.

All told we had 77 species for the day with 8 new species for the year. We
now have a total of 117 species for the year.

Mammals seen included EASTEN GRAY SQUIRREL, MUSKRAT, HARBOR SEAL, RIVER
OTTER in the Nisqually River, and a RACCOON that swam across the pond behind the
visitor center as we finished the walk.

Until next week 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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