Tweets,

Today 12 of us enjoyed a great walk under very pleasant conditions...almost
shirt sleeve weather.

Highlights included 4 AMERICAN BITTERN, all flying in different areas
between the visitor center and McAllister Creek, BLUE-WINGED and CINNAMON TEAL side
by side at the back of the pond on the right across from the parking lot, a
WILSON'S PHALEROPE in the same general area, and an OSPREY flying down
McAllister Creek toward the sound.

WOOD DUCKS and CINNAMON TEAL were again the most common waterfowl that we
saw. We also saw GADWALL, PINTAIL, and SHOVELERS, as well as a female HOODED
MERGANSER and 6 ducklings. VIRGINIA RAIL were heard, but not seen, but we did
see our first SPOTTED SANDPIPER by the Nisqually River.

We saw all three pigeons and all five swallow species and four of the five
woodpeckers found on the refuge. We still haven't seen a HAIRY WOODPECKER on
the refuge this year. We did see our first WILLOW FLYCATCHER of the year as
well as WESTERN WOOD PEEWEE.

The WARBLING VIREO nest we found last week near the hummingbird plaque on
the boardwalk had mom (I presume) sitting on eggs today, so that will bear
watching for the next couple of weeks.

All told we saw or heard 56 species today with OSPREY, WILLOW FLYCATCHER,
and SPOTTED SANDPIPER being new for the year, giving us 127 species for the
year.

Mammals seen, besides lots of humans, were HARBOR SEAL and BLACK-TAILED DEER.

I will be out of town next week so Eric Slagle will lead the walk. I'll be
back in 2 weeks. See you then...

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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