Subject: [Tweeters] Nisqually NWR 4/9/08
Date: Apr 9 14:31:48 2008
From: Scrubjay323 at aol.com - Scrubjay323 at aol.com


Tweets,

Today 13 of us enjoyed a great walk at Nisqually. The weather was good and
the birds cooperated.

I am still amazed at the quality of the waterfowl still on the refuge. We
saw several pairs of CINNAMON TEAL, 3 EURASIAN WIGEON, a GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, and both HOODED and COMMON MERGANSERS in addition to the usual
waterfowl.

Other highlights included hearing a couple of WARBLING VIREO that remained
hidden (at least from us) and seeing 3 GREAT HORNED OWLS, an adult and 2
juveniles, inside the boardwalk along the Nisqually River side about 100 yards
before the turn off to the twin barns. Also, the first CLIFF SWALLOW of the
year was at the twin barns.

Passerines still are scarce, but that should change soon. Besides the
WARBLING VIREO, we saw COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. We did
see SAVANNAH and FOX SPARROWS. MARSH WREN and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS are on
territory and singing mightily.

We did see an apparent nest robbing as a pair of CANADA GEESE watched
RACCOON clean out their nest out at the ring dike. They sat in the water as the
raccoon had its head down in the grass for a while before it cleaned itself
up and left the area.

All told we saw 56 species for the day with the CINNAMON TEAL, WARBLING
VIREO, and CLIFF SWALLOW being new for the year.

Mammals seen included the RACCOON, EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL, and COTTONTAIL
RABBIT.

Until next week when we again go at 7:30 AM Wednesday morning....



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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