Subject: [Tweeters] Nisqually NWR 12/3/08
Date: Dec 3 16:51:53 2008
From: Scrubjay323 at aol.com - Scrubjay323 at aol.com


Tweets,

Today 15 of us enjoyed a great walk at Nisqually. It was cool and overcast
most of the day but the birds cooperated.

Highlights included a BARN OWL, 4 species of geese, a couple of RUDDY DUCKS,
and lots of passerines.

The day started with an adult NORTHERN SHRIKE near the parking lot and a
PEREGRINE FALCON behind the visitor center. We saw a juvenile NORTHEN SHRIKE
behind the pond on the way to McAllister Creek and had an AMERICAN BITTERN fly
off in that same area.

The two SNOW GEESE continue to hang out with the CACKLING GEESE in the pond
near the start of the boardwalk and the lone juvenile GREATER WHITE-FRONTED
GOOSE is still in the field inside the slough behind the Nisqually River
overlook. There are also several small flocks of CANADA GEESE on the refuge. The
RUDDY DUCKS were out on the same pond.

The BARN OWL was in the first thicket on the right past the new dike on the
trail to McAllister Creek. It was burrowed in pretty good bet we got good
looks. We also heard two separate VIRGINIA RAIL along the trail to McAllister
Creek.

As we started down the boardwalk to the twin barns we ran into a flock of
PINE SISKINS along the edge of the pond. There must have been 150 or more
feeding in the trees or bathing along the edge of the pond under cover of the
brush. There were a couple of BROWN CREEPERS in the same area that gave us
great looks from less than 10 feet.

Raptors were everywhere, especially RED-TAILD HAWKS and NORTHERN HARRIERS.
We also saw BALD EAGLES and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK.

All told we saw 56 species for the day with the BARN OWL being new for the
year.

Mammals seen included MINK, BEAVER, HARBOR SEAL, MUSKRAT, and EASTERN GRAY
SQUIRREL.

Until next week when Eric Slagle will lead while I go out of town.....



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