Tweeters:



Fourteen of us enjoyed another fun-filled day of birding at the Nisqually Refuge.? The weather was misty at times, but we didn't really get rained on. ?A RED-TAILED HAWK welcomed us as we parked and got our gear together.?? Highlights at the visitor center included a DOWNY WOODPECKER,? MARSH WREN and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET.



There were lots of ducks and geese (CANADA and CACKLING, plus two SNOW GEESE)?on the trail to McAllister Creek.? Ducks included GREEN-WINGED TEAL, BUFFLEHEAD, NORTHERN PINTAIL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, and AMERICAN WIGEON.?? GOLDEN-CROWNED and WHITE CROWNED SPARROWS were also on this part of the trail, as?were two NORTHERN HARRIERS.? A VIRGINIA RAIL was also heard calling.? A FOX SPARROW was spotted near the gate.? At McAllister Creek there were several COMMON GOLDENEYE, a GREAT BLUE HERON and a BELTED KINGFISHER.



On the return leg of this trail we spotted the BARN OWL in the exact same place as last week.? About a dozen DUNLIN were also on the edge of one of the new wetland areas.???Five species of gulls were identified?in the large pond area between the trail and the barns.



The highlight on the walk to?the twin barns was an AMERICAN BITTERN within a few feet of the boardwalk.? It stayed several minutes before flying off.? A mixed flock included both KINGLETS,?BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, BROWN CREEPER and?DOWNY WOODPECKER.? ?An immature NORTHERN? SHRIKE was sighted near the observation deck at the barns.



The trail between the river overlook and the ring dike was productive yielding two PILEATED WOODPECKERS and a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, as well as another mixed flock that included the?usual suspects.? The PEREGRINE FALCON was spotted in flight near the ring dike.



Total species for the day:? 55???



Mammals included beaver, harbor seal, sea lion, deer and squirrel.



Eric Slagle

Olympia

hannaslagle at comcast.net