Tweets,

Today 8 of us enjoyed a productive, if cool, walk at Nisqually NWR. It was
cool and breezy but at least it was dry. WE saw a nice mix of species, but
not a lot of any except CACKLING GEESE.

Highlights included an adult and 2 juvenile GREAT HORNED OWLS and 2 male
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS and a VIRGINIA RAIL.

The GREAT HORNED OWLS continue inside the boardwalk near where the trail
from the twin barns joins the Nisqually River trail. The young are growing
rapidly and getting flight feathers so they won't stay put too much longer. They
are almost a month ahead of last years pace.

One of the male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS were seen in the riparian area just past
the Nisqually River overlook and the other was seen on the back side of the
ring dike. The VIRGINIA RAIL flew across the open water at the ring dike.

The GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE continues near the first pond on the right
as you leave the parking lot for McAllister Creek. Today is was with a CANADA
GOOSE and 2 CACKLING GEESE.

We saw a PEREGRINE FALCON, COOPER'S HAWK, and SHARP-SHINNED HAWK all in the
vicinity of the ring dike. NORTHERN HARRIERS and RED-TAILED HAWKS were
scarce, but we managed to find both of them.

All told we saw 50 species today with VIRGINIA RAIL and RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD
being new for the year.

The only mammal we saw was a MINK near the Nisqually River overlook.

I will be out of town next week so Eric Slagle will lead the walk. I will
be back the following week and we will move the walk to Wednesday starting
April 2nd.

Until 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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