Tweets,

Today 20 of us enjoyed a productive walk around the outer dike at Nisqually
under cool and breezy conditions with the tide dropping fast. While I was
disappointed in the number of species seen it is hard to complain about 70
species.

There were several highlights today including WILSON'S PHALAROPE, SOLITARY
SANDPIPER, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, and MERLIN.

The WILSON'S PHALAROPE and SOLITAY SANDPIPER were both in the first pond on
the left as you start out to McAllister Creek. The SOLITARY was working the
shoreline and the PHALAROPE was just beyond the weed line spinning up food.
The SPOTTED SANDPIPER was out on McAllister Creek working the edges of the
creek.

The MERLIN was the last bird we saw today as we stopped for one last look
for the WILSON'S PHALAROPE near the parking lot when the MERLIN blew in and
sent a small flock of peeps up off the edge of the pond. The MERLIN left hungry
but put on a show.

Other good sightings included two RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD nests, one with the
female on the nest and the other with two young in it. We also saw a pair of
BROWN CREEPERS hauling nesting material to a tree on the outside of the
boardwalk.

We had all five swallow species today but no woodpeckers. We also had lots
of waterfowl species and spring migration is definitely on. We had our first
EVENING GROSBEAKS and WESTERN TANAGERS of the year today. We are now up to
112 species for the year.

On April 30 we saw a HERMIT THRUSH just beyond the gate at the back of the
ring dike and had our first VAUX'S SWIFTS of the year.

Mammals seen today included MUSKRAT and COLUMBIAN BLACK-TAILED DEER.

Until next Wednesday when we start at 7:30 AM......



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



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