Tweets,

Today 6 of us enjoyed a nice walk at Nisqually under high overcast and mild
temperatures. It turned out to be a pretty birdy day.

Highlight included an AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, 6 AMERICAN BITTERN, a GREEN
HERON, and SWAINSON'S THRUSH everywhere.

The day got off to a good start with CINNAMON TEAL and BLUE-WINGED TEAL on
the pond across from the parking lot. At the end of the pond heading out toward
McAllister Creek we had our first BITTERN as it hunted along the edge of the
pond. Our GREEN HERON flew across the trail out beyond the willows and
was soon followed be 2 more BITTERN. Next 4 BITTERN flew across the trail from
right to left and then returned to the right, one after the other. After
being "BITTERNless" for so long it was quite a sight. We saw another BITTERN
fly into the marsh behind the twin barns. Could have been one of the others,
but...

It was relatively uneventful out to McAllister Creek until we turned to head
back to the visitor center when we spotted the AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN
ketteling over the refuge before flying off toward the freeway.

Leaving the twin barns and heading toward the Nisqually River we were
treated by a couple of SWAINSON THRUSH playing mating games as they chased each
other back and forth across the boardwalk, landing side by side in the trees and
on the boardwalk before heading off into the woods.

CEDAR WAXWINGS and YELLOW WARBLERS were abundant and we did see a female
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE in the woods between the twin barns and the Nisqually River.

All told we had 44 species with WHITE PELICAN, KILLDEER, and GREEN HERON
being new for the year. We now have 129 species for the year.

The only mammal seen was a RACCOON foraging inside the boardwalk near the
twin barns turnoff.

Until next week when we walk the full loop...

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




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