Tweets,

Today 14 of us enjoyed a great walk at Nisqually around the 5+ mile outer
dike. The weather was cool and overcast at the start but was warm and sunny by
the time we finished. It was great to have Michael Hobbs and Louise Rutter
join us.

Highlights were many including 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS, 20+ GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, and 6 RIVER OTTERS!

The day started out with MALLARDS and WOOD DUCKS behind the visitor center
but no BITTERN as in weeks past. The trail to McAllister Creek was open and
we headed that way. Just past the slough on the left we spotted CACKLING
GEESE and the GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE well out in the plowed field. A bit
later a small flock of CACKLERS flew over with a lone SNOW GOOSE in the
formation. Out at McAllister Creek it was pretty slow...except for the 6 RIVER
OTTERS making their way up river, fishing as they went. They swam right by us
within 30 feet or so, fishing as they went but keeping an eye on us.

The next highlight occurred at the photo blind out toward Luhr beach. Here
we had some juvenile LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS and HOODED MERGANSERS when an
AMERICAN BITTERN flew in from the left, circled around and landed right in front
of us and then proceeded to pose for us. Great views!

Out on the sound we watched a couple thousand AMERICAN WIGEON and a couple
hundred DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS loaf on the water when 2 PEREGERINE FALCONS
scared everyone up into flight. We also had some BONOPARTE'S GULLS working
the rips in that area.

Back on the boardwalk we near the hummingbird sign we had an active area
that included ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, WARBLING VIREO, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE,
BEWICK'S WREN, RUBY CROWNED KINGLET, and the first RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH I've
ever seen on the refuge.

With the grass mowed/dug up we saw more NORTHERN HARRIERS than we saw in the
last 2 months. They were everywhere. We also saw BALD EAGLE, AMERICAN
KESTRAL, RED-TAILED HAWK, and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK.

All told we saw 66 species for the day with SNOW GOOSE, BONAPARTE'S GULL,
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, and AMERICAN PIPIT being new for the year, putting us at
140 species for the year.

Mammals seen included the RIVER OTTERS and HARBOR SEALS.

Until next week when we are back to the short walk....



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



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