Tweeters,

To paraphrase the ever-observant and dependable Will Clemons, my preteen son
(Ira) and I birded Nisqually today, Thursday 4/2, from noon until 4pm. It
was blustery at times, with mixed clouds and sun, but no precipitation.

We saw two juvenile and one adult Great Horned Owl, about 20 ft. up in an
alder, close to the trunk. This was just N of the short riparian habitat
overlook spur off the twin barns boardwalk loop. The birds were on the
inside of the boardwalk loop.

Other highlights included an Eared Grebe (in breeding plumage), Wood Ducks,
Northern Pintails, Ring-necked Ducks, a Turkey Vulture above the visitor
center, Northern Harriers, close and noisy encounters with many Red-tailed
Hawks and Bald Eagles, a couple of Yellowlegs (sp.?), a Northern Shrike in
the same area that Phil saw it yesterday, and plenty of Rufous Hummingbirds.


As for mammals, we saw a Mink cross the dike near the observation platform,
and a Coyote running across the hummocks along McAllister Creek.

Mary Bond & Ira Zuckerman in Seattle and at Zuckerbond at comcast dot net