Tweets,

Today 16 of us, or thereabouts, enjoyed a very good walk at Nisqually
Wildlife Refuge. It was cold at the start but warmed up quickly. And the
birds appreciated the nice weather. Unfortunately I had to leave early so I
missed some of the goodies.

Highlights included an AMERICAN BITTERN behind the visitor center and a
couple of early nesting CLIFF SWALLOWS at the visitor center entrance. We
wound up with all 5 swallow species seen today.

On the way out to McAllister Creek we spotted some AMERICAN PIPETS working
the mud flats and on the return trip we found several GREATER WHITE-FRONTED
GEESE mixed in with a large flock of CACKLING GEESE. Later a SNOW GOOSE
was spotted out behind the twin barns.

We also had a PEREGRINE FALCON fly by that put up all the DUNLIN and
GREATER YELLOWLEGS that were out near the twin barns. Adult BALD EAGLES were at
the nest tree across McAllister Creek and NORTHERN HARRIERS and RED-TAILED
HAWKS were about, although not in great numbers.

Some of the folks had a female BARROW'S GOLDENEYE out near the ring dike
area. She was with a pair of COMMON GOLDENEYE and gave a great comparison.
They also HORNED GREBE in breeding plumage and COMMON MERGANSERS. A RIVER
OTTER was in the same general area. A PELAGIC CORMORANT was also seen out
toward the mouth of the Nisqually River.

All told we saw 64 species for the day with PELAGIC CORMORANT, SNOE GOOSE,
BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, and AMERICAN PIPET being new
for the year. We now have 104 species for the year.

Mammals seen were a MINK at McAllister Creek, RIVER OTTER on the Nisqually
River, and EASTERN GRAY SQUIRRELS.

Until next week when Dennis DeSilvis will lead the walk in my absence.....


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

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