Tweeters:



Sixteen of us enjoyed another beautiful day at the refuge.?? It was cold, but all sunshine and blue?sky.? And the birds were out enjoying the day as well.



The beginning of the walk included a flock of BUSHTIT, female HOODED MERGANSER, and?a GREAT BLUE HERON fly-by.? The number of ducks in the pond behind the parking lot was way down compared to last week; around 15?GREEN-WINGED TEAL and a few MALLARDS and AMERICAN WIGEON.



Highlights on the boardwalk to the twin barns included a COOPER'S HAWK, a small flock of GOLDFINCH, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, PEREGRINE FALCON, BROWN CREEPER and WINTER WREN.? We also got great looks at a coyote hunting in the open area off the boardwalk.



The new dike trail was again productive.? Sightings included NORTHERN SHRIKE, MARSH WREN, AMERICAN KESTREL.? We looked hard for the short-eared owl, but no luck.??Shep did?hear both a KILLDEER and NORTHERN FLICKER.



Another highlight as we walked the dike were three swans that flew over?the refuge, and then circled back to give us another look.?The consensus was TRUMPETER SWANS.?? Shep and several? others finished the walk a bit later and reported a freshly killed NORTHERN PINTAIL along the dike.? They also came across a mixed flock on the Nisqually side boardwalk that included a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH.



If you haven't had a chance to visit the refuge since the new dike trail opened, you should really?put it on?your?trip list.? It provides great birding and spectacular views.



Total species:? 48

Mammals:? coyote and harbor seal



Eric Slagle, Olympia

hannaslagle at comcast.net


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