Tweets,

Yesterday 14 of us enjoyed a fantastic walk around the outer dike at
Nisqually. It was sunny all day and it was cool enough that there were no heat
shimmers over the sound when we got to the outer flats. And the birds cooperated
too!

Highlights included 10+ owl pellets under one tree along McAllister Creek
and watching a pair of BALD EAGLES pair bonding by passing a wing back and forth
as they circled overhead. We also saw a pile of feathers and out along the
flats that we identified as a DUNLIN (by the bill) that had suffered from
"Peregrinitis". Fatal that disease.

It was great to walk McAllister Creek and the outer flats and we were
rewarded with EARED and HORNED GREBES, SURF SCOTERS, COMMON LOON, both SCAUP, a
couple dozen BLACK BRANT, all three MERGANSERS, a THAYER'S GULL and CALIFORNIA
GULL.

The raptor activity was pretty intense with several NORTHER HARRIERS and
RED-TAILED HAWKS about. There are still plenty of BALD EAGLES on the refuge and
we saw a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK over the flats with another one in the woods
along the Nisqually River. We also had a couple of NORTHERN SHRIKE sightings
out along McAllister Creek. Not sure if it was the same bird or not.

Water fowl were quit numerous with all the usual suspects present. There
were 2 EURASIAN WIGEON associated with a flock of AMERICAN WIGEON on a pond
near the new dike behind the twin barns.

We dipped on the PINE GROSBEAKS that were seen on the refuge as late as the
Tuesday but they may still be there. Guess we'll have to try again.

For the day we saw 63 species. The only mammal of note were a couple of
HARBOR SEALS up the Nisqually River.

Until next week....



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