Tweeters:



Nineteen of us enjoyed another great day of birding?at?the refuge.? It started off a bit overcast and very cold, but by the time we finished we were under sunshine and?blue sky.? A special thanks to the folks who joined us from Tahoma Audubon.?



It was a good day from the start.? Early sightings included RED-TAILED HAWK, NORTHERN HARRIER, BALD EAGLE, and large flocks of CANADA/CACKLING GEESE.? The pond behind the visitor center had HOODED MERGANSER, BUFFLEHEAD, AMERICAN COOT.



As we walked the trail to McAllister Creek, the most prevalent?duck was the NORTHERN SHOVELER, but there were also GREEN-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN PINTAIL, GADWALL, RING-NECKED and AMERICAN WIGEON.?? Overall the number of ducks had clearly dropped from past weeks.? There was a small flock of DUNLIN as we crossed the new dike.? At McAllister Creek we saw HORNED GREBE, PIED-BILLED GREBE and COMMON GOLDENEYE.? A NORTHERN SHRIKE was sighted just on the other side of the creek.? A number of folks decided at this point to continue?on the full loop along the outer?dike?in hopes of seeing PINE GROSBEAK.?



We came into a nice mixed flock along the boardwalk near the twin barns,?including BROWN CREEPER, BEWICKS WREN, and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET.? There was also a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, WINTER WREN?and a small flock of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS.



As we walked the trail between the river overlook and the ring dike, a GREAT HORNED OWL was spotted in the cedar tree right next to the trail.??Other sightings included FOX SPARROW and BELTED KINGFISHER.?



It was pretty quiet on the way back, with the exception of an AMERICAN BITTERN eating a frog.



Sightings of the group that did the full?loop included:? RED-THROATED LOON, SURF SCOTER, BRANT GOOSE, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, and PINE GROSBEAK.



Total species for the day:? 63



Mammals included:? three raccoons in a tree near the twin barns,? E. gray squirrel, harbor seal, river otter and black-tailed deer.



Eric Slagle

Olympia

hannaslagle at comcast.net