Subject: [Tweeters] Nisqually NWR 6/17/09
Date: Jun 17 13:15:02 2009
From: Scrubjay323 at aol.com - Scrubjay323 at aol.com


Tweets,

Today 12 of us enjoyed a noisy walk at Nisqually. Besides the heavy
construction equipment we had weed whackers and blowers going in the parking
lot. It took my ears a bit to stop ringing. In spite of that it was a pretty
good day.

Highlights were a flock of about 20 red crossbills that flew into the big
leaf maples along the Nisqually River side near where the hummingbird
intrepretive sign is. They were quite active...and quite high in the trees.

Red elderberries are out everywhere and so were CEDAR WAXWINGS and juvenile
STARLINGS. There were lots of SWAINSON'S THRUSH and ROBINS in the
elderberries and we had a female BULLOCK'S ORIOLE in an elderberry bush near the
twin barns overlook.

Water levels are really low and the only waterfowl we saw were a paid of
WOOD DUCKS w/7 young and a couple female COMMON MERGANSERS on the Nisqually
River. The only shorebird we saw were several KILLDEER.

There are lots of swallows about, particularly BARN and CLIFF SWALLOWS at
there visitor center and CLIFF and TREE SWALLOWS at the twin barns.

The RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD nest reported last week are still active but
fledging could come soon.

All told we saw 39 species today with the RED CROSSBILLS and BULLOCK'S
ORIOLE being new for the year. We now have a total of 135 species for the
year.

Mammals seen were EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL and BLACK-TAILED DEER.

Until next week when Dennis DiSilvis will lead the walk......

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

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