Subject: [Tweeters] Nisqually NWR 10/14/09
Date: Oct 14 15:13:24 2009
From: Scrubjay323 at aol.com - Scrubjay323 at aol.com


Tweets,

Today 11 of us enjoyed a nice walk at Nisqually. The rain even held off
until we finished just before 11:00 am. Not much exciting but it was good
to get out and walk a bit.

This is the first time I've been to Nisqually since they breeched the dikes
and they are still working on the Nisqually River side. Not as much noise
as earlier but still enough to be noticeable. They are building a weir
near the Nisqually River overlook to keep flotsam out of the new channels
they have built. That should be finished soon....it better be because if this
rain keeps up their heavy equipment will get stuck in the mud.

Highlight of the day was 7 Columbian Black-Tailed Deer in or near the
orchard when I arrived this morning. One of them was a small 3 point buck.
Bird highlights were few with an AMERICAN BITTERN and a flock of about 10
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE being the most notable of the day.

The BITTERN was in the pond along the boardwalk to the twin barns. It
walked along the far shore and provided great looks for all. The GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flew over the refuge from the sound up the Nisqually valley.

We did find a couple of mixed flocks that included both KINGLETS,
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, BROWN CREEPER, and DOWNEY or HAIRY WOODPECKERS.

Raptors seen were COOPER'S HAWKS, BALD EAGLES, a male AMERICAN KESTRAL, RED
TAILED HAWKS, and NORTHERN HARRIERS.

We finished the day with a BELTED KINGFISHER that dove on the pond behind
the visitor just as the rain was starting. It dapped the pond a couple of
times but lit on its perch empty billed.

For the day we had 37 species with nothing new for the year. We are still
at 143 species for the year.

Besides the BLACK-TATILED DEER the only other mammal seen was an EASTERN
GRAY SQUIRREL.

Until next week....



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