Subject: [Tweeters] Nisqually WLR 4/9/10
Date: Apr 9 23:29:44 2010
From: Christy RJ - christyrj at hotmail.com



Hi Tweets,

I visited Nisqually WLR late this afternoon on my way south from Seattle to Portland. I saw nary a songbird, though I did hear some (Yellow Warblers, I believe). The refuge was somewhat quiet while I was there, not unexpected given the time of my visit. But I enjoyed some excellent sightings nonetheless.



Personal favorites were the several WOOD DUCK including two couples who decided to take up position in the branches of a tree across the pond (I had never before while birding thought to scan trees for Wood Ducks!), ubiquitous GREEN-WINGED TEAL, a HOODED MERGANSER FEMALE in the pond in front of the visitor's center in the first two minutes I was there, a fabulous HOODED MERGANSER MALE who proudly swam back and forth with excellent views during the more than two hours that I was nearby, and the GREAT-HORNED OWL ADULT and TWO OWLETS!



Both Owlets are still with us! They were cute burly grey knobs together on the branch of a tree, round yellow eyes looking down at me widely. What a treat! I will try to check on them again on my way North coming back to the Seattle area on Sunday (I do plan to visit Ridgefield on Sunday, though, so a second trip to Nisqually will only happen if I can tear myself away from Ridgefield in time to leave enough daylight hours :p ).



I did take some photos at Nisqually today, but only with a max 135mm lense so I will have to enlarge the images significantly to really be able to see the bird images "up close."



It was a pleasant day, especially to enjoy the sunshine after all the many recent days of rain. Visiting Nisqually triggers so many memories and so much nostalgia for me. This time of year I especially recall the chance discovery of a tiny nest of even tinier baby birds (my memory is foggy, I can't recall for sure but I think maybe they were hummingbirds?). Today there were many Canadian Geese roosting on nests. And of course the fabulous Owlets. I love Spring!



I'm such a bird nerd. :]

~Christy Jobe
christyrj at hotmail dot com
Kenmore, WA

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