Hello Phil and community,


I visited the Nisqually estuary this evening. The new dike and marshes were impressive. My hat is off to the planners, designers, advocates and workers for their very fine work. I now look forward to the expansion this year. I got to experience the tide coming into the new tidal marshes at sunset. I believe the final product will greatly benefit wildlife and will be enjoyed with minimum intrusion, by people.


I found- saw and heard, they were very active- a pair of Great Horned Owls very near the the damaged nesting tree this evening. I feared that they would vacate the area. Let's hope they find a close and safe nesting site this Winter.


Best regards,
Dan Reiff
Mercer Island
"Dan Reiff, PhD" <notcalm at comcast.net>;



----- Original Message -----
From: scrubjay323 at aol.com
To: notcalm at comcast.net
Sent: Friday, January 22, 2010 7:04:00 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Nisqually NWR 1/20/10


Dan,

The new dike has opened a whole new vista. It really is great..even for someone who didn't like losing the old dike.

Phil


In a message dated 1/22/2010 5:26:02 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, notcalm at comcast.net writes:


Hello Phil,


That is bad news about the Owl nesting tree. That was a special place that will be hard to recreate. It was so visible and close and yet so few people were aware of it. I hope it works out for the owls and they stay close.


Thanks for your great posts. Nisqually, especially in the spring, is one of my favorite places. I haven't been on the new dike yet, but it is great to see all the new tidal wetlands created, seen from my passes on I-5.


Regards,
Dan Reiff

----- Original Message -----
From: scrubjay323 at aol.com
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Friday, January 22, 2010 4:10:24 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific
Subject: [Tweeters] Nisqually NWR 1/20/10


Tweet,

Boy, my goof off schedule really got in the way of my report for this week's walk. Sorry for the delay.

I guess the biggest concern on the refuge is the fact that the nest tree used by the GREAT HORNED OWLS was damages in Sunday nights wind storm. It was blown over and now leans on a neighboring tree. I don't know if the OWLS were on the nest yet or if they will need to find another nesting site this year. It will keep things interesting.

17 of us enjoyed a great walk in wonderful conditions and were rewarded with a great day. Not many real highlights but we did see a good selection of birds. Of note was the reduced numbers of raptors on the refuge.

I guess the BALD EAGLES finally got the word that the salmon run on the Nisqually River was way down. The river is closed to sport fishing and the Tribe has pulled their nets. There were only about 7 or 8 BALD EAGLES compared to over 20 last week. Somehow the HARBOR SEALS and CALIFORNIA SEA LIONS haven't gotten the word yet. They were both in the river near the overlook. NORTHERN HARRIER numbers were down also.

We did get good looks at both DUNLIN and GREATER YELLOWLEGS as well as 10 species of ducks. A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE flew over the twin barns overlook with a small flock of CACKLERS and presented an interesting view.

We still had mixed flocks of passerines and did have a couple sightings of PILIATED WOOEPECKERS, one near the twin barns and the other along the Nisqually River trail.

For the day we saw 47 species giving us 56 for the year.

Mammals seen were HARBOR SEAL, CALIFORNIA SEA LION. EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL, and an OPPOSSUM curled up in a tree hollow along the boardwalk to the right of the visitor center.

Until next week...

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