Tweets,

17 of us enjoyed a great day at Nisqually Wednesday...and we helped with
the monthly survey, too!! The weather cooperated and so did the birds, sort
of.

Highlights included VIRGINIA RAIL, SORA, GREAT HORNED OWL, and SPOTTED
SANDPIPER. Unfortunately, the VIRGINIA RAIL and SORA were spotted on the closed
part of the refuge but I did get a brief glimpse of a SORA out near the
new boardwalk. We all heard the bird calling but he wouldn't cooperate like
last week. The SPOTTED SANDPIPERS were seen by some of the group while
looking for the SORA.

The GREAT HORNED OWL was roosting in the tall cottonwoods near the junction
of the boardwalk and the Nisqually River trail.

Waterfowl are way down (as is water) but I was surprised by the number of
CINNAMON TEAL about. We also saw a flock of about 20 GADWALLS out in the
"restored" area.

All told we saw 53 species for the day.

Mammals seen were MUSKRAT, COLUMBIAN BLACKTAILED DEER, EASTERN GRAY
SQUIRREL, and MINK.

Until next week...

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