Tweets,

Today 27 of us (more or less) enjoyed a great day at Nisqually. It was
time for our monthly survey so we split up into 3 teams, 2 of which covered
parts of the refuge not open the general public. Not surprisingly we saw
things not usually seen. There was a 14'10" high tide at 8:48 am.

Highlights included nice views of a SNOWY OWL from the end of the new
boardwalk, an AMERICAN BITTERN in front of the visitor center at the start of
the walk and another BITTERN behind the visitor center at 12:30 as I finished
the walk.

Shep Thorpe got to spend the day on a boat on the outer reaches of the
refuge and had great looks at the SNOWY OWL. He also added GLOUCOUS GULL and
BONAPARTE'S GULL among others to the day's list.

Many of the fresh water ponds were frozen so waterfowl were concentrated on
the open water. White was obvious today with a SNOW GOOSE and the GREAT
EGRET joining the SNOWY OWL on the refuge.We had 1 EURASUAN WIGEON near the
new dike and lots of BALD EAGLES throughout the refuge.

Raptors were plentiful with several RED-TAILED HAWKS and NORTHERN
HARRIERS being seen as well as a pair of PEREGRINE FALCONS. At one point a pair of
BALD EAGLES shared a branch on a small snag and appeared to be carrying on
a conversation beak to beak. Earlier in the day we watched a juvenile BALD
EAGLE enjoy breakfast. Not sure what it was eating but it was plucking
feathers. A RED-TAILED HAWK sat about 15 feet below the EAGLE and watched.
Not sure if it was its catch being consumed or if it was hoping for scraps.

We saw a good amount of passerines with lots of GOLDEN-CROWNED and
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS in the riparian area on the way to the twin barns. More
KINGLETS than I have seen in quite a while. they were joined by BLACCAPPED
CHICKADEE. BROWN CREEPERS, BEWICK'S WREN, and DOWNEY WOODPECKERS.

All told the three teams saw 67 species. The only mammal noted was a
couple of HARBOR SEALS on McAllister Creek.

Until next week.......

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