It was wind was blustery and cold this afternoon on the new dike road at
Nisqually but well worth it. The sun was shining, the tide was high, and the
whole place had a washed clean, new penny look. The resident Peregrine Falcon
was hunting, the sun glistening off it's under coat when it would stoop. It
didn't catch anything but put on a great show. After several attempts it gave
up. I was fiddling with my binoculars and didn't see where it went. Hope the
hunting was better there.


Shortly afterward, a male eagle perched atop one of the dead trees and began a
passionate discussion with a female sitting in another. I presume it was his
mate. The male threw back his head and repeatedly belted his eerie call so
loudly that it echoed off the barn behind the dike. The female answered but
more softly. This went on for several minutes until the female swooped down and
caught something on the ground and carried it to the riverbank where she sat for
supper. Not to be out done the male also soon caught dinner as well. Eagles 2-
small critters 0. Meanwhile a red tailed hawk cruised overhead but finding
nothing of interest soon departed eastward.


Just before sunset, on the pond side of the boardwalk, a song sparrow sat all
puffed up against the wind like a little butter-ball and boldly belted love
songs to perspective paramours. Since there are about a zillion sparrows in
that area I think the little guy has a good shot or at least I hope he does.
There were already reports of song sparrows singing so I wasn't surprised but
this was my very first official song-bird song of 2011. A happy moment. The
world turns. Spring actually is coming. The sparrows are singing. What could
be better?


But wait there's more.

I was surprised when almost at dark, a lone red-winged black bird loudly made
his vocal claim on prime real estate; the cat-tails on the inside pond, left
side, at the visitors center. Possibility this is the same black bird that was
there last summer and he has aspirations of being the official greeting
black-bird of the Nisqually Refuge again this year.


The fields were flooded, the wind was cold, we could very well have more snow
but the world has changed. Those sneaky birds are out making whoopee again.
Isn't life grand?