Subject: [Tweeters] Nisqually NWRT 6/15/11
Date: Jun 18 15:49:56 2011
From: Scrubjay323 at aol.com - Scrubjay323 at aol.com


Tweets,

On Wednesday 21 of us enjoyed a pleasant walk at Nisqually. It was a
sunny day and it warmed up nicely as the day went along. We had a -3.3 tide at
11:53 so all we saw was mud out at the boardwalk.

Waterfowl numbers are way down and raptors were practically non-existent
with only BALD EAGLE and a NORTHERN HARRIER seen be some of the group.

The only waterfowl seen were MALLARDS, SHOVELERS, WOOD DUCKS, GADWALL,
CINNAMON and BLUE-WINGED TEAL, as well as COMMON and HOODED MERGANZERS. We
also saw CANADA GEESE with young. The young geese looked funny in their drab
gray coloration but with faint white cheek patches.

Some of the group manages to call in VIRGINIA RAIL and got responses from
SORA out near the start of the new boardwalk. We all had PIED-BILLED GREEBE
calling in the same area.

The YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS were active in the same area but we did not
see any GREAT EGRETS.

There sure seems to be a large crop of BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS in the area
this year and they seem to be busy looking for nests to parasite. CEDAR
WAXWINGS have finally arrived in numbers and there is still some mating
activity going on, as well as young being fed by foraging parents.

Jerry and Clarice Broadus saw a WESTERN SCRUB JAY near the entrance road as
the arrived in the morning.

All told we saw 53 species with nothing being new for the year. Mammals
seen included BLACK-TAILED DEER and EASATERN GRAY SQUIRREL.

Until next week when Shep and Eric will lead in my absence....


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