Subject: [Tweeters] NIsqually NWR 11/2/11
Date: Nov 2 17:16:25 2011
From: Scrubjay323 at aol.com - Scrubjay323 at aol.com


Tweets,

Its been so long since I was on the Wednesday walk I almost had to ask for
directions to Nisqually. Fortunately I got there today.

It was foggy and cold at 8:00 AM but it got better...much better. There
was a 13.6 high tide at 12:35 PM so we saw lots of water...and lots of birds.

Highlights included an AMERICAN BITTERN within 5 feet of the boardwalk on
the way to the twin barns, a juvenile NORTHERN SHRIKE out in the restoration
area, WESTERN MEADOWLARKS, AMERICAN PIPETS, the GREAT EGRET (almost an
after thought), a KINGBIRD (WESTERN or TROPICAL) way out and a fly over of a
TUNDRA SWAN.

Water is now beginning to fill in the interior ponds and waterfowl are
showing up in greater numbers. There are still lots of shorebirds around with
DUNLIN, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, KILLDEER, LEAST SANDPIPER, and WILSON'S SNIPE
seen today.

There were lots of raptors about with several sightings of NORTHERN
HARRIER, PEREGRINE FALCON, BALD EAGLE, and an AMERICAN KESTRAL seen.

Off the close end of the new boardwalk we saw several HORNED GREBE and a
couple female SURF SCOTERS. This is the farthest upriver I've seen scoters.
Always something new.

All told we saw 65 species. The only mammal I saw was a BLACK-TAILED DEER.

Until next week when Shep and Eric will lead......

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