Hi Tweeters-



Sixteen of us enjoyed another great day at the refuge.? Total species number was a bit lower compared to recent weeks, but the sunshine and several sightings made the day.? Low tide of 0' 01" was at 8:30am;?high tide was 12' 08" at 4:16pm.



In the parking lot we had Killdeer and Cooper's Hawk.? At the visitor's center we?saw several Pied-billed Grebe, Common Yellowthroat, Downy Woodpecker.? A number of birds were identified by ear, including Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren and Belted Kingfisher.?



The field behind the parking lot has gained a small area of ponded water and it was there that we saw a Solitary Sandpiper.? Savannah Sparrows were in the tall grass as we walked the access road back to the boardwalk.? A highlight of the day was a juvenile Ruddy Duck in the pond along the first stretch of boardwalk.? Along this part of the walk we also had a flock of Bushtits with a Warbling Vireo mixed in, Marsh Wren, Northern Flicker and Orange-crowned Warbler.



It was mostly quiet at the twin barns overlook, although we did get a quick look at another Cooper's Hawk and also a White-crowned sparrow.? We picked up?a flock of Bushtits again at the river overlook.? From the dike trail we sighted several new birds for the day including Greater Yellowlegs, Hooded Merganser, Northern Harrier, and Wilson's Snipe.? We got distant looks through heat waves of what we thought were both Least and Western Sandpiper .



At the start of the boardwalk we were treated to a Merlin.? Matt and several others continued the walk to the end of the boardwalk.? Sightings included Caspian Tern, Double-crested Cormorant, Least and Western Sandpiper, Semi-palmated Plover, Northern Pintail and Red-tailed Hawk (another flew over the parking lot at the end of the walk) .? Probable Horned Grebes were seen from a distance.



Total species for the day:? 44



Mammals:? E. Gray Squirrel, Cottontail Rabbit, Harbor Seal, Muskrat



Until next week when Phil and Shep will be back on duty.



Eric Slagle, Olympia

hannaslagle at comcast.net