Tweets,

Today 19 of us enjoyed a great, if hot, walk at Nisqually. It started
birdy early and kept up for most of the day. The only downside was a -0.5 low
at 10:30 or so. Lots of mud and few shorebirds out on the estuarine
boardwalk.

It was pretty birdy at the visitor center at the start with GADWALL and a
single female CINNAMON TEAL on the pond as well as PIED-BILLED GREBE and
MALLARDS. We also had a couple of BELTED KINGFISHERS about and watched a
family of RACCOONS play across the pond.

In the riparian area across the parking lot we saw YELLOW WARBLER, COMMON
YELLOWTHROAT, CEDAR WAXWINGS, STARLINGS, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, SAVANAH and
SONG SPARROWS. We also had RED-TAILED HAWK, CROW and COMMON RAVENS in the
area. BARN SWALLOWS and TREE SWALLOWS also were hawking insects as were
WILLOW FLYCATCHERS and WESTERN WOOD PEEWEE.

As we approached the riparian overlook trail I spotted an immature GREAT
HORNED OWL that flushed into the woods and relocated a couple of times.
Some of us got good views while others did not. Shortly after that we located
an adult GREAT HORNED OWL inside the boardwalk near last year's nest tree.
We all go great looks at this bird.

Things slowed down after that but we did see a GREEN HERON flying down the
Nisqually River and added NORTHERN HARRIER, OSPREY, BALD EAGLE, and
BLUE-WINGED TEAL from the twin barns overlook.

Out in the reclamation area we saw GREATER YELLOWLEG and LONG-BILLED
DOWITCHER. A COOPER'S HAWK flew in from the Sound. We also saw a RED-WINGED
BLACKBIRD feeding a COWBIRD chick. Funny to see a bigger bird feeding the
COWBIRD.

Out on the boardwalk we managed to pick up WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS and
a PEREGRINE FALCON that put them into flight. There were 2 larger
shorebirds with the WESTERNS but we didn't get a diagnostic view.

Overall for the day I had 55 species while some of the other folks had
more. All in all a great day with RACCOON and COLUMBIAN BLACK-TAILED DEER
being the mammals seen.

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

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