Tweets,

Today 14 of us enjoyed a great day at Nisqually. It was cold but clear
with little wind. We had an 8.1 low tide at 11:01 so we had lots of mud to
look at.

Highlights included a TRUMPETER SWAN fly over, a MERLIN out in the
reclamation area, and a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, which we haven't seen in weeks,
and an owl pellet on the deck at the visitor center overlook.

The owl pellet generated some interest, especially when Shep (our resident
vet) got his dissecting kit out and took the pellet apart to reveal 2 vole
skeletons in the pellet. Great way to start the day...but he wouldn't work
on the coyote scat we found. Can't say I blame him there.

Water levels are high but waterfowl were kind of hard to see as there were
many BALD EAGLES flying about that kept things in a state of flux. Besides
the EAGLES we saw several RED-ATILED HAWKS and NORTHERN HARRIERS, as well
as the MERLIN and a COOPER'S HAWK at the visitor center about noon.
Surprisingly we dipped on the PEREGRINE FALCONS we have seen recently. They must
have been on the outer reach where the shorebirds were.

The TRUMPETER SWAN was flying off the refuge about 9:00 am and provided
good looks and Michael got some great photos that confirmed our
identification.

The RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER was near the freshwater wetlands overlook
working on the big tree to the left. We wanted it last week when we had an out
of town birder looking for one. Ratz! We also saw FLICKER and DOWNEY
WOODPECKER today.

Nothing else out of the ordinary but I did see 50 species. I finished the
year with 141 species on the refuge and I know Shep and some of the others
have higher counts than I do. But then they cover more of the refuge than
I do.

The only mammal I saw today was an EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL.

Until next week and next year, have a Happy New Year!



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