Tweets,

Today was monthly survey day at Nisqually and a nice day so we had about 30
people with the group today. We took our time and spent 6 hours walking
to the end of the estuarine boardwalk and back hoping to see the SNOWY
OWL. No such luck but we had a nice consolation...an adult GREAT HORNED OWL
and 2 chicks.

Other highlights included a PEREGRINE FALCON, an AMERICAN BITTERN, and a
hybrid EURASIAN x AMERICAN WIGEON. The GREAT EGRET also was present, well
out toward the sound.

The GREAT HORNED OWL nest is inside the boardwalk between the twin barns
and the Nisqually River trail. That trail is still closed due to storm
damage but the nest hole can easily be seen from the boardwalk near the twin
barns turnoff. It is a tall snag with a large gash in it about 50 feet or so
off the ground. There is a large, moss covered branch that curves out and up
from the bottom of the nest hole. The 2 young were seen inside the nest
hole today and the adult was perched on a small branch above the nest hole.
If it continues like today it should be easy to find the birds...just look
for the scopes.

The hybrid WIGEON out in the reclamation area just past Shannon Slough in
among a scattered flock of AMERICAN WIGEON. There was a EURASIAN WIGEON in
the same general area, as well.

The BITTERN was just off the dike trail just at the start of the new pond
where the dike crosses Shannon Slough. It was foraging in the dead grass
and was easy to miss.

The PEREGRINE FALCON was in the cottonwoods at the start of the boardwalk
out to the twin barns about 2:00 when we were finishing up. It flew toward
the maintenance area and disappeared.

It seemed pretty quiet today without many numbers of any species but we
wound up with 59 species for the day. I now have 74 species for the year

The only mammals seen today were HARBOR SEALS, one in McAllister Creek and
many hauled out on the sound.

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


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