Hello Tweets,

18 of us enjoyed a very birdy day at the Refuge with intermittent rain,
temperature in 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and a Low -1'7" Tide at 1:52pm.
Highlights for the day were two AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS roosting, feeding,
and flying around the refuge. A very close fly over of four BLACK SWIFT
providing unusually fabulous looks. And seasonal regulars BLUE-WINGED
TEAL, CINNAMON TEAL, WESTERN TANAGER, BULLOCK'S ORIOLE, SWAINSON'S THRUSH
and WILLOW FLYCATCHER.

Meeting at the Visitor Center Pond Overlook we had very nice observations
of BLUE-WINGED TEAL and WOOD DUCK. A pair of femail COMMON MERGANSERS flew
into the pond and I initially misidentified them as Red-breasted
Mergansers. Fortunately the mergansers stuck around to study, and I was
fooled by the white chin patch on these birds which were not as clearly
demarcated as I'm used to seeing in female Common Mergansers. Other
birders noted the more delineated neck line between the chestnut colored
head and gray breast, as well head shape, bill size and the slope of the
forehead which helped me to see these were probably Common Mergs. Not
unlike the challange of distinguishing female Cinnamon Teal and Blue-winged
Teal, we enjoyed the vigorous discussion and speculation.

Nesting BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE are feeding chicks in the snag to the left,
nesting RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD are feeding chicks in the Cat Tails to the
right, nesting CLIFF SWALLOWS. Our breeding CEDAR WAXWINGS and AMERICAN
GOLDFINCH were abundant and vocal.

An immature BALD EAGLE was perched in a snag next to the parkling lot as we
made our way to the flooded fields south of the Access Road. We had nice
looks at SAVANNAH SPARROW, GADWALL, KILLDEER, and additional teal. The big
surprise was the two AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS that flew south over the
Refuge and through out the day were seen roosting, foraging and flying
around. This is my first record in 4 years of weekly walks at Nisqually
NWR, so an accidental visit by this beautiful species. I suspect the two
were a breeding pair as both birds had verticle epidermal plates protruding
from the upper bill and performed a distinct episode of circle flying which
I think is a courtship display.

In the flooded fields south of the Twin Barns just west of the Access Road
we picked up AMERICAN WIGEON, NORTHERN SHOVELER and HOODED MERGANSER with
ducklings. We had addition good looks at teal.

On the Twin Barns Loop Trail

--
Shep Thorp, VMD
The Animal Emergency Clinic
Puget Sound Veterinary Referral Center
5608 South Durango Street
Tacoma, WA 98409
253-474-0791 ~ 253-474-6057
www.theaec.com

sthorp at theaec.com
mobile: 253-370-3742
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