Tweets,

Today 36 of us enjoyed a great day at Nisqually! The weather was great and the birds cooperated! WE had a 10.0 high at 10:30 AM so we got to see lots of mud in the reclamation area.

Highlights included a female RUDY DUCK, a female ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD and a female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD feeding young. We also saw scads of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, and heard several COMMON YELLOWTHROAT.

Our first good sighting was a WILSON'S SNIPE next to the pond across from the orchard. Good scope views were had by all.

The next highlight was the sighting of the female RUDY DUCK. She was spotted on the large pond along the trail to the twin barns from the gate that blocks the old McAllister Creek trail. This is the first RUDY DUCK I've seen on the refuge since January 27, 2010.

The female ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD was seen up close on a elderberry bush near the twin barns. She sat there for several minutes and allows good views by many in the group. The RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD feeding her young was in a nest high over the boardwalk to the twin barns near the double benches.

Waterfowl highlights included a couple pair of CINNAMON TEAL, a EURASIAN WIGEON, and all three MERGANSERS on McAllister Creek. There is a CANADA GOOSE nesting in a tree near the start of the boardwalk along the Nisqually side. Really!

We did find the 2 juvenile GREAT HORNED OWLS deep in the alder thicket over the beaver dam along the Nisqually side. They were easier to see last week in the pouring rain!

For the day I saw 55 species and now have 99 for the year. Mammals seen were COYOTE, MUSKRAT, EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL, and COTTON-TAILED RABBIT.

Until next week when Shep, Matt and Eric will lead in my absence....

Phil Kelley
scrubjay323 at aol.com
360-970-6323