Tweets,

Sorry for the late report but January is a crazy month for me.

26 of us enjoyed a relatively dry walk in conjunction to the monthly refuge survey. We had a 14.8 high tide at 10:48 so the reclamation area/surge plain was under water and the waterfowl were scattered anywhere there was water.

Highlights included RUDDY DUCKS and SHORT EARED OWL seen by survey teams in areas of the refuge that normally aren't accessible.

The "Magnificent 7" GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were in the grass near the pond across from the parking lot as usual and we had a flock of about 1000 DUNLIN on the mud in the pond south of the twin barns. Usually they are out on the surge plain. We also saw 5 GREATER YELLOWLEGS inside the new dike near the start of the estuary boardwalk.

The number of BALD EAGLES on the refuge continues to increase as the salmon come in. There were also several NORTHERN HARRIERS and RED-TAILED HAWKS about. A PEREGRINE FALCON was in the cottonwoods near the Nisqually Overlook.

There was a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER near the freshwater marsh overlook that provided great looks and we also saw a couple of DOWNEY WOODPECKERS and a NORTHERN FLICKER.

Passerines were scarce but we did see several BROWN CREEPERS.

The only mammal seen was a HARBOR SEAL in the Nisqually River.

For the day I saw 40 species.

Until next week....

Phil Kelley
scrubjay323 at aol.com
Lacey, WA