Tweets,

Yesterday 34 of us enjoyed a great walk at Nisqually. It was sunny and got hot by the end of the day and the birds cooperated. We had a 10.0 high tide at 9:04 so there was lots of mud out on the estuary boardwalk.

Highlights included a lingering WILSON'S PHALAROPE, a BULLOCK'S ORIOLE working a nest, and a late RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD nest.

Waterfowl were scarce as water levels are very low but we did manage to see HOODED MERGANZERS with young and young VIRGINIA RAIL. Both VIRGINIA RAIL and SORA were seen and a small flock of LEAST SANDPIPERS was on the surge plain.

The WILSON'S PHALAROPE was feeding on a mud flat on the pond inside the new dike and was working the edge among the MALLARDS and CANADA GEESE roosting there.

The RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD nest off the woodland overlook was active with the young stretching and moving about. Won't be long before they are gone. The BULLOCK'S ORIOLE nest is next to the crossover boardwalk from the twin barns to the Nisqually River side. Coming from the river it is in the last cottonwood tree on your right before you come to the twin barns turnoff. It is well camouflaged and can best be seen following the adult who is making frequent visits as she feeds the young.

We also saw a PIED-BILLED GREBE with 2 young in the back of the pond inside the new dike. Just look for the striped heads of the young along the cattails in the back of the pond.

For the day I had 46 species and now have 122 for the year. Mammals seen included a BEAVER at the visitor center, MUSKRAT and COTTTON-TAILED RABBIT.

Until next week....

Phil Kelley
scrubjay323 at aol.com
Lacey, WA