Subject: [Tweeters] Nisqually NWR 3/5/14
Date: Mar 5 14:31:06 2014
From: scrubjay323 at aol.com - scrubjay323 at aol.com



Tweets,

Today 22 of us enjoyed a drier walk at Nisqually than we expected. We did get some rain and wind but nothing near what was forecast. We had a 0.8 low tide at 2:42 so it was high tide early today.

Signs of Spring are starting to show with Indian Plum beginning to flower and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS growing in numbers.

On the down side waterfowl numbers are way down from recent weeks. I saw only one NORTHERN PINTAIL today.

Highlights included first of the year PILIATED WOODPECKER and SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, as well as a growing number of TREE and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS.

The SHARPIE flew through the trees at the start of the twin barn boardwalk and the PILIATED WOODPECKER was in the riparian area along the Nisqually River, first at the river overlook and later closer to the visitor center.

We did find the NORTHERN SHRIKE out in the reclamation area and the GREAT EGRET was spotted near the start of the estuary boardwalk.

One notable miss was that I didn't see a NORTHERN HARRIER today. Hopefully some of the other folks did.

For the day I had 47 species and now have 77 for the year.

Mammals seen were a COLUMBIAN BLACK-TAILED DEER behind the visitor center and a MUSKRAT in the slough along the Nisqually side. At noon there was a turtle sunning itself on a hummock behind the visitor center.

Until next week....

Phil Kelley
scrubjay323 at aol.com
Lacey, WA