Tweets,

Yesterday 35 of us walked Nisqually in chilly conditions. There was little wind and the birds cooperated so it was a good day. We had a 13.2 high tide at 2:45 so conditions were right on the estuary boardwalk. Even I want all the way out on the boardwalk yesterday. And I added some new birds to my refuge list.

Highlights included a 4 goose day with lots of CACKLERS, as usual, a few CANADAS, 2 SNOW GEESE, and several GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE. SNOW GEESE are rare on the refuge.

We also had at least 2 perhaps 3 PEREGRINE FALCON, a couple of NORTHERN HARRIERS, RED-TAILED HAWKS, BALD EAGLES, and a COOPER HAWK. The COOPERS HAWK was sitting on the barn roof looking into the woods instead of out over the fields.

There were waterfowl everywhere as the ponds were thawing out and open water was available. We had a couple of EURASIAN WIGEON and spotted some WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS out beyond Luhr Beach. BONAPARTE'S GULLS were working a rip line out in the sound with some MEW and RING-BILLED GULLS.

It was a good day for shorebirds with a thousand or so DUNLIN working the reclamation area. We also saw GREATER YELLOWLEGS, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, LEAST SANDPIPERS, and a SPOTTED SANDPIPER out on McAllister Creek. We had another shorebird that confused several of us. It appeared to be yellowlegs sized but was all white underneath from vent to bill. it had a shorter bill than a yellowlegs and scurried about constantly bobbing it head. It foraged along the weed line, not out in the open like the DUNLIN. Before we could pin down an ID it flushed with the other shorebirds when a BALD EAGLE flew over and we never could relocate it.

For the day I had 67 species and now have 146 for the year.

Mammals seen included a MINK, HARBOR SEALS, and SEA LIONS out in the sound.

Until next week....

Phil Kelley
scrubjay323 at aol.com
Lacey, WA