Tweets,

Today 33 of us had a great day at Nisqually. No rain and temps in the mid 50s. We had a 6.8 low tide at 2:39 PM but a 14.9 high about 8:30 so there was lots of water on the refuge.

Today was raptor day. We have several RED-TAILED HAWKS and several BALD EAGLES, including a pair in the cottonwood trees next to the twin barns. There were 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS out in the reclamation area and a MERLIN in the big fir tree behind the visitor center. We had a couple of NORTHERN HARRIERS about and some of the folks saw a COOPERS HAWK working the wood line along the old Nisqually River trail.

Waterfowl were plentiful with a noticeable rise in the water levels since last week. Wonder why. We had a couple of EURASIAN WIGEON and several HOODED MERGANSERS among the usual suspects.

We found a nice feeding flock of passerines just off the visitor center that had both KINGLETS, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, BROWN CREEPER, SONG SPARROW, GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, and DOWNEY WOODPECKER. Across from the orchard we spotted a VARIED THRUSH that posed nicely for everyone to see.

For the day I had 50 species and still have 146 for the year. Mammals seen included BLACK-TAILED DEER and a very fat, health COYOTE.

Until next week when Eric and Shep will lead.....


Phil Kelley
scrubjay323 at aol.com
Lacey, WA