Subject: [Tweeters] NIsqually NWR 4/1/15
Date: Apr 2 08:40:26 2015
From: scrubjay323 at aol.com - scrubjay323 at aol.com



Tweets,

Yesterday 35 of us enjoyed a great Spring walk at Nisqually. We had clear skies and crisp temperatures and a low tide of 3.6 at 11:31 so we had lots of mud In the restoration area.

Swallows were the birds of the day with CLIFF and BARN SWALLOWS joining TREE, VIOLET-GREEN, and NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED on the refuge. We had great looks at a half dozen ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS roosting on a low branch near the start of the boardwalk on the twin barns side.

Waterfowl continue about the refuge with many winter residents mingling with the summer migrants. We had several WOOD DUCKS and CINNAMON TEAL as well as lingering GREEN WINGED TEAL and NORTHERN PINTAIL and NORTHERN SHOVELERS. The hybrid AMERICAN/EURASIAN WIGEON continues to be seen from the twin barns overlook.

Lots of pairing up and singing with SONG SPARROW, MARSH WREN and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT leading the chorus. SAVANNAH SPARROWS also joined in and we found 3 active BUSHTIT nests.

We found an adult GREAT HORNED OWL inside the boardwalk near the downed cottonwood tree but couldn't locate the juveniles. There was a BALD EAGLE on the nest on the other side of McAllister Creek but no young seen.

For the day I had 60 species and now have 93 for the year.

Until next week....

Phil Kelley
scrubjay323 at aol.com
Lacey, WA