Tweets,

Today about 40 of us enjoyed a great day at Nisqually. It was warm and somewhat overcast but the birds cooperated. We had a -0.7 low tide at 10:59 so we saw lots of mud in the reclamation area.

Highlights included a SHORT-EARED OWL, several SORA, an AMERICAN KESTRAL, and a BEAVER at the visitor center pond.

It was quite birdy at the start with a nice flock of BUSHTITS near the north parking lot as well as BROWN CREEPER, DOWNEY WOODPECKER, and YELLOW WARBLER as we entered the riparian area. Along the way we added HAIRY WOODPECKER, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, AMERICAN ROBIN, and several WESTERN WOOD PEEWEES calling in the canopy.

Out on the new dike a family (?) of SORA were seen along the edge of the cattails. Three birds were seen at the same time and they stayed in the area for quite some time. While we were watching the SORA some USGS workers out on the closed portion of the refuge apparently put up the SHORT-EARED OWL. It flew in toward the twin barns then turned out toward McAllister Creek and then followed the creek out toward the Sound where it flew out of sight. A life sighting for many who saw it.

The female KESTRAL was roosting out on the snags in the reclamation area and actively foraging, snagging a grasshopper at one time and dining in style on her perch.

At the visitor center on the way out I picked up a NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW in with the BARN and CLIFF SWALLOWS there.

Mammals seen included the BEAVER, 3 COLUMBIAN BLACK -TAILED DEER, a doe and 2 fawns, a COYOTE, and a CHIPMONK along the Nisqually River side.

For the day I had 46 species and now have 121 for the year.

Until next week.....

Phil Kelley
scrubjay323 at aol.com
Lacey, WA