Subject: [Tweeters] Nisqually NWR 1/6/16
Date: Jan 6 15:52:04 2016
From: Phil Kelley - scrubjay323 at gmail.com


Tweets,

Today 30 of us endured a cold, foggy morning at Nisqually. It was 36
degrees and foggy at the start and never got much warmer or cleared up
until we finished about 1:00. We had a 13.0 high tide at 2:10 but couldn't
see much due to the fog.

Highlights were the GREAT HORNED OWL, a VIRGINIA RAIL , and a WILSON'S
SNIPE.

The SNIPE was seen near the spring to the right of the visitor center
viewing platform where it has roosted for the past couple of weeks. We also
saw MALLARD, PIED-BILLED GREBE, RING-NECKED DUCKS, AMERICAN WIGEON, and
GADWALL. A PEREGRINE FALCON flew over and ran off an immature BALD EAGLE.

Most of the ponds were iced over so waterfowl were scarce. We did had a
huge flyby of about 1500 CACKLING GEESE and saw a few CANADA GEESE near the
iced over ponds.

The VIRGINIA RAIL was seen just past the second overlook on the boardwalk
to the twin barns. It was seen and heard by most of the group. The GREAT
HORNED OWL continues in the nest tree between the twin barns and the
Nisqually side.

We did see and AMERICAN KESTRAL in the cottonwoods near the twin barns and
another PEREGRINE FALCON was perched on a snag in the reclamation area.

Sparrows were plentiful with several FOX, SONG, and GOLDEN-CROWNEDS being
seen . We also had three species of WREN: BEWICK'S, PACIFIC, and MARSH.

For the day I had 43 species. Mammals seen included BLACK-TAILED DEER and
HARBOR SEAL.

Until next week....


Phil Kelley
scrubjay323 at gmail.com
Lacey, WA
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