Tweets,

Yesterday 40 of us enjoyed a great day at Nisqually. It was 45 degrees at
the start and we had no rain! We had a 14.0 high tide at 1:48 PM so it was
incoming as we got the reclamation area and estuary boardwalk.

Highlights included TRUMPETER SWANS and the RED-SHOULDERED HAWK.

The day started well at the visitor center overlook where we had a male
HOODED MERGANSER along with BUFFLEHEAD, MALLARDS, RING NECKED DUCKS and
PIED-BILLED GREBE.

There is still lots of water in the ponds so waterfowl were scattered
throughout the refuge. There are lots of PINTAIL and WIGEON on the refuge
and we did see a STORM WIGEON inside the new dike and a EURASIAN WIGEON at
the end of the estuary boardwalk.

The highlight of the day was when we had a flock of 13 TRUMPETER SWANS fly
over the refuge as we scoped the pond across from the orchard. Beautiful
birds heading south off the refuge.

The mother GREAT HORNED OWL was sitting in the nest hole but was moving
around more than she has recently. Best guess is young will show themselves
in the next two weeks.

Out on the estuary boardwalk we spotted COMMON LOON, RED-BREASTED
MERGANSERS, and SURF SCOTERS. We also saw a SPOTTED SANDPIPERS working the
far shore of McAllister Creek. We also saw several LEAST SANDPIPERS right
under the boardwalk.

For the day I had 53 species and now have 67 for the year. Mammals seen
were GRAY SQUIRREL, BLACK-TAILED DEER, and CALIFORNIA SEA LION.

Until next week...

Phil Kelley
scrubjay323 at gmail.com
Lacey, WA
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