Subject: [Tweeters] Nisqually NWR 5/4/16
Date: May 5 08:15:01 2016
From: Phil Kelley - scrubjay323 at gmail.com


Tweets,

Yesterday 35 of us enjoyed a colorful day at Nisqually. It was cooler
than I expected and breezy but a productive day over all. We had a 1.0
low tide at 10:50 so no water in the reclamation area.

Highlights included FOY YELLOW WARBLERS. GOLDFINCH, BLACK-HEADED
GROSBEAK, WESTERN TANAGER, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, LONG-BILLED DOWTICHERS,
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, CEDAR WAXWINGS, WARBLING VIREOS, and WESTERN
SANDPIPERS.

Water levels are way down and waterfowl are scattered with several
pair of CINNAMON TEAL AND BLUE-WINGED TEAL throughout the refuge.
There was a brood of 9 HOODED MERGANSERS on the pond inside the
boardwalk to the twin barns and several broods of goslings about.

In the orchard we saw our first YELLOW WARBLERS, BLACK-HEADED
GROSBEAK, the WESTERN TANAGERS, and WARBLING VIREOS, as well as a
RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER.

Shorebirds were evident throughout the refuge with KILLDEER,
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, DUNLIN, LEAST and WESTERN
SANDPIPERS, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, and a SPOTTED SANDPIPER being
seen. The SPOTTY was seen at the visitor center pond at the end of the
walk.

Of note was that one of our group had a CALIFORNIA QUAIL run across
the entrance road as she was leaving the refuge.

For the day I had 54 species and now have 125 for the year.

Mammals seen were COTTON TAILED RABBIT and COYOTE, not in the same area.

A reminder that the SHOREBIRD FESTIVAL is in Hoquiem this weekend and
if the number of shorebird at Nisqually yesterday is any indication it
should be great out on the coast,

Until next week......

Phil Kelley
scrubjay323 at gmail.com
Lacey, WA