Tweets,

Today 29 of us enjoyed a nice day at Nisqually. It was clear and 45 degrees
at the start and stayed nice all day. We had a 6.1 low tide at 12:48 PM so
there was some water in the reclamation area. We also had lots of water in
the ponds.

Highlights included RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS, and GREAT HORNED OWLS. We also
spent a good amount of time scoping some white birds out on the surge plain
that turned out to be decoys set up by a goose hunter. We never did hear
any shots.

The RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS were in the orchard and eventually we counted
three of them. They were working the fruit trees as were DOWNY WOODPECKERS,
ROBINS, FLICKERS, and CHICKADEES. Nothing of note in the pond across the
road from the orchard but we had a nice mixed flock along the maintenance
road.

Here we found both KINGLETS, DOWNY WOODPECKER, BROWN CREEPER and
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE. Just as we rounded the bend to observe the ponds
south of the twin barns an adult BALD EAGLE flew over and everything left.
It was pretty quiet for awhile after that.

Along the boardwalk to the twin barns Shep spotted a GREAT HORNED OWL in a
cottonwood tree near last year's nest site. First owl we've seen in quite a
while. On the way back from the start of the estuary boardwalk we got
better scope views from the junction of the twin barns road and the estuary
dike. Russ decided to head to the boardwalk for a better view and
discovered both adults in the same tree just a couple of feet apart.
Hopefully mating will be more successful then last year. We will keep you
posted as things progress.

For the day I had 41 species with nothing new for the year. The only mammal
I saw was a BLACK-TAILED DEER.

Until next week......

Phil Kelley
scrubjay323 at gmail.com
Lacey, WA
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