Tweets,

Yesterday 40 of us enjoyed a great walk at Nisqually! It started in mizzle
but ended up in sunshine and temps near 70. We had an10.05 high tide at
11:52 so there was water in the reclamation area and shorebirds!

Highlights included 3 GREAT HORNED OWL chicks, lots of spring migrants and
a NASHVILLE WARBLER.

FOY YELLOW WARBLERS, WILSON'S WARBLERS, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, WESTERN
SANDPIPER, VIRGINIA RAIL, and the NASHVILLE WARBLER highlighted the day.

The YELLOW and WILSON'S WARBLERS were pretty common throughout the refuge
and the NASHVILLE WARBLER was near the riparian trail along the Nisqually
side. There are a couple of RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD nests along the boardwalk as
well as BUSHTIT nests.

We saw a female HOODED MERGANZER with 20 chicks on the pond south of the
twin barns and there are gooselings about also.

The south BALD EAGLE nest has eaglets in it and 3 owlets were in the GREAT
HORNED OWL nest inside the boardwalk.

The VIRGINIA RAIL was seen inside the estuary dike near the start of the
estuary boardwalk. The SEMIPALMATED PLOVER and WESTERN SANDPIPER were seen
from the viewing platform at the start of the boardwalk among some LEAST
SANDPIPERS and DUNLIN.

For the day I had 59 species and now have 98 for the year. Mammals seen
included COTTONTAIL RABBIT, MUSKRAT, and MINK.

Don't forget the Shorebird Festival at Bowerman Basin this weekend.
Information can be found at www.shorebirdfestival.com

Until next week......

Phil Kelley
scrubjay323 at gmail.com
Lacey, WA
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