Subject: [Tweeters] Nisqually NWR 5/17/17
Date: May 17 20:05:08 2017
From: Phil Kelley - scrubjay323 at gmail.com


Tweets,

Today 38 of us enjoyed a great day at Nisqually. It was fairly warm and no
rain so it was comfortable. We had a 9.6 high tide at 9:53 so lots of mud
in the surge plain.

It was a surprisingly good day for waterfowl with 10 or so BLUE-WINGED TEAL
leading the way. For some reason we didn't see any ducklings but did have a
couple of families of goslings out on the estuary dike.

There is at least one eaglet on the south nest and we found 2 owlets inside
the boardwalk near the nest tree. We also had an OSPREY working McAllister
Creek.

We also had a six swallow day as well as 20+ VAUX'S SWIFTS. Shep also had a
PURPLE MARTIN over the pond south of the twin barns.

Something was going on in McAllister Creek as there were more
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS on the water in a group as I've ever seen there.
They were joined by GREAT BLUE HERON and CASPIAN TERNS setting up a wall of
birds working the falling tide.

For the day I had 49 species and now have 109 for the year. Mammals seen
were COTTONTAILED RABBIT and HARBOR SEAL.

Until next week when Shep and Eric will lead.....

Phil Kelley
scrubjay323 at gmail.com
Lacey, WA