Tweets,

Today 12 brave souls walked Nisqually in 20 degree temperatures and
dealt with icy roads to get to the refuge. We were rewarded with a
very nice day of birding.

There was almost no wind and although the ponds were iced over the
birds cooperated. Highlights included a COMMON REDPOLL near the
visitor center and a RUDDY DUCK inside the estuary dike.

The day started out good with a MINK on the pond behind the visitor
center. It didn't seem to care if it was walking on the ice or
swimming to the next patch of ice. While watching the MINK we were
treated with a couple of BARN SWALLOWS flying over the pond hawking
insects.

As we departed the visitor center Kyle spotted a COMMON REDPOLL in the
trees in front off the visitor center. Also in that area we saw both
KINGLETS, BEWICK'S WREN, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, and YELLOW-RUMPED
WARBLER (which proved to be very common today).

Out on the estuary dike we picked up LINCOLN'S SPARROW and saw our
first of the year (maybe only) RUDDY DUCK with a couple of AMERICAN
COOT and GREEN-WINGED TEAL. We also saw GREATER YELLOWLEGS and DUNLIN
from this area.


>From the start of the estuary boardwalk we saw RED-BREASTED MERGANSER,

COMMON GOLDENEYE, BELTED-KINGFISHER, MEW GULL, RING-BILLED GULL, and
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT.

For the day I had 53 species and now have 65 for the year. Mammals
seen included the MINK and BLACK-TAILED DEER.

Until next week....

Phil Kelley
scrubjay323 at gmail.com
Lacey, WA