Tweets,

Today 33 of us enjoyed a good day at Nisqually under mild temperatures
with just a couple of brief squalls during the day. We had an 8.7 high
tide at 1:40 which didn't bring much water onto the reclamation area.

We started the day with a MINK running through the parking lot
ignoring several of our group heading to the visitor center to start
the day.

At the visitor center we had WOOD DUCKS, GADWALL, CINNAMON TEAL, and
the first of many HOODED MERGANSERS.

In the orchard we saw our first of many BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK and
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS. We also saw/heard YELLOW and WILSON'S WARBLERS,
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT and AUDUBON'S YELLOW RUMPED WARBLERS.

Along the boardwalk things were pretty quiet except for more of the
same. We did pick up RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and MARSH WREN along the
way.

There were MALLARDS, GREEN-WINGED TEAL and NORTHERN SHOVELERS on the
pond south of the twin barns. Out along the estuary dike we picked up
our first BLUE-WINGED TEAL of the year.

The water levels were low throughout the refuge so we dipped on most
shorebirds. We did pick up a female WESTERN TANAGER feeding on
dandelion seeds at the twin barns.

Out at the end of the estuary boardwalk Ken spotted a flock of about
30 WHITE PELICANS toward the mouth of the Nisqually River.

For the day I had 49 species and now have 96 for the year. Mammals
seen included MINK, COTTONTAILED RABBIT, HARBOR SEAL, and MUSKRAT.

Until next week....

Phil Kelley
scrubjay323 at gmail.com
Lacey, WA