Subject: [Tweeters] NIsqually NWR 12/24/19
Date: Tue Dec 24 15:51:22 PST 2019
From: Phil Kelley - scrubjay323 at gmail.com

Tweets,

Today a dozen of us endured a cold, breezy walk at Nisqually. We had a
14.3 high tide at 3:23 PM, so there was lots of mud outside the
estuary dike. We were with out many regulars due to the season and
change of day so Tom was the only one who headed out the estuary
boardwalk.

Highlights included lots of raptors and lots of water in the ponds but
not much else. For all the water in the interior ponds there seemed to
be fewer waterfowl than we've seen in previous weeks.

We had fair numbers of MALLARDS, NORTHERN PINTAIL, NORTHERN SHOVELERS,
AMERICAN WIGEON, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and GADWALL, but the numbers of
geese on the refuge was way down.

Raptors included 12 or more BALD EAGLES, 3 PEREGRINE FALCON, multiple
RED-TAILED HAWKS. 3 or 4 NORTHERN HARRIER, and a COOPER'S HAWK.
Perhaps that is why the numbers of waterfowl was down.

We had 1 WILSON'S SNIPE near the old McAllister trail gate and 2 small
groups of LONG=BILLED DOWITCHERS on the interior ponds. The only other
shorebirds we saw were several GREATER YELLOWLEGS out on McAllister
creek near the start of the estuary boardwalk.

I also had LESSER SCAUP and COMMON GOLDENEYE on McAllister Creek.

For the day I had 40 species and now have 132 for the year. Mammals
seen included BLACK-TAILED DEER and GRAY SQUIRREL. Some of the others
in the group got a glimpse of a WEASEL near the education center.

Until next week, when we will walk again on Tuesday....

Phil Kelley
scrubjay323 at gmail.com
Lacey, WA