[Tweeters] Nisqually Wednesday Walk

[Kenneth Brown]

Another great day at the refuge.  We started with a large crowd, over 40 birders, but split into two groups to make it safer and more manageable.  It was warm, a bit muggy and occasionally overcast.   We dipped on Western Tanager, most of the shorebirds, Northern Flicker, and saw fewer Warblers than expected.  That disappointment was offset by views of the continuing Black-necked Stilts, 2 male Yellow-headed Blackbirds (Stilts and YHBB seen on fresh water side of the dike), and a Western Bluebird (on the Rough-winged Swallow tree near the end of the McCallister Creek boardwalk)  We hit the end of the boardwalk at a low low tide (-2') and counted over 50 Bald Eagles just from that vantage point, scavenging fish trapped in pools, and whatever they could find in seldom exposed tide flats.  The list follows.

Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Jun 1, 2022 8:16 AM - 3:25 PM
Protocol: Traveling
6.0 mile(s)
64 species (+3 other taxa)

Canada Goose  65
Wood Duck  8
Blue-winged Teal  9
Cinnamon Teal  8
Gadwall  25
Mallard  50
Bufflehead  1     Single female continuing.
Hooded Merganser  15     Females and ducklings
Common Merganser  1
Pied-billed Grebe  2
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  2
Mourning Dove  3
Rufous Hummingbird  2
Black-necked Stilt  2     Seen on fresh water side of dike.
Greater Yellowlegs  3
Ring-billed Gull  8
California Gull  6
Glaucous-winged Gull  5
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid)  4
gull sp.  100
Caspian Tern  14
Brandt's Cormorant  6
Double-crested Cormorant  3
Great Blue Heron  35
Bald Eagle  70     Counted 55 from viewing platform at end of boardwalk. -2' tide.
Belted Kingfisher  2
Red-breasted Sapsucker  3
Downy Woodpecker  2
Hairy Woodpecker  2
Downy/Hairy Woodpecker  1
Merlin  1
Western Wood-Pewee  2
Willow Flycatcher  8
Warbling Vireo  2
American Crow  10
Common Raven  2
Black-capped Chickadee  3
Chestnut-backed Chickadee  1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow  8
Tree Swallow  20
Violet-green Swallow  5
Barn Swallow  30
Cliff Swallow  60
Brown Creeper  10
Marsh Wren  12
Bewick's Wren  1
European Starling  20
Western Bluebird  1
Swainson's Thrush  12
American Robin  30
Cedar Waxwing  45
Purple Finch  1
American Goldfinch  8
White-crowned Sparrow  1
Savannah Sparrow  3
Song Sparrow  25
Spotted Towhee  2
Yellow-headed Blackbird  2     On fresh water side of dike.
Western Meadowlark  1
Red-winged Blackbird  30
Brown-headed Cowbird  10
Brewer's Blackbird  3
Orange-crowned Warbler  1
Common Yellowthroat  15
Yellow Warbler  25
Wilson's Warbler  2
Black-headed Grosbeak  12
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