[Tweeters] Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR - Wednesday Walk for 6/29/2022

[Shep Thorp]

Dear Tweets,

a cool summer day with nice breezes at the Refuge, cloudy skies and
temperatures in the 50's to 60's degrees Fahrenheit.  There was a Low
-1.91ft Tide at 12:37pm so lots of mud when we finally observed the tidal
estuary.  Highlights included BLACK-NECKED STILT, nesting NORTHERN
ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, AMERICAN AVOCET, and 30+ AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN
flying around and foraging off the Reach.

The morning chorus continues to delight with SWAINSON'S THRUSH, AMERICAN
ROBIN, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER,
PURPLE FINCH, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, SONG SPARROW, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH,
YELLOW-WARBLER and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT.  Starting out at 8am at the Visitor
Center Overlook, we had nice views of PIED-BILLED GREBE, WOOD DUCK, and
HOODED MERGANSER.  A River Otter foraged close to the platform for many
good looks.  BARN SWALLOW continues to nest in the breezeway.

The Orchard was good for YELLOW WARBLER, CEDAR WAXWING, PURPLE FINCH and
WARBLING VIREO.  We had quick looks at a single PINE SISKIN and numerous
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH.

The Access Road along the flooded fields is great for swallow study, with
good looks of CLIFF SWALLOW, BARN SWALLOW, TREE SWALLOW, NORTHERN
ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW and a few BANK SWALLOW.  While
surveying the fields we heard SORA and VIRGINIA RAIL.  We also had brief
looks of a single BLACK-NECKED STILT, a half dozen GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and
several MALLARDS.

The Twin Barns Loop Trail was great for foraging SWAINSON'S THRUSH,
AMERICAN ROBIN, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, SONG SPARROW,
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT.  Most of these species are
sallying for insects over the pond, probably to feed young birds in the
nest.  As well, a beautiful yellow flowering carnivorous plant, Utricularia
vulgaris (Common Bladderwort), captured our attention in the pond.  A Mink
continues between the Visitor Center and the west entrance of the Loop
Trail.  Muskrat was seen along the inside of the trail.  The nesting
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW continues in the Big Leaf Maple adjacent to
the cut-off bridge to the Twin Barns in a knot hole just above eye-level.

The RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER showed well in the Big Leaf Maples around the
Twin Barns.  We had great looks of COMMON YELLOW-THROAT, TREE SWALLOW, and
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS on the Twin Barns Overlook.  A distant OSPREY was
spotted on a cell phone tower along McAllister Creek Hill.  An additional
Mink is showing up between the overlook ramp and the Twin Barns.

Out on the Nisqually Estuary Trail, or new dike, we had good looks of the
AMERICAN AVOCET that was reported from the weekend.  The bird is just west
of Leschi Slough on the mud flats north of the dike, and we enjoyed
scything or foraging for food.  We also had multiple looks of early
autumnal migrants including WESTERN SANDPIPERs and unidentified peep
species.  There have been reliable reports of Semipalmated Sandpiper
earlier in the week.  Rob and his scout group had good looks at the
AMERICAN BITTERN flying over the marsh.  Sadly, the BLACK-NECKED STILT nest
has been abandoned, and only one bird has been observed.  In scoping the
nest site, it is unclear what has occurred, however we speculate nesting
failure for unknown reasons at this time.  We have plenty of predators in
the area, so perhaps the eggs were eaten.  There were large flocks of
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS, and EUROPEAN STARLINGS around
the marsh and tidal flats with plenty of good looks at additional
swallows.  The BALD EAGLE nest just adjacent to Nisqually River in a large
Cottonwood Tree remains active with presumed young in the nest.

The Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail was great for CALIFORNIA GULL,
RING-BILLED GULL, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL and a few CASPIAN TERNS.  We did not
see as many Terns as last week most likely due to the tide.  Birders had
multiple good looks of 30+ AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, flying over the Refuge,
foraging the shallows beyond the Reach and roosting.  We had high counts of
BALD EAGLE, GREAT BLUE HERON, and DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, and I suspect
there must be A LOT of fish and invertebrates for all these bird species to
harvest.  There are nesting BELTED KINGFISHER  and NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED
SWALLOW along the west bank of McAllister Creek.  BAND-TAILED PIGEON forage
and fly along the hill.  Additional GREATER YELLOWLEGS were observed up
McAllister Creek.

On our return we had great looks of WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, BROWN CREEPER,
RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER and Townsend's Chipmunk.  WILSON'S WARBLER was
singing along the north side of the Loop Trail.  Numerous CEDAR WAXWINGS
were foraging along the Nisqually River at the River Overlook.  Additional
PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER and WARBLING VIREO were heard singing along the
east side of the Loop Trail.

We observed 69 species for the day with 154 species for the year.  American
Avocet and American White Pelican are new for the year.  Mammals seen
included River Otter, Eastern Cotton-tailed Rabbit, Mink, Muskrat, Eastern
Gray Squirrel, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Harbor Seal, and Townsend's
Chipmunk.

Until next week when we meet again at 8am at the Visitor Center, happy
birding.  See ebird list below with photo's embedded.

Shep
-- 
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742

Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Jun 29, 2022 7:17 AM - 4:28 PM
Protocol: Traveling
7.458 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Wednesday Walk. Cloudy skies with temperature in
the 50’s to 60’s. A Low -1.91ft Tide at 12:37pm. Mammals seen Mink, River
Otter, Eastern Cotton-tailed Rabbit, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Muskrat,
Eastern Gray Squirrel, Harbor Seal, Townsends Chipmunk.
69 species (+5 other taxa)

Canada Goose  6
Wood Duck  12
Mallard  20
Hooded Merganser  2
duck sp.  50
Pied-billed Grebe  1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  4
Band-tailed Pigeon  8
Anna's Hummingbird  2
Rufous Hummingbird  7
hummingbird sp.  3
Virginia Rail  1
Sora  2
Black-necked Stilt  1     Previously reported and seen. Distinctive large
sized shorebird with black and white plumage and long red legs. Seen in
flooded field south of Twin Barns as well as in fresh water marsh south of
Nisqually Estuary Trail or new dike. Previously occupied nest appears empty
today.
American Avocet  1     Previously reported. Large sized shorebird with
orange head and upturned bill. Black and white wings. Observed at 1/4 mile
just west of Leschi Slough and north of Nisqually Estuary Trail or new
dike. Roosting and foraging on mudflats, seen scything. California Gulls
and Western Sandpiper were in the vicinity.  Photo.
Western Sandpiper  2
peep sp.  8
Wilson's Snipe  1
Greater Yellowlegs  6
Pigeon Guillemot  2
Ring-billed Gull  75
California Gull  100
Glaucous-winged Gull  40
Larus sp.  100
Caspian Tern  4
Brandt's Cormorant  5
Double-crested Cormorant  50
cormorant sp.  50
American White Pelican  35     Distinctive Arial Waterbird. Observed at
1/4-1/2 mile roosting and foraging on Nisqually Reach. Large white bird
with black wing tips and long yellow bill.  Observed group foraging.
American Bittern  1
Great Blue Heron  90
Turkey Vulture  1
Osprey  1
Bald Eagle  65     Counted. Probably more. Observed over 60 birds on reach
and several more over entire Refuge.
Belted Kingfisher  1
Red-breasted Sapsucker  2
Downy Woodpecker  1
Hairy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  2
Western Wood-Pewee  7
Willow Flycatcher  9
Pacific-slope Flycatcher  5
Warbling Vireo  3
Steller's Jay  8
American Crow  10
Black-capped Chickadee  8
Chestnut-backed Chickadee  5
Northern Rough-winged Swallow  6     Active nest in Maple Tree at Twin
Barns cut-off from Twin Barns Loop Trail.
Purple Martin  3     Luhr Beach.
Tree Swallow  30
Violet-green Swallow  1
Bank Swallow  3
Barn Swallow  75
Cliff Swallow  100
Bushtit  7
Brown Creeper  6
Marsh Wren  7
Bewick's Wren  5
Swainson's Thrush  56
American Robin  60
Cedar Waxwing  100
Purple Finch  6
Pine Siskin  1
American Goldfinch  40
Savannah Sparrow  4
Song Sparrow  38
Spotted Towhee  1
Red-winged Blackbird  40
Brown-headed Cowbird  80
Orange-crowned Warbler  1
Common Yellowthroat  20
Yellow Warbler  27
Wilson's Warbler  2
Black-headed Grosbeak  3

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S114070588
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