[Tweeters] Informal Wednesday Walk; Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR, 3/9/2022

[Shep Thorp]

Dear Tweeters,

Our informal Wednesday Walk on 3/9/2022 was on Billy Frank Jr Day, his
birthday, recognized by Washington State and Northwest Treaty Tribes.
Billy Frank Jr was a Native American and member of the Nisqually Tribe who
was an activist who worked with government, communities, and native
americans to help conserve our wild places for wildlife, Salmon, Tribal
Fishing Rights, and our Washington communities.  Billy Frank Jr was awarded
the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015, the same year the Refuge was
renamed in his honor.

The weather was sunny but cool with temperatures in the 30's to 40's degree
Fahrenheit.  We also had strong steady breeze from the north making it feel
a lot colder on the dike and estuary boardwalk.  There was a High 12.09ft
Tide at 9;22am.  Highlights included FOY CALIFORNIA SCRUB-JAY in the
Orchard, relocated Eurasian GREEN-WINGED TEAL from the Twin Barns Overlook,
good numbers of GREATER YELLOWLEGS and a WILSON'S SNIPE in the freshwater
marsh on the inside of the Nisqually Estuary Trail, a HERRING GULL seen
from the McAllister Creek Viewing Platform, and a fly over of 45 SNOW GEESE
over the Puget Sound Viewing Platform.

We started the morning at 8am at the Visitor Center Pond Overlook, where we
had nice looks of HOODED MERGANSER, COMMON MERGANSER, RING-NECKED DUCK, and
PIED-BILLED GREBE.

Along with the CALIFORNIA SCRUB-JAY in the Orchard, we had a nice mixed
flock of BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, BROWN CREEPER, DOWNY WOODPECKER,
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET and both varieties of
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (Audubon's and Myrtle).  There were also good numbers
of GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW.

The flooded fields south of the Twin Barns and on either side of the old
McAllister Creek access road, we had many TREE SWALLOWS and VIOLET-GREEN
SWALLOWS.   The ponded water had NORTHERN SHOVELER, NORTHERN PINTAIL,
GREEN-WINGED TEAL, AMERICAN WIGEON, MALLARD and AMERICAN COOT.


>From the Twin Barns Overlook, we had great looks at the Eurasian

GREEN-WINGED TEAL.  There was also EURASIAN WIGEON visible from this
platform.

Out on the new dike or Nisqually Estuary Trail, there were numerous raptors
including BALD EAGLE, RED-TAILED HAWK, NORTHERN HARRIER and PEREGRINE.  We
were not able to relocate the Red-shouldered Hawk and I suspect it may have
left the Refuge.  We observed good numbers of GREATER  YELLOWLEGS and a
single WILSON'S SNIPE in the freshwater marsh.

Out on the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail, there was a HERRING GULL
showing well with a mixed flock of GLAUCOUS-WINGED/WESTERN GULL,
SHORT-BILLED GULL and RING-BILLED GULL.  There were plenty of RED-BREASTED
MERGANSER, HORNED GREBE, SURF SCOTER and COMMON GOLDEN-EYE to enjoy.  At
the Puget Sound Viewing Platform we picked up on BRANT GEESE, 100+, out on
the reach and a fly over of 45 SNOW GOOSE.

On our return we observed several COMMON MERGANSER in the Nisqually River.

We observed 61 species for the day, with 102 species for the year.  We were
not able to relocate the Wood Duck and Swans reported earlier.

Mammals seen included an Easter Cotton-tailed Rabbit being chased by a
Coyote, Eastern Gray Squirrel and Harbor Seal.

Happy birding,
Shep Thorp

-- 
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
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