[Tweeters] Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR, Wednesday Walk for 8/9/2023

[Shep Thorp]

Hi Tweets,

We had a very birdy day at the Refuge as approximately 25 of us enjoyed the
much needed cooler temperatures, 50-70 degrees Fahrenheit, and light rain.
There was a High 10'10" Tide at 2:37pm and shorebird migration is in full
swing.  Highlights included many juvenile swallows,  WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE
families raising young, both LONG-BILLED CURLEW (FOY) and WHIMBREL on the
mudflats and marsh plains along the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail,
excellent numbers of peeps with SEMIPALMATED PLOVER,
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, and LESSER YELLOWLEGS in the
mix, large flocks of AMERICAN GOLDFINCH with a few LESSER GOLDFINCH (FOY),
and CEDAR WAXWINGS.

We observed 68 species for the day and had 2 first of the year (LBCU,
LEGO).  A good mammal day with Long-tailed Weasel and family of Mink on the
Twin Barns Loop Trail.  Plenty of Columbian Black-tailed Deer and Harbor
Seals to enjoy.

Until next week when we meet again at 8am, happy birding.

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

Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Aug 9, 2023 7:15 AM - 4:09 PM
Protocol: Traveling
6.839 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Wednesday Walk.  Cloudy. Light rain. Temperatures
in the 50’s to 70’s degrees Fahrenheit. A High 10’10” Tide at 2:37pm.
Mammals seen Eastern Gray Squirrel, Long-tailed Weasel, Mink, Columbian
Black-tailed Deer, Harbor Seal.
68 species (+5 other taxa)

Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima)  20
Wood Duck  8
Blue-winged/Cinnamon Teal  1
Mallard  25
Hooded Merganser  7
Common Merganser  12
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  1
Band-tailed Pigeon  6
Vaux's Swift  12
Anna's Hummingbird  1
hummingbird sp.  2
Virginia Rail  3
Semipalmated Plover  10
Killdeer  3
Whimbrel  1     Large shorebird observed from Puget Sound Observation
Platform at 300 feet with 60x spotting scope. Overall brown with gray legs
and striped crown.  Large decurved bill.
Long-billed Curlew  1     Photo. Large shorebird with warm cinnamon plumage
and very long decurved bill. Observed on mudflats on the inside of the
Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail over 1-2 hours foraging. Seen at 200-600
feet with spotting scope. Also heard vocalizing “wreeeep” and observed
flying.
Baird's Sandpiper  3
Least Sandpiper  600
Semipalmated Sandpiper  2
Western Sandpiper  900     Observed multiple large flocks of 100 plus
birds. Foraging and flying around mud flats.
Semipalmated/Western Sandpiper  1
Spotted Sandpiper  1
Greater Yellowlegs  8
Lesser Yellowlegs  1
Ring-billed Gull  150
California Gull  75
Glaucous-winged Gull  3
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid)  3
Larus sp.  50
Caspian Tern  40
Brandt's Cormorant  10
Double-crested Cormorant  100
Great Blue Heron  75
Osprey  1
Cooper's Hawk  1
Bald Eagle  24     18 birds on reach, 6 or more birds within Refuge
Sanctuary.
Belted Kingfisher  6
Downy Woodpecker  2
Northern Flicker  1
Western Wood-Pewee  15
Willow Flycatcher  6
Pacific-slope Flycatcher  1
Warbling Vireo  1
Steller's Jay  2
American Crow  60
Black-capped Chickadee  15
Chestnut-backed Chickadee  5
Northern Rough-winged Swallow  8
Purple Martin  6
Tree Swallow  8
Violet-green Swallow  10
Bank Swallow  12     Multiple groups of three to four birds. Between Access
Road and Entrance Road, either side of old McAllister Creek Road, Twin
Barns Observation Platform, fresh water marsh of Nisqually Estuary Trail.
Barn Swallow  125
Cliff Swallow  3
Brown Creeper  4
Marsh Wren  1
Bewick's Wren  5
European Starling  400
Swainson's Thrush  6
American Robin  40
Cedar Waxwing  24
Lesser Goldfinch  3
American Goldfinch  60
Savannah Sparrow  6
Song Sparrow  14
Spotted Towhee  3
Red-winged Blackbird  50
Brown-headed Cowbird  6
Orange-crowned Warbler  1
Common Yellowthroat  12
Yellow Warbler  12
Wilson's Warbler  1
Black-headed Grosbeak  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S146882243
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