[Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 12/13/2023

[Shep Thorp]

Hi Tweets,

Approximately 25 of us had another fine day of birding at the Refuge with
overcast skies, good visibility and temperatures in the 30's to 40's
degrees Fahrenheit.  There was a high Low 8'11" Tide at 11:59am, so we
proceeded with our usual route.  Highlights included PILEATED WOODPECKER in
the Orchard, high count of 9 RED-TAILED HAWKS, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK seen by
some briefly along the central access road in the sanctuary south of the
Twin Barns, nice photo of SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, 7 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS seen
and heard in the surge plain, both EURASIAN and AMERICAN X EURASIAN WIGEON
in flooded fields and seen from McAllister Creek Viewing Platform, first of
year BLACK SCOTER with photos in McAllister Creek, and continuing BARRED
OWL along the east side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail.

We observed 82 species for the day, and with FOY Black Scoter, we have seen
174 this year.

Until next week when we meet again at 8am at the Visitor Center, happy
birding.
Shep

-- 
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742

Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Dec 13, 2023 7:30 AM - 4:40 PM
Protocol: Traveling
6.375 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Wednesday Walk. Overcast then clear with
temperatures in the 30’s to 40’s degrees Fahrenheit. A Low 8’11” Tide at
11:59am. Mammals seen Eastern Gray Squirrel, California Sea Lion, Harbor
Seal, Steller’s Sea
Lion.
82 species (+6 other taxa)

Cackling Goose (minima)  500
Cackling Goose (Taverner's)  30
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima)  40
Canada Goose (canadensis Group)  40     Parvipes or Lesser Canada Goose.
Flooded fields south of the Twin Barns. Three with banded legs.
Wood Duck  2     Male and female spotted by Elijah in the flooded field
south of the Twin Barns Overlook.
Northern Shoveler  100
Gadwall  40
Eurasian Wigeon  3     McAllister Creek Viewing Platform
American Wigeon  1000
Eurasian x American Wigeon (hybrid)  1     Flooded field south of the Twin
Barns.
Mallard  250
Northern Pintail  350
Green-winged Teal (American)  800
Ring-necked Duck  3     Visitor Center Pond
Greater Scaup  20     One spotted in Shannon slough by Laurie and the other
observed off Luhr Beach.
Surf Scoter  40
White-winged Scoter  3     Off Luhr Beach
Black Scoter  1     Observed by many along the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk
Trail in McAllister Creek foraging along with Surf Scoter between
McAllister Creek observation deck and the closure gate at the end of the
board walk. Photos. Seen at 100-300 feet with spotting scopes. Possibly a
female or first year male with dark cap, light cheeks and thin bill in
comparison to adjacent female immature Surf Scoter. Remained foraging
(Diving and eating small crabs and mollusks) in creek during incoming tide.
Bufflehead  125
Common Goldeneye  50
Hooded Merganser  6
Common Merganser  2     Nisqually River
Red-breasted Merganser  35
Horned Grebe  6
Western Grebe  7     Off Nisqually Reach
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  18
Mourning Dove  1     Small, fast-flying dove with long, skinny tail.
American Coot  30
Semipalmated Plover  7     Spotted by Linn foraging on mudflats in the
surge plain. “Churly” call heard as well. Small peep sized plover with one
breast band and yellow legs.  Seen by many at 500 feet with spotting scopes.
Long-billed Dowitcher  30     Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail.
Wilson's Snipe  11     Two spotted by Jon at Green Gate closure to the old
McAllister Creek Access Road and Nine spotted by Teri in the flooded field
adjacent to the Twin Barns Overlook.
Spotted Sandpiper  1     West Bank of McAllister Creek
Greater Yellowlegs  25
Dunlin  1000
Least Sandpiper  40
Western Sandpiper  1     In flock of 1000 Dunlin.
Bonaparte's Gull  6     Nisqually Reach
Short-billed Gull  75
Ring-billed Gull  125
Glaucous-winged Gull  1
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid)  6
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull  40
Larus sp.  50
Red-throated Loon  3     One spotted by Ken in McAllister Creek
Common Loon  2
Brandt's Cormorant  8     Nisqually Channel Marker
Pelagic Cormorant  2     Nisqually Channel Marker
Double-crested Cormorant  40
Great Blue Heron  20
Northern Harrier  2
Sharp-shinned Hawk  1     Seen along Access Road at right hand turn
southwest of west parking lot.
Bald Eagle  18
Red-shouldered Hawk  1     Spotted by Linn and Elijah and seen by others
flying from the Willows in the flooded fields south of the Twin Barns,
north, towards the Willows and Alders adjacent to the Twin Barns. Red head
and body with black and white markings on tail and head.   Large bands on
tail and spotting on the back of the wings. We were not able to relocate
the bird.
Red-tailed Hawk  9     High count, many immature.
Barred Owl  1     Seen by Deni and Ellen on the south East section of the
Twin Barns Loop Trail.
Belted Kingfisher  1
Red-breasted Sapsucker  3     Orchard.
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific)  4
Hairy Woodpecker (Pacific)  2
Pileated Woodpecker  1     Orchard.
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)  3
Merlin  1     Tidal estuary
Peregrine Falcon  1     Tidal Estuary.
American Crow  200
Common Raven  3
Black-capped Chickadee  15
Chestnut-backed Chickadee  2
Bushtit  17
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  6
Golden-crowned Kinglet  12
Brown Creeper  5
Pacific Wren  4
Marsh Wren  5
Bewick's Wren  3
European Starling  50
Varied Thrush  3     Orchard and Parking Lots.
American Robin  25
House Finch  2
Pine Siskin  18
Fox Sparrow (Sooty)  9
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)  1
White-crowned Sparrow (pugetensis)  1
Golden-crowned Sparrow  35
Song Sparrow  30
Lincoln's Sparrow  1     Nisqually Estuary Trail where aqueduct goes under
dike.
Spotted Towhee  3
Red-winged Blackbird  50
Yellow-rumped Warbler  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S156279958
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