[Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 9/6/2023

[Shep Thorp]

Hi Tweets,

Approximately 25 of us had really nice day of birding at the Refuge with
mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the 50's to 70's degrees
Fahrenheit.  There was a High 11'6" Tide at 12:33pm providing a nice tidal
push so we did our routine walk.  Highlights included SOLITARY SANDPIPER
continuing at the Visitor Center Pond Overlook, three different GREAT
HORNED OWLS and a BARRED OWL on the Twin Barns Loop Trail, MERLIN hunting
swallows, SANDERLINGS and BAIRD SANDPIPERs continuing on the mudflats west
of Leschi Slough, PARASITIC JAEGER off Luhr Beach visible from the Puget
Sound Observation Platform and GREAT EGRET continuing at the Riparian
Forest Overlook.

Starting out at the Visitor Center Pond Overlook at 8am we observed the
continuing SOLITARY SANDPIPER roosting and foraging along the watersedge.
This species can be very hard to find if roosting near grassy clumps.  We
also had nice looks of WOOD DUCK.

Two GREAT HORNED OWL were seen during morning scouting, one next to Twin
Barns Observation Platform and the other on the east side of the Twin Barns
Loop Trail just north of the twin bench overlook on the inside of the
trail.  We decided to start are walk relocating the owl seen on the loop
trail.  On our way along the south east side of the loop trail the front of
our group located a BARRED OWL, which eventually flushed and flew into the
stand adjacent to the Education Center.  While trying to relocate the
Barred Owl a third Great Horned Owl was located south of the Riparian
Forest Overlook cut-off.  An exciting morning to have four different owls
observed!

The Orchard was good for CALIFORNIA SCRUB-JAY, MOURNING DOVE, CEDAR
WAXWING, ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD, and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW.

The Access Road along the fields is where we picked up high flying BARN
SWALLOWs and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWs.  We had nice looks of a MERLIN
unsuccessfully chasing swallows.  RED-TAILED HAWK was seen south between
McAllister Creek and I5.  Both Coyote and Columbian Black-tailed Deer were
seen in the fields.  A single RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER flew west over the
parking lot and field.

The west entrance to the Twin Barns Loop Trail was good for numerous COMMON
YELLOWTHROAT.  We also observed YELLOW WARBLER and a NORTHERN HARRIER flew
over.  Pre-walk sightings included WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, WILLOW FLYCATCHER
and WARBLING VIREO, but all these species are much harder to observe.
LINCOLN'S SPARROW was heard, "zeet" contact call.

Out on the dike or Nisqually Estuary Trail, early birders were rewarded
with six SANDERLINGS and three BAIRD'S SANDPIPER.  There were good numbers
of LEAST SANDPIPER, WESTERN SANDPIPER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS.  Ducks are
starting to return to the Refuge and we had several hundred NORTHERN
PINTAIL.  We also had dozens of AMERICAN WIGEON, AMERICAN GREEN-WINGED
TEAL, and AMERICAN WIGEON.  A few GADWALL were seen in the freshwater
marsh.  BALD EAGLE, OSPREY, PEREGRINE FALCON and MERLIN were seen hunting
the tidal estuary.  A few SAVANNAH'S SPARROWS were heard and seen, as well
AMERICAN PIPIT.

The Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail was good for Gulls and up close looks
at LEAST SANDPIPER.  A few CASPIAN TERN continue to roost and forage.
HOODED MERGANSER and DOUBLE CRESTED CORMORANT were foraging the sloughs and
McAllister Creek.  Numerous Harbor Seals were sleeping and foraging.
BELTED KINGFISHER was seen as well.  From the Puget Sound Observation
Platform we observed a FOY PARASITIC JAEGER off Luhr Beach associated with
a mixed feeding flock of Gulls, Cormorants and RHINOCEROS AUKLETS.
Breeding plumage COMMON LOON was also seen.  A nice group of COMMON
MERGANSER were roosting on the marsh plain at the mouth of McAllister
Creek.  On our return we had a flyover of four GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE!

On the northeast corner of the Twin Barns Loop Trail we located a mixed
flock of BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, BROWN CREEPER,
YELLOW WARBLER, WILSON WARBLER and BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER.

On our return through the Riparian Forest Overlook, the front part of our
group relocated the GREAT EGRET foraging in the slough.  The bird flushed
closer to the Nisqually River out of view, so it is easily startled.

We observed 79 species for the day, and have seen 260 species this year
with FOY Solitary Sandpiper, Parasitic Jaeger, Rhinoceros Auklet, and Great
Egret.  Mammals seen included Townsend's Chipmunk, Coyote, Columbian
Black-tailed Deer, Eastern Gray Squirrel, and Harbor Seal.  Not to mention
plenty of Pacific Tree Frogs and Painted Turtles.

A special thank you to all the volunteers who helped to cover my sick leave
the last two walks.  I'm grateful and it's nice to be back.

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
Sep 6, 2023 7:04 AM - 4:59 PM
Protocol: Traveling
8.193 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Wednesday Walk.  Mostly sunny with temperatures in
the 50’s to 70’s degrees Fahrenheit. A High 11’6” Tide at 12:33pm. Mammals
seen Townsend’s Chipmunk, Coyote, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Eastern Gray
Squirrel, Harbor Seal.
79 species (+2 other taxa)

Greater White-fronted Goose  4     Flew over Refuge at 2pm.
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima)  100
Wood Duck  5
Northern Shoveler  30
Gadwall  3
American Wigeon  45
Mallard  40
Northern Pintail  450
Green-winged Teal  50
Hooded Merganser  4
Common Merganser  12     Marsh plain at mouth of McAllister Creek.
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  14
Band-tailed Pigeon  1
Mourning Dove  3     Orchard.
Anna's Hummingbird  2
Killdeer  8
Sanderling  6     Observed by some at 10am outside (salt side) of Nisqually
Estuary Trail or new dike.
Baird's Sandpiper  3     Observed by some at 10am on the outside or salt
side of the Nisqually Estuary Trail.
Least Sandpiper  200
Western Sandpiper  75
Solitary Sandpiper  1     Staging at the Visitor Center Pond Overlook.
Medium sized shorebird with green legs, distinct eye ring, medium sized
straight bill and prominent carpal contrast on folded wing.  Photo.
Greater Yellowlegs  30
Parasitic Jaeger  1     Observed off Luhr Beach from the Puget Sound
Observation Platform on the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail.  Observed
flying towards feeding birds on bait ball and bathing on surface of water.
Dark arial waterbird with pointed wings and ‘Falcon’ look. Smaller than
gulls in area. When wings opened up and flapped light patch inner
primaries. Observed by several experienced birders at 1/2 mile with 40-60 x
spotting scopes for 5 minutes. First identified flight style and wing
shape, then further confirmation with size and pattern at base of primaries.
Rhinoceros Auklet  4
Short-billed Gull  1
Ring-billed Gull  400
California Gull  30
Glaucous-winged Gull  2
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid)  10
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull  20
Caspian Tern  5
Common Loon  1     Foraging in Puget Sound, seen from Puget Sound
Observation Platform.
Brandt's Cormorant  1     Nisqually River channel marker.
Double-crested Cormorant  60
Great Blue Heron  40
Great Egret  1     Riparian River Overlook. Observed by some.
Osprey  2
Northern Harrier  1
Cooper's Hawk  1
Bald Eagle  10
Red-tailed Hawk (calurus/alascensis)  1
Great Horned Owl  3     One observed at Twin Barns Overlook at 8am.
Another observed on the inside of the Twin Barns Loop Trail, on the east
side just north of the Twin Bench Overlook at 8:30am. A third bird found
just south of the Riparian Forest Overlook cut-off at 8:30am.
Barred Owl  1     Seen by several at 8:15am along the southeast section of
the Twin Barns Loop Trail.
Belted Kingfisher  3
Red-breasted Sapsucker  1     Flew over the west side parking lot across
field south of the McAllister Creek Access Road.
Downy Woodpecker  2
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)  4
Merlin  2     One hunting swallows in the morning. The other hunting
shorebirds in the afternoon.
Peregrine Falcon  1     Seen from the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail
just south of confluence with shannon slough.
Western Wood-Pewee  1     Twin Barns, vocalizing.
Willow Flycatcher  1     Seen in the morning along the west side of the
Twin Barns Loop Trail.
Warbling Vireo  3     Seen and heard in the morning along the west side of
the Twin Barns Loop Trail.
Steller's Jay  1
California Scrub-Jay  2     Orchard.
American Crow  50
Common Raven  1     Hoffman Hill.
Black-capped Chickadee  30
Chestnut-backed Chickadee  10
Purple Martin  1
Violet-green Swallow  4
Barn Swallow (American)  50
Brown Creeper  6
Bewick's Wren  4
European Starling  400
Swainson's Thrush  5
American Robin  2
Cedar Waxwing  3
American Pipit  3     Fields and fresh water marsh.
Purple Finch  1
American Goldfinch  4
White-crowned Sparrow (pugetensis)  6
Savannah Sparrow (Savannah)  5
Song Sparrow  17
Lincoln's Sparrow  1
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group)  1
Red-winged Blackbird  10
Brown-headed Cowbird  2
Common Yellowthroat  15
Yellow Warbler  6
Black-throated Gray Warbler  3
Wilson's Warbler  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S149164919
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