[Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 7/10/2024

[Shep Thorp via Tweeters]

Hi Tweets,

Approximately 30 of us had a spectacular day at the Refuge with sunny skies
and temperatures in the 60's to 80's degrees Fahrenheit.  There was a HIgh
10'2" Tide at 8:33am, so we altered our regular walk and skipped the
Orchard and Access Roads in the morning to get out on the dike or Nisqually
Estuary Trail during the falling tide and before the afternoon heat.
Highlights included a SANDHILL CRANE spotted by Nate flying and landing on
the tidal marsh plain along Shannon Slough closest to I5, WHIMBREL spotted
by Jason on the tidal mudflats west of Leschi slough along with 700 peeps
approximately 80% WESTERN SANDPIPER/20% LEAST SANDPIPER, many juvenile
birds in the Riparian Habitat along the Twin Barns Loop Trail including
really cute looks of recently fledged YELLOW WARBLER, BROWN CREEPER, and
CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE.  Some of our group birded the dike before 8am
and picked up early birds YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, SORA and VIRGINIA RAIL.
Duck numbers were very low as it is hard to search the overgrown fields and
freshwater marsh, however we had good shorebirds with autumnal migration
including LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS.

For the day we observed 66 species, with FOY Sandhill Crane, we have seen
157 species this year.  See eBird report pasted below with embedded photos.

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

Shep

-- 
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742

Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Jul 10, 2024 6:57 AM - 3:28 PM
Protocol: Traveling
7.23 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Wednesday Walk. Sunny with temperatures in the 60’s
to 80’s degrees Fahrenheit. A High 10’2” Tide at 8:33am. Mammals seen
Eastern Cotton-tailed Rabbit, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, and Harbor Seal.
Others seen Red-eared Slider.
66 species (+3 other taxa)

Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima)  2
Wood Duck  10     Visitor Center Pond.
Mallard  10
Hooded Merganser  2     Visitor Center Pond and Freshwater Marsh.
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  3
Band-tailed Pigeon  6     Twin Barns Loop Trail.
Anna's Hummingbird  1
Rufous Hummingbird  1
hummingbird sp.  1
Virginia Rail  1     Heard tikking
Sora  1     Youngster
Sandhill Crane  1     Spotted by Nate flying and and later relocated
foraging along Shannon Slough near I5. Large wading waterbird with
outstretched neck and flat wings, large bustle while walking on tidal marsh
plain. Observed by many for 5-10 minutes at 1/2 mile with binoculars and
spotting scope. Very unusual to see this species at this time of year.
Ruled out GBHE by lack of black flight feathers, flight style, foraging
technique and size of bustle.
Killdeer  3     Mudflats west of Leschi Slough and Nisqually River Overlook.
Whimbrel  1     Spotted by Jason, previously reported large shorebird with
long decurved bill and stripes on crown. Seen on mudflats west of Leschi
Slough.
Long-billed Dowitcher  7     1 roosting in freshwater marsh, 6 others flew
into freshwater marsh.
Wilson's Snipe  1     Freshwater Marsh.
Greater Yellowlegs  6     Freshwater Marsh and channel edges on mudflats
along Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail.
Least Sandpiper  100     Good numbers over mudflats during early autumnal
migration.
Western Sandpiper  600     Upwards of 700 birds seen, 80% Western, 20%
Least Sandpiper on Mudflats west of Leschi Slough on falling tide. Counted
in groups of 50 with spotting scope.
Ring-billed Gull  100
California Gull  10
Glaucous-winged Gull  1
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid)  1
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull  20
Caspian Tern  40
Brandt's Cormorant  2     Nisqually River Channel Marker
Double-crested Cormorant  50
Great Blue Heron  50
Osprey  1
Bald Eagle  20     Occupied nest on McAllister Creek West Bank hill across
from the Puget Sound Observation Platform.
Belted Kingfisher  1     Nisqually River.
Red-breasted Sapsucker  1     Spotted by Matt along Twin Barns Loop Trail.
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific)  2
Hairy Woodpecker (Pacific)  3     Twin Barns Loop Trail.
Northern Flicker  2
Western Wood-Pewee  6
Willow Flycatcher  6
Western Flycatcher (Pacific-slope)  1     Riparian Forest Overlook.
Steller's Jay  1     Heard from McAllister Creek Observation Platform.
American Crow  2
Black-capped Chickadee  10
Chestnut-backed Chickadee  4
Bank Swallow  2
Tree Swallow  20
Violet-green Swallow  1
Purple Martin  2     Luhr Beach Boat Ramp Goards.
Northern Rough-winged Swallow  6
Barn Swallow (American)  50
Cliff Swallow (pyrrhonota Group)  50
Bushtit  20
Brown Creeper  8
Marsh Wren  3
Bewick's Wren  4
European Starling  100
Swainson's Thrush  40
American Robin  15
Cedar Waxwing  15
Purple Finch  1     Visitor Center.
American Goldfinch  15
Savannah Sparrow (Savannah)  7
Song Sparrow  25
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group)  1
Yellow-headed Blackbird  1     Briefly popped out of the reeds in the
freshwater marsh, seen by Nate and I for a split second, but not seen
again. Black bird with yellow head (I didn’t get a read on age/sex, but
Nate thought it was a female). Continuing this summer although infrequently
reported.
Bullock's Oriole  1     M
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged)  50
Brown-headed Cowbird  20
Common Yellowthroat  6
Yellow Warbler (Northern)  15
Wilson's Warbler  1     Heard by Nate around Twin Barns.

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S186397369
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