[Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 10/9/2024

[Shep Thorp via Tweeters]

Hi Tweets,

Approximately 30 of us enjoyed a beautiful Autumn day at the Refuge with
cloudy skies in the morning and sun in the afternoon with temperatures in
the 50's to 60's degrees Fahrenheit.  There was a High 12'3" Tide at
11:50am, so we did our routine walk of the Orchard, Access Roads, Twin
Barns Loop Trail, Dike and Estuary Boardwalk Trail.  The Refuge Biologist
was out performing a monthly bird survey and some of the Wednesday walkers
were assisting.  This was the last Wednesday to walk out to the Puget Sound
Viewing Platform until February 2nd 2025, as the last 700 feet are
gated/closed off from October 12th for hunting season.  Highlights included
mixed flocks around the west end of the west parking lot and entrance to
Twin Barns Loop Trail, continuing MARBLED GODWIT and WHIMBREL on the surge
plain and mudflats, COMMON LOON in McAllister Creek, and good views of
VIRGINIA RAIL in the freshwater marsh.  We also had a good mammal day with
sightings of Long-tailed Weasel around the Orchard and numerous Harbor Seal
on the Marsh Islands in McAllister Creek.  Many enjoyed nice observations
of a GREAT BLUE HERON carrying a Garter Snake over the freshwater marsh and
numerus AMERICAN PIPITS flying back and forth over the dike.  We were not
able to relocate the Northern Shrike seen earlier in the week, nor the
Willet.

For the day we observed 72 species.  This year we have seen 168 species
which is consistent with previous years.  See our eBird report pasted below
with details, and embedded photos.

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
Oct 9, 2024 7:35 AM - 4:08 PM
Protocol: Traveling
7.056 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Wednesday Walk. Cloudy in the morning with sun in
the afternoon. Temperatures in the 50’s to 60’s degrees Fahrenheit. A High
12’3” Tide at 11:50am.  Mammals seen Columbian Black-tailed Deer,
Long-tailed Weasel, Townsend’s Chipmunk, Eastern Gray Squirrel, and Harbor
Seal. Others seen Pacific Tree Frog, Red-legged Frog, Garter Snake, and
Red-eared Slider.
72 species (+7 other taxa)

Greater White-fronted Goose  4
Cackling Goose (minima)  1000
Cackling Goose (Taverner's)  4
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima)  30
Wood Duck  2     Flooded field between Access Road and Entrance Road.
Northern Shoveler  10
Gadwall  20
American Wigeon  350
Mallard  100
Northern Pintail  500
Green-winged Teal (American)  700
Surf Scoter  125     Nisqually Reach.
Horned Grebe  6     Nisqually Reach.
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  34
Anna's Hummingbird  3
Virginia Rail  3
Black-bellied Plover  1     Initially spotted by Jason, relocated and
observed on the mudflats from the Puget Sound Observation Platform and the
Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail north of the McAllister Creek Observation
Platform.
Killdeer  8
Whimbrel  1     Previously reported. Photos. Seen from Puget Sound Viewing
Platform and Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail between Tower and McAllister
Creek Viewing Platform.
Marbled Godwit  7     Previously reported. Photos. Roosting and foraging on
the surge plain north of Nisqually Estuary Trail north of Twin Barns.
Long-billed Dowitcher  12
Wilson's Snipe  4     Flooded field between Access Road and Entrance Road.
Spotted Sandpiper  2     West Bank of McAllister Creek.
Greater Yellowlegs  45
Least Sandpiper  35
Short-billed Gull  15
Ring-billed Gull  300
California Gull  1
Glaucous-winged Gull  3
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid)  6
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull  10
Common Loon  7     One in McAllister Creek and 6 on Nisqually Reach.
Brandt's Cormorant  9
Double-crested Cormorant  100
Great Blue Heron  20
Osprey  1
Northern Harrier  1
Sharp-shinned/Cooper's Hawk  1
Bald Eagle  6
Red-tailed Hawk (calurus/alascensis)  1
Belted Kingfisher  7
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific)  4
Hairy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  5
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)  1
Steller's Jay  2
American Crow  100
Common Raven  4
Black-capped Chickadee  20
Chestnut-backed Chickadee  8
Barn Swallow (American)  4
Bushtit (Pacific)  30
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  15
Golden-crowned Kinglet  15
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
Brown Creeper  5
Pacific Wren  1
Marsh Wren  2
Bewick's Wren  8
European Starling  150
American Robin  50
Cedar Waxwing  40
American Pipit  40
Purple Finch  2
American Goldfinch  16
Fox Sparrow (Sooty)  6
White-crowned Sparrow (pugetensis)  2
Golden-crowned Sparrow  15
Savannah Sparrow (Savannah)  8
Song Sparrow (rufina Group)  18
Lincoln's Sparrow  2     Observed north of Nisqually Estuary Trail north of
Twin Barns.
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group)  4
Western Meadowlark  1     Heard only north of Nisqually Estuary Trail.
Red-winged Blackbird  40
Orange-crowned Warbler  2
Common Yellowthroat  2
Yellow-rumped Warbler  30
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's)  10

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S198181311
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