[Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 8/5/2024

[Shep Thorp via Tweeters]

Hi Tweets,

Approximately 25 of us had an initially cool summer day at the Refuge with
fog and temperatures in the 50's degrees Fahrenheit.  Initially the birding
was slow, but a breeze helped to clear out the fog and it was sunny by late
morning with improved activity.  By the end of the day it was sunny and in
the 80's degrees Fahrenheit.  There was a High 11'7" Tide at 6:48am and a
Low 1'4" Tide at 1:09pm.  We skipped the Orchard and the Access Road in the
morning to make the most of the falling tide on the dike.  Highlights
included a nice mixed flock of WARBLING VIREO, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER,
YELLOW WARBLER and CHICKADEE in the bramble and willows between the dike
and slough adjacent to the Twin Barns; excellent views of PECTORAL
SANDPIPER, BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, WESTERN SANDPIPER and
LEAST SANDPIPER along the Nisqually Estuary Trail and Nisqually Estuary
Boardwalk Trail, nice looks at NORTHERN HARRIER and PEREGRINE FALCON, and
good looks of BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER along the east side of the Twin
Barns Loop Trail in a mixed flock CHICKADEE, DOWNY WOODPECKER, and BROWN
CREEPER.  A WHIMBREL and BONAPARTE'S GULL continued along the McAllister
Creek adjacent to the boardwalk.

For the day we observed 67 species, and have seen 165 species this year.
We had great looks at many Pacific Tree Frog with the cool foggy morning.

Further details in our eBird Report below with really nice photos of
Baird's Sandpiper and Pectoral Sandpiper.

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

Shep

-- 
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742

Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Sep 4, 2024 7:26 AM - 4:52 PM
Protocol: Traveling
6.44 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Wednesday Walk. Foggy in the morning with clearing
and sun by late morning. Temperatures in the 50’s to 80’s degrees
Fahrenheit. There was a High 11’7” Tide at 6:48am and a Low 1’4” Tide at
1:09pm. We skipped the Orchard and Access Roads in the morning and made our
way out on the Twin Barns Loop Trail to bird the dike earlier in the day.
Mammals seen Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Harbor Seal. Many Pacific Tree
Frogs observed.
67 species (+6 other taxa)

Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima)  40
Wood Duck  4     Slough on east side of Twin Barns Loop Trail.
Gadwall  2     Freshwater marsh.
Mallard  100
Northern Pintail  20
Green-winged Teal  10     Surge plain.
Hooded Merganser  2     Shannon slough.
Common Merganser  3     Nisqually River Overlook.
Common/Red-breasted Merganser  1     Spotted by Rob from McAllister Creek
Viewing Platform.
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  12
Mourning Dove  1
Anna's Hummingbird  3
American Coot  1     Freshwater Marsh
Killdeer  8
Semipalmated Plover  6     Mudflats along Nisqually Estuary Trail and
Nisqually Boardwalk Trail.
Whimbrel  1     West bank of McAllister Creek
Wilson's Snipe  4     Visitor Center Pond and Freshwater Marsh.
Spotted Sandpiper  1     West bank of McAllister Creek.
Greater Yellowlegs  20
Lesser/Greater Yellowlegs  2
Baird's Sandpiper  2     Up close nice views from Nisqually Estuary Trail
or dike on outgoing tide. Loosely associated with Pectoral Sandpiper,
Semipalmated Plovers, and peeps.
Least Sandpiper  100
Pectoral Sandpiper  1     Spotted by Bruce:  Nice close views off Nisqually
Estuary Trail on mudflats before Boardwalk.
Western Sandpiper  350
Western/Semipalmated Sandpiper  2
Bonaparte's Gull  1     McAllister Creek
Short-billed Gull  1     McAllister Creek.
Ring-billed Gull  200
California Gull  2
Glaucous-winged Gull  2
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid)  10
Larus sp.  200
Brandt's Cormorant  1     Nisqually River Channel Marker.
Double-crested Cormorant  50
Great Blue Heron  30
Turkey Vulture  1     Spotted by Heather.
Osprey  1
Northern Harrier  3
Cooper's Hawk  1     Spotted by Alex.
Bald Eagle  10
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Belted Kingfisher  4
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific)  3
Northern Flicker  1
Peregrine Falcon  2
Warbling Vireo  3     Mixed feeding flock between slough and Nisqually
Estuary Trail adjacent to Twin Barns.
California Scrub-Jay  1     West end of Visitor Center West Parking Lot.
American Crow  6
Common Raven  3
Black-capped Chickadee  20
Chestnut-backed Chickadee  6
Tree Swallow  5
Violet-green Swallow  4
Tree/Violet-green Swallow  10
Purple Martin  2
Barn Swallow (American)  60
Brown Creeper  4
Marsh Wren  1
Bewick's Wren  4
European Starling  150
Swainson's Thrush  3
Cedar Waxwing  25
Pine Siskin  2
American Goldfinch  2
White-crowned Sparrow  1     Spotted by Anders and Kirstin in Orchard.
Savannah Sparrow  8
Song Sparrow (rufina Group)  10
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged)  6
Brown-headed Cowbird  4
Orange-crowned Warbler (lutescens)  4
Common Yellowthroat  1
Yellow Warbler  1
Black-throated Gray Warbler  2     Mixed flock east side of Twin Barns Loop
Trail.

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S194057289
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