[Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 9/25/2026

[Shep Thorp via Tweeters]

Hi Tweets,

Approximately 25 of us had a pretty nice day at the Refuge with partly
cloudy to cloudy skies, temperatures in the 50's to 60's degrees
Fahrenheit, and rain from 12p-2p.  There was a High 12'8" Tide at 2:47pm so
we did our usual walk.  Highlights included a dramatic ingestion of an
American Bullfrog by a GREAT BLUE HERON (see Lisa's embedded photos) and a
beautiful capture of a peep species by PEREGRINE FALCON.  We also had a
good frog day with numerous sightings of Pacific Tree Frog and Red-legged
Frog.

For the day we observed 66 species with nothing new for the year (166 sp to
date).  We had a nice fly over of approximately 50 CACKLING GEESE.

The American White Pelican that had been in the ponds adjacent to I5 just
north of the Nisqually River has moved on.  We were unable to relocate
confirmed sightings of Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and Red Knot over the last
week.  And we did not see Marbled Godwit or Whimbrel reported during the
day, but it's a large Refuge and the birds move around quite a bit during
the incoming and falling tide.  Tide levels of 9'-11' seem to work well for
the Nisqually Estuary Trail, dike, and the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk
Trail.

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

Shep

-- 
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742

Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Sep 25, 2024 7:38 AM - 3:16 PM
Protocol: Traveling
6.328 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Wednesday Walk. Cloudy with Temperatures in the
50’s-60’s degrees Fahrenheit.  A High 12’8” Tide at 2:47pm. Mammals seen
Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Townsend’s Chipmunk, Eastern Gray Squirrel and
Harbor Seal. Others seen Pacific Tree Frog, American Bullfrog and
Red-legged Frog.
66 species (+4 other taxa)

Cackling Goose (minima)  45
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima)  11
Wood Duck  17
Northern Shoveler  19
Gadwall  2
American Wigeon  75
Mallard  100
Northern Pintail  800
Green-winged Teal (American)  1500     Counted in groups of 100. Observed
foraging on mud flats in surge plain and tidal mudflats north of Nisqually
Estuary Trail and west of Leschi Slough.
scoter sp.  2
Hooded Merganser  2
Common Merganser  6
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  18
Band-tailed Pigeon  1
Mourning Dove  2
Anna's Hummingbird  2     Orchard.
Virginia Rail  2
Black-bellied Plover  3     Observed on tidal mudflats north of Nisqually
Estuary Trail and west of Leschi Slough.
Killdeer  3
Long-billed Dowitcher  3     Nisqually Estuary Trail. Seen and heard,
“kik-kik-Kik”.
Greater Yellowlegs  30
Least Sandpiper  40
Western Sandpiper  50
Short-billed Gull  1
Ring-billed Gull  400
California Gull  2
Glaucous-winged Gull  1
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid)  50
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull  10
Common Loon  2     McAllister Creek
Brandt's Cormorant  5     Channel Marker for Nisqually River.
Double-crested Cormorant  40
Great Blue Heron  25
Northern Harrier  1
Cooper's Hawk  1
Bald Eagle  10
Red-tailed Hawk  2
Belted Kingfisher  4
Downy Woodpecker  4
Hairy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  2
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)  2
Merlin  1
Peregrine Falcon  2     One caught shorebird.
American Crow  60
Common Raven  4
Black-capped Chickadee  15
Barn Swallow (American)  6
Golden-crowned Kinglet  25
Brown Creeper  2
Pacific Wren  2
Marsh Wren  1
Bewick's Wren  6
European Starling  50
American Robin  50
Cedar Waxwing  30
American Pipit  6     Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail.
Purple Finch  1     Crabapple Trees around parking lot.
American Goldfinch  1
White-crowned Sparrow (pugetensis)  8
Golden-crowned Sparrow  12
Savannah Sparrow (Savannah)  6
Song Sparrow (rufina Group)  26
Lincoln's Sparrow  2     Seen north of Nisqually Estuary Trail north of
Twin Barns.
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group)  2
Red-winged Blackbird  15
Brown-headed Cowbird  3
Common Yellowthroat  2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's)  2
Western Tanager  1     West end Parking Lot.

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S196491173
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