[Tweeters] Nisqually Wednesday.

[Kenneth Brown via Tweeters]

It started off a bit cool and foggy in the morning but soon warmed and cleared, at least partially.  It felt almost spring-like and the birds apparently agreed, as not only our early Barn Swallows hung around but their cousins, Tree Swallows, appeared in significant numbers.  The Visitor's Center pond was active with Mallards, American Wigeon, Northern Shovelers, Bufflehead, Ring-necked Ducks, a pair of Hooded Mergansers and an American Coot. 
 
As we walked south through the parking lot, American Crows leaving their roost were in less than usual numbers.  Are most leaving earlier as it gets light earlier?  A few were mobbing a Common Raven in the top of a fruit tree in the orchard, successfully persuading it to move on.  A Northern Flicker and Red-breasted Sapsucker shared the orchard with American Robins and a couple Mourning Doves.  Near the Maintenance Compound another Sapsucker tended its perforated trees and Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets fast-danced in the nearby Alders.  From the entrance road, some of us spotted Black-capped and Chestnut-backed Chickadees, more Kinglets, and a Downy Woodpecker. 
 
The flooded fields west of the service road were guarded on the south end by a Peregrine Falcon, and on the north end by a Red-tailed Hawk.  In between were American Coots, Shovelers, Mallards, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, lots of American Wigeon and one Eurasian Wigeon spotted by Kathleen.  Red-winged Blackbirds were scattered on the cattails and European Starlings on the drier ground.  A dozen Tree Herons (GBH) perched along the western tree line.
 
On the west side of the loop trail we found Hairy Woodpecker and Northern Flicker, Both Kinglet species, Black-capped Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Spotted Towhee, Bewick's, Marsh, and Pacific Wrens, and Yellow-rumped Warblers.  From the Twin Barns platform we saw several Tree Swallows investigating the nest boxes, another European Wigeon and all the expected ducks.
 
A Lincoln's Sparrow popped up for a look at us in the Willows on the north side of the dike and just a bit west, a first of the year flock of Cedar Waxwings.  Several Bald Eagles sat along the tree line to the north and a young, pale, Red-tailed Hawk flushed from the trees on the south side.  A Northern Harrier hunted the surge plain.  Golden-crowned and Song Sparrows made their appearance.  Scanning the mud to the north revealed the continuing small flock of Semipalmated Plovers and that the rib cage of the deceased Sealion has collapsed.  A large Gull pulled pinkish flesh from the carcass. Ring-billed Gulls were scattered along the mud.  Past the Willows, on the freshwater marsh, dozens of Tree Swallows crisscrossed the air or perched on small dead bushes.  A Virginia Rail called out.  Hundreds of Cacking Geese browsed or roosted along the inner dike.
 
McAllister Creek was busy with American Wigeon, Bufflehead, Mallards, Common Goldeneye, Surf Scoters, a few Red-breasted Mergansers, and a couple Horned Grebes.  A couple Spotted Sandpipers worked the shoreline as did several Greater Yellowlegs.  A single Double-crested Cormorant stood on the east bank. Harbor Seals were splashing up and down the creek, whether in pursuit of prey or in some sort of mating display was unclear.  Flocks of Least Sandpipers dropped to the shore to feed, then picked up only to settle again briefly in another location.  From the Puget Sound viewing platform we identified more Surf Scoters, Red-breasted Mergansers, American Wigeon, Bufflehead, and Common Goldeneye, and were finally rewarded with a cluster of Brant Geese.  Brandt's Cormorants were on the channel marker.  Returning south along the boardwalk we saw a flock of Short-billed gulls, more Least Sandpipers and a murmuration of Dunlin, flashing dark and white.  Back on the dike, the resident flock of Greater White-fronted Geese we had missed on the way out had returned.
 
At the Nisqually River overlook were Common Mergansers, Common Goldeneye, another solo Double-crested Cormorant, and a Great Blue Heron. South along the east side of the loop trail a large flock of Pine Siskin occupied a bare Cottonwood tree as if it had been decorated with drab, dancing ornaments.  For the fourth consecutive week we were unable to locate the Great Horned Owl.  In the slough, a pair of Hooded Mergansers seemed to think we had invaded their privacy.  Back to the start to finalize our tally.  The checklist follows:
 
 
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR--Twin Barns Loop, Thurston, Washington, US
Feb 26, 2025 7:53 AM - 4:03 PM
Protocol: Traveling
4.93 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Mammals:  Harbor Seals, Black-tailed Deer, Eastern Gray Squirrel and Little Brown Bat.
65 species (+4 other taxa)

Greater White-fronted Goose  26     foraging on and along dike.
Brant  18     seen from Puget Sound viewing platform.
Cackling Goose  1200
Cackling Goose (Taverner's)  15
Canada Goose  20
Northern Shoveler  250
Gadwall  6
Eurasian Wigeon  3
American Wigeon  1200
Mallard  150
Northern Pintail  600
Green-winged Teal  200
Ring-necked Duck  5
Surf Scoter  180
Bufflehead  250
Common Goldeneye  150
Hooded Merganser  6
Common Merganser  4
Red-breasted Merganser  24
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  35
Mourning Dove  4
Virginia Rail  1     Heard only.
American Coot  100
Killdeer  4
Semipalmated Plover  5     Continuing on mud flats.
Spotted Sandpiper  2
Greater Yellowlegs  30
Dunlin  1500
Least Sandpiper  180     Several active flocks of 20-40, counted by 10's.
Short-billed Gull  75
Ring-billed Gull  150
Glaucous-winged Gull  2
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid)  10
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull  15
Horned Grebe  2
Brandt's Cormorant  9
Double-crested Cormorant  2
Great Blue Heron  30
Northern Harrier  1
Bald Eagle  20
Red-tailed Hawk  3
Red-breasted Sapsucker  3
Downy Woodpecker  1
Hairy Woodpecker  2
Northern Flicker  4
Peregrine Falcon  1
American Crow  50
Common Raven  2
Black-capped Chickadee  11
Chestnut-backed Chickadee  2
Tree Swallow  40
Barn Swallow  1     Continuing.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  4
Golden-crowned Kinglet  15
Brown Creeper  5
Pacific Wren  1
Marsh Wren  9
Bewick's Wren  11
European Starling  30
American Robin  50
Cedar Waxwing  8
Pine Siskin  90
Golden-crowned Sparrow  20
Song Sparrow  36
Lincoln's Sparrow  1
Spotted Towhee  2
Red-winged Blackbird  40
Yellow-rumped Warbler  6
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S215622101
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