[Tweeters] Wednesday Walk for Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for Thursday January 2nd 2025

[Shep Thorp via Tweeters]

Hi Tweets,

Approximately 25 of us had a nice first of year walk at the Refuge with
occasional light rain and temperatures in the 30's to 40's degrees
Fahrenheit.  There was a High 15'01" Tide at 8:07am and a Low 7'10" Tide at
1:46pm.  We decided to do the walk Thursday January 2nd this week to
celebrate the New Year Wednesday January 1st with family.  Highlights
included BARN OWL seen from the Twin Barns Overlook by Steve at 7am,
RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER in the Orchard, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS from the Twin
Barns Overlook, SORA spotted by Tom across the dike from the cut-off to the
Twin Barns, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER observed in the surge plain north of the
Nisqually Estuary Trail, great looks of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE along
the dike, and continuing BLACK SCOTER spotted/scoped by Jason swimming on
the Nisqually Reach with Surf Scoters.  Mammals seen included Eastern
Cotton-tailed Rabbit, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Eastern Gray Squirrel,
Townsend's Chipmunk, Harbor Seal, Steller Sea Lion and deceased California
Sea Lion on surge plain.

For the day we had 77 species.  See our eBird report pasted below.  We
dipped on relocating the Great Horned Owl which was seen by other birders
during the day.

Next week we will meet again at 8am at the Visitor Center Pond Overlook.
Wednesday January 8th the Refuge will have a volunteer recognition lunch
between 11:30am and 1:30pm.  The volunteers, including myself, will have a
planned break between 11am and 2pm.  Please feel welcome to join us, there
will be regular walkers who continue the walk.

Happy New Year and happy birding,
Shep

-- 
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742

Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Jan 2, 2025 7:27 AM - 4:19 PM
Protocol: Traveling
7.133 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Wednesday Walk. Cloudy, intermittent light rain,
temperature in the 30’s to 40’s degrees.  A High 15’01” Tide at 8:07am and
Low 7’10” Tide at 1:46pm. Mammals seen included Eastern Cotton-tailed
Rabbit, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Eastern Gray Squirrel, Harbor Seal,
and Steller Sea Lion.
77 species (+4 other taxa)

Greater White-fronted Goose (Western)  26     Nisqually Estuary Trail.
Adjacent to trail.
Brant (Black)  6     Nisqually Reach.
Cackling Goose (minima)  500
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima)  8
Trumpeter Swan  2
Northern Shoveler  75
Gadwall  30
Eurasian Wigeon  4     Fresh water marsh and confluence of Shannon Slough
and McAllister Creek.
American Wigeon  750
Mallard  125
Northern Pintail  100
Green-winged Teal (American)  200
Surf Scoter  60
White-winged Scoter  8
Black Scoter  1     Previously reported. Spotted by Jason, seen in mixed
group of Surf Scoter and White-winged Scoter, roosting on water in
Nisqually Reach between Puget Sound Viewing Platform and pilings further
out. Scoped from closure gate with 60x spotting scope for 10 minutes, a
brown scoter with white cheek patch and steeper forehead then surrounding
Surf and White-wings. Smaller billed.
Bufflehead  150
Common Goldeneye  60
Common Merganser (North American)  3
Red-breasted Merganser  40
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  3
Virginia Rail  1     Heard in freshwater marsh.
Sora  1     Observed by Tom and Jon just north of dike, Nisqually Estuary
Trail, north of cut-off to Twin Barns. Seen by eye within 20-30 feet in
Canary Reed Grass between short Red Alders. Observed for several seconds
walking in grass adjacent to Song Sparrow. Small dark Rail with short
yellow bill. Distinctive.  This species has been reported previous years in
January and February.
American Coot (Red-shielded)  21
Semipalmated Plover  5     Observed foraging on mudflats north of Nisqually
Estuary Trail, dike, north of Twin Barns. Small single breast band plover.
Seen in area near Greater Yellowlegs and Green-winged Teal. Scoped with 60x
scope at 200 yards, observed for 5-10 minutes.
Long-billed Dowitcher  7     Twin Barns Overlook.
Spotted Sandpiper  1
Greater Yellowlegs  25
Dunlin  300
Least Sandpiper  75
Western Sandpiper  3     Observed foraging and flying with Dunlin. Peep
sized shorebird with white throat. Smaller then Dunlin. Observed with
binoculars and scope at 200 yards for several minutes.
Short-billed Gull  25
Ring-billed Gull  45
Glaucous-winged Gull  2
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid)  6
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull  6
Larus sp.  50
Horned Grebe  11
Common Loon  2
Brandt's Cormorant  2     Nisqually River channel marker.
Double-crested Cormorant  6
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue)  15
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Northern)  1
Cooper's Hawk  1     Seen by Tom along entrance road.
Northern Harrier  3
Bald Eagle  16
Red-tailed Hawk  2
American Barn Owl  1     Spotted by Steve around 7am from the Twin Barns
Observation Platform.
Belted Kingfisher  3
Red-breasted Sapsucker  2     Orchard.
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific)  2
Hairy Woodpecker (Pacific)  2
Pileated Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  2
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)  2
Peregrine Falcon  1
American Crow  101
Common Raven  3
Black-capped Chickadee  6
Chestnut-backed Chickadee  4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  16
Golden-crowned Kinglet  21
Brown Creeper  4
Pacific Wren (pacificus Group)  4
Marsh Wren  4
Bewick's Wren  8
European Starling  100
Varied Thrush  1
American Robin  16
House Finch  4
Purple Finch (Western)  2
Red Crossbill  4
Pine Siskin  70
Fox Sparrow (Sooty)  1
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)  1
White-crowned Sparrow (pugetensis)  2
Golden-crowned Sparrow  30
Song Sparrow (rufina Group)  21
Lincoln's Sparrow  2     Surge plain north of dike.
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group)  4
Western Meadowlark  2     Twin Barns Overlook.
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged)  4

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S207774473
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