[Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 6/12/2025

[Shep Thorp via Tweeters]

Hi Tweets,

Approximately 35 of us had a quick start to a cool and breezy Spring day at
the Refuge with temperatures in the 50's to 60's degrees Fahrenheit and Low
-2'2" Tide at 12:28pm.  The big highlight of the morning was a very
cooperative HUDSONIAN GODWIT on the mudflats north of the Nisqually Estuary
Trail or new dike and just west of Leschi Slough where gulls and shorebirds
tend to congregate.  I was out scouting before the walk and spotted the
Hudsonian Godwit around 7am.  A Godwit with gray head, dark eyeline, rusty
gray breast and belly, and black underwing with white rump and black tail
in flight.  I posted the sighting in Thurston/Mason RBA WhatsApp Chats and
coordinated with regular Wednesday Walkers to prepare an alternate route
for the morning to get others on the bird.  I think this may be the first
sighting for Thurston County, although I could be wrong.  They're reports
it is being seen today, Thursday 6/12.  It was an exciting morning for the
Wednesday Walkers.  We also enjoyed nice looks at upwards of three WILSON'S
PHALAROPE, juvenile PIED-BILLED GREBE, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, CINNAMON TEAL, and
WILSON'S SNIPE in the freshwater marsh.  Ken Brown spotted a funky
BONAPARTE'S GULL along the dike.  With all the excitement I tried to turn
it into a Black-headed Gull as this subadult bird had molt and a big bulky
bill.  Thanks to Raphael's underwing photo and the help of several
excellent birders who twitched the godwit sighting, we could confirm BOGU.
Other nice sightings included a SHORT-BILLED GULL on the Nisqually Estuary
Boardwalk Trail, and a YELLOW WARBLER on the nest on the north side of the
Riparian Forest Overlook Trail two railing planks west of the first
overlook approximately 25' high on the right hand side of a thin deciduous
tree found by Bill and Carol Langford.

For the day we observed 66 species.  With the Hudsonian Godwit being First
of Year, we have observed 157 species for 2025.  First of Yard/Patch, we
have observed 218 species since 2016 when we started our eBird account
Nisqually Birdwatch.

Please see our eBird Report posted below, photos being added.

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
Jun 11, 2025 6:02 AM - 3:02 PM
Protocol: Traveling
6.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Wednesday Walk. Cloudy with temperatures in the
50’s to 70’s degrees Fahrenheit. A Low -2’2” Tide at 12:28pm. Mammals seen
Eastern Cotton-tailed Rabbit, Townsend’s Chipmunk, Muskrat, Eastern Gray
Squirrel, and Harbor Seal. Others seen include Red-eared Slider, juvenile
Coho salmon in Riparian Forest Overlook channels.
66 species (+5 other taxa)

Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima)  30
Wood Duck  12
Blue-winged Teal  2
Cinnamon Teal  1
Blue-winged/Cinnamon Teal  1
Gadwall  2
Mallard  40
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  5
Band-tailed Pigeon (Northern)  9
Mourning Dove  2
Vaux's Swift  2
Anna's Hummingbird  1
Rufous Hummingbird  2
hummingbird sp.  1
Virginia Rail  2
Sora  2
Killdeer  3
Hudsonian Godwit  1     Photo. Seen from Nisqually Estuary Trail or new
Dike on mudflats north of trail and west of Leschi Slough. Foraging on
mudflats, large shorebird - godwit with gray head and red-gray breast and
belly. Black bar on tail with dark underwing and long wing-stripe. Observed
through out the day.
Wilson's Snipe  2
Wilson's Phalarope  3     Two females and one male observed in freshwater
marsh south of Nisqually Estuary Trail or new dike.
Bonaparte's Gull  1     Immature bird with large bill. Light underwing
consistent species.
Short-billed Gull  1     Photo. Immature bird, likely a second or third
cycle.  Small danty bill.
Ring-billed Gull  30
California Gull  40
Glaucous-winged Gull  5
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid)  2
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull  10
Larus sp.  100
Caspian Tern  2
Pied-billed Grebe  2     Juveniles
Brandt's Cormorant  10     Nisqually River channel marker.
Double-crested Cormorant  50
Great Blue Heron  45
Bald Eagle  30     Nest on West Bank of McAllister Hill across from Puget
Sound Observation Platform.
Belted Kingfisher  4
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific)  2
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)  3
Western Wood-Pewee  4
Willow Flycatcher  3
Western Flycatcher (Pacific-slope)  1
Warbling Vireo (Western)  2
Steller's Jay (Coastal)  2
American Crow  8
Common Raven  1
Black-capped Chickadee  11
Chestnut-backed Chickadee  2
Bank Swallow  5
Tree Swallow  20
Violet-green Swallow  2
Purple Martin  18     Luhr Beach Martin Gourds.
Northern Rough-winged Swallow  3
Barn Swallow (American)  40
Cliff Swallow (pyrrhonota Group)  40
Brown Creeper  2
Marsh Wren  10
Bewick's Wren (spilurus Group)  3
European Starling  400
Swainson's Thrush  37
American Robin (migratorius Group)  36
Cedar Waxwing  16
Purple Finch  4
American Goldfinch  25
Savannah Sparrow  4
Song Sparrow  20
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group)  1
Bullock's Oriole  1
Red-winged Blackbird  60
Brown-headed Cowbird  15
Common Yellowthroat  10
Yellow Warbler (Northern)  30     Occupied nest Riparian Forest Overlook,
two railing planks west of first observation platform on left side of
trail. Above eye level15-20 feet high in branch on right side of trail.
Black-headed Grosbeak  10

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S249405027
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