[Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 3/26/2025

[Shep Thorp via Tweeters]

Hi Tweets,

Over thirty of us enjoyed a nice Spring Day at the Refuge before the 'big'
thunderstorm arrived in the evening.  Temperatures were in the 50's to 60's
with partly cloudy skies.  There was a Low 5'11" Tide at 10:49am, so we did
our usual walk.  We had a nice mix of winter visitors, spring
time arrivals, and breeding action.  Highlights included HAIRY WOODPECKER
nest building in a snag just to the right of the Visitor Center entrance,
continuing TOWNSEND'S WARBLER in the Orchard, displaying BAND-TAILED PIGEON
over the Orchard, numerous WILSON SNIPE in the flooded fields, both hybrid
AMERICAN X EURASIAN WIGEON and very funky looking BARN SWALLOW from the
Twin Barns Overlook, four occupied BALD EAGLE nests, EURASIAN WIGEON in the
freshwater marsh, EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL seen from the McAllister Creek
Viewing Platform in the confluence of Shannon Slough and McAllister Creek,
and both BLACK BRANT GEESE and first of year GREATER SCAUP seen from the
Puget Sound Viewing Platform.  Finally, we had upwards of four MINK working
the west side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail from the twin bench overlook
adjacent to the access road cut-through to the Twin Barns cut-off and a
flushed SOUTHERN RED-BACKED VOLE swimming across the pond.

For the day we observed 77 species, and with FOY Greater Scaup we have seen
112 species this year.  Mammals seen included Columbian Black-tailed Deer,
Townsend's Chipmunk, Eastern Cotton-tailed Rabbit, four Mink, Southern
Red-backed Vole, Eastern Gray Squirrel and Harbor Seal.  Others seen
included Red-eared Slider, Pacific Tree Frog, Puget Sound Garter Snake, and
Northwest Salamander egg masses.  See our eBird report below for details
and numerous embedded photos.

Until next week when we meet again at 8am.

Happy birding,
Shep

-- 
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742

Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Mar 26, 2025 7:32 AM - 5:13 PM
Protocol: Traveling
6.539 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Wednesday Walk. Partly cloudy with temperatures in
the 50’s to 60’s. A Low 5’11” Tide at 10:49am. Mammals seen Columbian
Black-tailed Deer, Townsend’s Chipmunk, Eastern Cotton-tailed Rabbit,
Mink-four individuals seen, Southern Red-backed Vole, Eastern Gray
Squirrel, and Harbor Seal. Others seen Red-eared Slider, Pacific Tree Frog,
Northwest Salamander egg mass.
77 species (+7 other taxa)

Snow Goose  1     Fresh water marsh.
Greater White-fronted Goose  29     Nisqually Estuary Trail.
Brant  52     Nisqually Reach
Cackling Goose (minima)  300
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima)  35     Occupied nest in Visitor Center Pond
and in old Great Horned Owl nest tree on the inside of the north section of
Twin Barns Loop Trail.
Wood Duck  8
Northern Shoveler  125
Gadwall  12
Eurasian Wigeon  1     Fresh water marsh.
American Wigeon  750
Eurasian x American Wigeon (hybrid)  1     Twin Barns Observation Platform.
Mallard  125
Northern Pintail  250
Green-winged Teal (Eurasian)  1     Observed from the McAllister Creek
Viewing Platform in confluence of Shannon Slough and McAllister Creek. Seen
displaying and foraging with other American Green-winged Teal and in the
area of other waterfowl including American Wigeon, Mallards and Northern
Pintail. Photos taken. A male with no obvious vertical white stripe on the
side and a broad white horizontal white stripe. Enhanced white lines around
green eye patch. This individual appears to be a different bird then the
intergrade reported and photographed one week previously.
Green-winged Teal (American)  1000
Ring-necked Duck  12
Greater Scaup  100     Off Luhr Beach
Surf Scoter  100
White-winged Scoter  6
Bufflehead  100
Common Goldeneye  75
Hooded Merganser  8
Common Merganser  5     Nisqually River Overlook.
Red-breasted Merganser  6     McAllister Creek
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  36
Band-tailed Pigeon  6
Mourning Dove  2
Anna's Hummingbird  1
Rufous Hummingbird  3
American Coot  150
Killdeer  1
Wilson's Snipe  7
Greater Yellowlegs  20
Least Sandpiper  60
Short-billed Gull  300
Ring-billed Gull  50
Glaucous-winged Gull  3
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid)  20
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull  30
Pied-billed Grebe  2
Horned Grebe  8
Common Loon  1
Brandt's Cormorant  5     Nisqually River Channel Marker.
Double-crested Cormorant  5
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue)  20
Northern Harrier  1
Bald Eagle  14     Four occupied nests: Twin Barns, Cottonwood on Nisqually
River just north of Nisqually Estuary Trail, West Bank of McAllister Creek
south of McAllister Creek Viewing Platform, West Bank of McAllister Creek
across from Puget Sound Observation Platform.
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Belted Kingfisher  3
Red-breasted Sapsucker  1     Seen by Steve in Maple Trees around Twin
Barns picnic area.
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific)  4
Hairy Woodpecker (Pacific)  3     Nest hole in snag 50 feet east of
entrance to Visitor Center.
Northern Flicker  3
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)  3     Nest in riparian forest on the inside
of the west side Twin Barns Loop Trail just  north of the access road
cut-through.
American Crow  10
Common Raven  2
Black-capped Chickadee  15     Nest in snag on outside of west side Twin
Barns Loop Trail 100 feet south of Twin Barns cut off.
Chestnut-backed Chickadee  3
Tree Swallow  50
Violet-green Swallow  2
Barn Swallow  1     Observed at Twin Barns Overlook. Photos taken.
Initially I identified this bird as a Barn Swallow, but Ken correctly
pointed out the light rump and  nape markings more consistent with Cliff
Swallow. We even considered Cave Swallow as possible ID. Seen perched on
Tree Swallow nest box for 3 minutes at 50 feet. Brown forehead, light brown
throat, rufous on sides on neck, light rump and under tail covert chevrons.
Our best guess is subadult and/or non-breeding Cliff Swallow as this
individual lacked a dark throat and white forehead. Will reach out to local
experts for confirmation.  Convinced: very worn Barn Swallow by GISS,
shape, and markings.  Thanks to All.  -Shep
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  15
Golden-crowned Kinglet  5
Brown Creeper  2
Pacific Wren  4
Marsh Wren  20
Bewick's Wren  8
European Starling  30
Varied Thrush  1
American Robin  40
Purple Finch  2
Pine Siskin  40
Fox Sparrow (Sooty)  2
White-crowned Sparrow (pugetensis)  1
Golden-crowned Sparrow  6
Savannah Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  34
Song Sparrow (rufina Group)  35
Lincoln's Sparrow  2
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group)  3
Red-winged Blackbird  40
Yellow-rumped Warbler  8
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's)  3
Townsend's Warbler  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S221140345
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