[Tweeters] Wednesday Walk for Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR

[Shep Thorp via Tweeters]

Dear Tweets,

Approximately 20 of us had a really nice Fall day at the Refuge with mostly
sunny skies and temperatures in the 40's to 50's degrees Fahrenheit.  There
was a High 12'9" Tide at 1:14pm, so we did our usual route.  Highlights
included a large flock of over 1000 CACKLING GEESE in the fields south of
the Twin Barns (mostly minima with a few taverner's mixed in), good numbers
of CEDAR WAXWING around the west parking lot, a nice mixed flock of feeding
birds including ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER along the west side of the Twin
Barns Loop Trail, nice looks of WESTERN MEADOWLARK-WILSON'S SNIPE-and SORA
in the freshwater marsh along the Nisqually Estuary Trail or dike, two late
CASPIAN TERNS on the mudflats west of Leschi Slough, continuing two
WHIMBREL along the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail between the Tower and
McAllister Creek Observation Platform, both COMMON LOON and BUFFLEHEAD seen
in McAllister Creek, and First Of Year MARBLED MURRELET on Nisqually Reach
seen from the closure gate at the end of the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk
Trail.

For the day we observed 82 species, with FOY Marbled Murrelet, we now have
seen 176 this year.  See our eBird report pasted below with additional
details and photos.

Until next week when we meet again at 8am, good birding and Happy Halloween.

Shep
-- 
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742

Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Oct 29, 2025 7:48 AM - 4:34 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.945 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Wednesday Walk. Mostly sunny skies with
temperatures in the 40’s to 50’s. A High 12’9” Tide at 1:14pm. Others seen
included Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Eastern Gray Squirrel, Harbor Seal,
Eastern Cotton-tailed Rabbit.  Pacific Chorus Frog.
82 species (+7 other taxa)

Greater White-fronted Goose  2     Spotted by Gene flying east over dike at
10am.
Cackling Goose (minima)  1000
Cackling Goose (Taverner's)  10
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima)  6
Trumpeter Swan  2     Spotted by Mike flying over dike at 1pm.
Northern Shoveler  50
Gadwall  5
American Wigeon  400
Mallard  75
Northern Pintail  400
Green-winged Teal  1000
Greater Scaup  30     Nisqually Reach beyond mouth of McAllister Creek.
Surf Scoter  41
White-winged Scoter  3     Mixed in with Surf Scoters on Nisqually Reach.
Bufflehead  25     McAllister Creek and Nisqually Reach.
Hooded Merganser  2     Visitor Center Pond.
Common Merganser  15     Flock fly over parking lot at 8:15 am.
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  3
Band-tailed Pigeon  1
Anna's Hummingbird  3
Sora  1     Freshwater marsh.
Black-bellied Plover  5     Surge plain.
Hudsonian Whimbrel  2     Previously reported. Photos. Seen from Nisqually
Estuary Boardwalk Trail between Tower and McAllister Creek Viewing Platform
on saltwater marsh along Shannon Slough.
Long-billed Dowitcher  15     Surge plain. Observed at 2:30pm on falling
tide. Some birds flushed flying over dike with vocalization of LBDO, high
pitched Kik-Kik-Kik.
Wilson's Snipe  3     Freshwater marsh.
Spotted Sandpiper  1     West Bank of McAllister Creek
Greater Yellowlegs  40
Dunlin  300
Least Sandpiper  75
Western Sandpiper  5
Rhinoceros Auklet  4
Marbled Murrelet  1     Observed from gate closure at end of Nisqually
Estuary Boardwalk Trail. Observed with spotting scope on Nisqually Reach
foraging along side Horned Grebes and Surf Scoters. Small alcid with dark
head white throat and sides and white patch on back.  Short neck, no
observable eyeline. Observed opening wings before diving.  Seen on surface
swimming 3 times over 10-15 seconds.
Short-billed Gull  5
Ring-billed Gull  150
California Gull  1
Glaucous-winged Gull  1
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid)  11
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull  20
Larus sp.  300
Caspian Tern  2     Late birds. Adult feeding chick. Mudflats west of
Leschi Slough and north of Nisqually Estuary Trail.
Pied-billed Grebe  2     Visitor center pond.
Horned Grebe  15
Red-necked Grebe  1     Spotted by Mary Linders, dark necked grebe with
yellow bill. Seen from gate closure at end of Nisqually Estuary Trail.
Horned/Eared Grebe  3     Likely Eared Grebe. Peaked head, darker neck. Too
distant to be certain of ID.
Common Loon  5     One loon seen from McAllister Creek Viewing Platform in
confluence of McAllister Creek and Shannon Slough.
Brandt's Cormorant  12     Nisqually River Channel Marker.
Double-crested Cormorant  15
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue)  30
Sharp-shinned Hawk  1     Surge plain.
Cooper's Hawk  1     Surge plain
Northern Harrier  2
Bald Eagle  6
Red-tailed Hawk  2
owl sp.  1     Likely Barred Owl, flushed along Nisqually Estuary
Trail/Dike where Leschi Slough aqueduct connects slough next to Twin
Barns.  Owl flew into stand adjacent to slough.
Belted Kingfisher  4
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific)  3
Hairy Woodpecker (Pacific)  2
Northern Flicker  2
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)  2
American Kestrel (Northern)  2
Peregrine Falcon  2
Steller's Jay  2
American Crow  50
Black-capped Chickadee  15
Chestnut-backed Chickadee  1
Bushtit (Pacific)  15
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  6
Golden-crowned Kinglet  10
Brown Creeper  4
Pacific Wren (Pacific)  2
Marsh Wren  10
Bewick's Wren  3
European Starling  150
American Robin  40
Cedar Waxwing  40
House Finch  3
Purple Finch  4
American Goldfinch  2
Fox Sparrow (Sooty)  2
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)  1     Spotted by Laurie near the west entrance of
the Twin Barns Loop Trail.
Golden-crowned Sparrow  15
Savannah Sparrow  1     Spotted by Gene along the dike.
Song Sparrow  25
Lincoln's Sparrow  1     Spotted by Miles along the dike.
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group)  2
Western Meadowlark  2     Nisqually Estuary Trail.
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged)  30
Orange-crowned Warbler (lutescens)  1     West side of n Twin Barns Loop
Trail.
Yellow-rumped Warbler  15

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S281991915
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