[Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 9/3/2025

[Shep Thorp via Tweeters]

Hi Tweets,

Approximately 30 of us had a really fine Summer day at the Refuge with
clear skies and temperatures in the 60's to 80's degrees Fahrenheit.  There
was a Low 0’3” Tide at 9:02am and a High 12’6” Tide at 5:11pm.

Highlights included First Of Year EASTERN KINGBIRD relocated by Gene and
Matt in the freshwater marsh and the trees along the slough that runs from
the dike to the Twin Barns.  We also had great looks of FOY PECTORAL
SANDPIPER spotted by Heather on the mudflats adjacent to the dike where the
Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail starts.  A big surprise was a juvenile
HUDSONIAN GODWIT roosting/foraging in the marsh surrounded by tidal
water/mudflats just west of Leschi Slough and 100 yards north of the dike
spotted by Janel on our return during the high tide.  We had many good
looks at migrating Warblers and Waterfowl.

For the day we observed 91 species, thanks to all the eyes and the
contributing reports.  With FOY Eastern Kingbird, Pectoral Sandpiper and
AMERICAN PIPIT, we now have observed 168 species so far this year.  See our
eBird report pasted below with additional details.  Photos to be added.

Others seen included Eastern Cotton-tailed Rabbit, Townsend's Chipmunk,
Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Eastern Gray Squirrel, Harbor Seal and River
Otter.  Both American Bullfrog and Pacific Choral Frog were seen as well.

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
Sep 3, 2025 7:15 AM - 7:21 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.347 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Wednesday walk. Clear skies with temperatures in
the 60’s-80’s degrees. A Low 0’3” Tide at 9:02am and a High 12’6” Tide at
5:11pm.  Mammals seen include Eastern Cotton-tailed Rabbit, Townsend’s
Chipmunk, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Harbor Seal and River Otter.  Others
seen American Bullfog, Pacific Choral Frog, Pacific Sand Lance Fish.
91 species (+5 other taxa)

Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima)  25
Wood Duck  8     Visitor Center Pond overlook and slough east side of Twin
Barns Loop Trail.
Cinnamon Teal (Northern)  2     Spotted by Matt flying into flooded tide
flats north of dike and west of Leschi Slough on high tide.
Northern Shoveler  20
American Wigeon  100
Mallard  30
Northern Pintail  150
Green-winged Teal (American)  125
White-winged Scoter  1     Scoped from Puget Sound Observation Platform
between Nisqually Reach and Anderson Island.
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  50     Refuge entrance.
Band-tailed Pigeon (Northern)  10
Eurasian Collared-Dove  2
Mourning Dove  3
Vaux's Swift  5
Anna's Hummingbird  3
Virginia Rail  4     Freshwater marsh.
Sora  2     Freshwater marsh.
Black-bellied Plover  3     Scoped by Bill from Nisqually Estuary Trail or
dike on north section of mud flats west of Leschi Slough and east of
Madrone Slough. Birds also heard calling on incoming tide.
Killdeer  8
Semipalmated Plover  1     Heard by Gene in the morning on the Nisqually
Estuary Trail.
Hudsonian Godwit  1     Spotted by Janel at 5:40pm on a high tide from the
Nisqually Estuary Trail or new dike in the saltwater marsh surrounded by
mudflats just 100 yards north of the trail and west of Leschi slough.
Observed for 1 hour roosting, flying and foraging a gray Godwit with two
toned bill, light supercilium, and mild black spotting on mantle. In
flight, bird had a black tail, white rump and dark underwing. Appears to be
a juvenile. Photos.
Long-billed Dowitcher  3     Spotted by several flying over the dike and
landing in the surge plain.
Wilson's Snipe  2     Flying over freshwater marsh and dike.
Spotted Sandpiper  1     Spotted flying along the west side McAllister
Creek.
Greater Yellowlegs  40
Least Sandpiper  100
Pectoral Sandpiper  1     Spotted by Heather adjacent to the Nisqually
Estuary Trail immediately before the entrance to the Nisqually Estuary
Boardwalk Trail on the saltwater side.
Western Sandpiper  1000     Several large flocks breaking up and
coalescing. Counting in groups of 100, approximately 1000 birds.
Semipalmated Sandpiper  1     Difficult to find and relocate amongst
hundreds of Western Sandpiper. A peep sized shorebird with short stubby
bill, white throat, black legs and lacking the rufous scapulars and crown
feathers more typically seen in surrounding WESA.
Western/Semipalmated Sandpiper  1
Rhinoceros Auklet  1     Spotted by Janel from Puget Sound Viewing Platform
flying between between Reach and Anderson Island.
Short-billed Gull  2     Spotted by Jon and Charlie flying over mudflats.
Ring-billed Gull  250
California Gull  1
Glaucous-winged Gull  4
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid)  10
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull  25
Larus sp.  200
Caspian Tern  4
Brandt's Cormorant  5     Nisqually Channel Marker
Double-crested Cormorant  75
American Bittern  1     Spotted by Gene in the morning flying over the
freshwater marsh.
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue)  50
Turkey Vulture  14     Circling over the Nisqually River, suspect foraging
on dead salmon along the River. Pink Salmon seen along River last week.
Osprey (American)  2
Cooper's Hawk  1
Northern Harrier  2
Bald Eagle  6
Red-tailed Hawk  2
Belted Kingfisher  3
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific)  6
Pileated Woodpecker  1     Heard by Don in the morning at the Riparian
Forest Overlook.
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)  3
American Kestrel (Northern)  3     1 female and 2 males reported.
Peregrine Falcon  1
Western Wood-Pewee  4
Willow Flycatcher  2
Western Flycatcher  1     Heard in stand south of Flagpole and in woods
east of Visitor Center.
Eastern Kingbird  1     Previously reported. Relocated by Gene in the
morning spotted flying from Freshwater Marsh to the Spruce Tree adjacent to
gate for central access road next to aqueduct. Bird seen multiple times
from dike and Twin Barns Observation Platform. Best views were in slough
between dike and Twin Barns, and out on snags in freshwater marsh. Photos.
Black and white Kingbird with terminal white tail band.
Warbling Vireo (Western)  10     Orchard and Loop Trail.
Steller's Jay  1     West bank of McAllister Creek
California Scrub-Jay  4     Orchard and Twin Barns Overlook.
American Crow  10
Common Raven  8     Foraging, calling along Nisqually River.
Black-capped Chickadee  20
Chestnut-backed Chickadee  9
Violet-green Swallow  2
Tree/Violet-green Swallow  6
Northern Rough-winged Swallow  1     Spotted by Whittier along the west
side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail.
Barn Swallow  150
Brown Creeper  10
Pacific Wren  1
Marsh Wren  3
Bewick's Wren  4
European Starling  300
Swainson's Thrush  9
American Robin  3
Cedar Waxwing  12
American Pipit  2     Heard/seen by Jon and Whittier flying over the dike.
House Finch  2
Purple Finch  2
American Goldfinch  34
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)  2
White-crowned Sparrow (pugetensis)  3
Savannah Sparrow  6
Song Sparrow (rufina Group)  25
Spotted Towhee  2
Red-winged Blackbird  80
Brown-headed Cowbird  2
Orange-crowned Warbler (lutescens)  3
Common Yellowthroat  10
Yellow Warbler  7
Black-throated Gray Warbler  1     Spotted by Tim in the morning in the
Orchard.
Townsend's Warbler  1     Spotted by Lisa along the east side of the Twin
Barns Loop Trail.
Wilson's Warbler  1     Observed by Bruce and others in the Orchard.
Black-headed Grosbeak  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S271448666
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