[Tweeters] Wednesday Walk for Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR 9/10/2025

[Shep Thorp via Tweeters]

Hi Tweets!

Approximately 30 of us had a very nice Fall walk at the Refuge.
Temperatures were in the 50’s to 70’s degrees Fahrenheit with cloudy skies
in the morning and sunny skies in the afternoon. There was a High 12’9”
Tide at 8:01am and a Low 2’9” Tide at 2:05pm.  Highlights included nice
close looks of a BARRED OWL along the west side of the Twin Barns Loop
Trail between the access road cut through and the twin bench overlook
north, a probable BLUE-WINGED TEAL at the same twin bench overlook that
kept us guessing, an up close and very visible VIRGINIA RAIL at the bridge
of the Twin Barns cut-off, and great looks of SORA in the freshwater
marsh.  Other nice finds were both male and female AMERICAN KESTREL,
MERLIN, brief looks of WILSON'S SNIPE and AMERICAN BITTERN.  We also had
decent looks of first of season GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW and SURF SCOTER.  We
have high numbers of TURKEY VULTURE  most likely feeding on Pink Salmon
carcasses along the Nisqually River.

For the day we observed 74 species, we have seen 168 species so far this
year.  With the early high tide, we skipped the Orchard in the morning to
get out on the dike.  Unfortunately the tide moves fast and there are acres
of mud, resulting in very distant shorebirds.  9'-11' seems best.  So we
did not enjoy the recent good luck of the hot spot Cedar River Mouth.

See our eBird Report posted below.

Others seen included Townsend’s Chipmunk, Eastern Cotton-tailed Rabbit,
Eastern Gray-squirrel and Harbor Seal.  Also seen are American Bullfrog,
Pacific Chorus Frog, Pink Salmon, Red-legged Frog and Puget Sound Common
Garter Snake.  The Riparian Forest Overlook Slough has spawning Pink Salmon.

Until next 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 10, 2025 7:38 AM - 4:22 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.091 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Wednesday Walk. Temperatures in the 50’s to 70’s
degrees Fahrenheit with cloudy skies in the morning and sunny skies in the
afternoon. There was a High 12’9” Tide at 8:01am and a Low 2’9” Tide at
2:05pm. Mammals seen included Townsend’s Chipmunk, Eastern Cotton-tailed
Rabbit, Eastern Gray-squirrel and Harbor Seal.  Also seen Pacific Chorus
Frog, Pink Salmon, Red-legged Frog and Puget Sound Common Garter Snake.
74 species (+4 other taxa)

Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima)  2
Wood Duck  7     Visitor Center Pond
Blue-winged Teal  1     Observed for 5 minutes at Twin Bench overlook south
of Twin Barns cut-off. Seen with bins and scope dabbling for food in duck
weed. Female type teal with no Buffy markings around tail, smaller bill
then expected with CITE with rather plain warm face and facial markings
included light spot near base of bill, moderate split eye ring and
eyeline.  Photos pending. May need to be slash/bird sighting.
Northern Shoveler  1
American Wigeon  20
Mallard  25
Northern Pintail  6
Green-winged Teal (American)  10
Surf Scoter  1     Puget Sound Viewing Platform.
Hooded Merganser  2     Visitor Center Pond.
Common Merganser  16     Mouth of Madrone Slough.
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  30
Band-tailed Pigeon (Northern)  9
Anna's Hummingbird  8
Virginia Rail  3     Seen at bridge to Twin Barns cut-off.  Heard in
freshwater marsh as well.
Sora  2     Seen in freshwater marsh.
Black-bellied Plover  3     Surge plain.
Killdeer  3
Wilson's Snipe  2     Freshwater marsh
Greater Yellowlegs  35
Least Sandpiper  10
Western Sandpiper  150
Ring-billed Gull  150
California Gull  3
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid)  25
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull  25
Caspian Tern  6
Pied-billed Grebe  1     Visitor Center Pond.
Double-crested Cormorant  75
American Bittern  2     Freshwater Marsh.
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue)  30
Turkey Vulture  15     Nisqually River.
Osprey (American)  1
Cooper's Hawk  1
Northern Harrier  1
Bald Eagle  9
Red-tailed Hawk  2
Barred Owl  1     Foraging on the inside of the Twin Barns Loop Trail on
the west section between the access road cut-through and the Twin Bench
overlook north. Photos.
Belted Kingfisher  5
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific)  1
Northern Flicker  2
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)  2
American Kestrel (Northern)  2
Merlin  1
Western Wood-Pewee  2
Western Flycatcher  1
Warbling Vireo (Western)  2
Steller's Jay  1
American Crow  20
Common Raven  1
Black-capped Chickadee  25
Chestnut-backed Chickadee  5
Violet-green Swallow  1
Barn Swallow (American)  30
Cliff Swallow  1
Bushtit (Pacific)  30
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
Golden-crowned Kinglet  2
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
Brown Creeper  15
Marsh Wren  2
Bewick's Wren  6
European Starling  200
Swainson's Thrush  4
American Robin  20
Cedar Waxwing  6
Purple Finch (Western)  3
Pine Siskin  20
American Goldfinch  5
White-crowned Sparrow  4
Golden-crowned Sparrow  4
Savannah Sparrow  4
Song Sparrow  20
Spotted Towhee  1
Red-winged Blackbird  62
Common Yellowthroat  4
new world warbler sp.  1
Black-headed Grosbeak  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S272807493
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