Hello Tweets,

Nineteen of us appreciated the forgiving partly cloudy skies on this
beautiful spring morning with temperatures in the 40?s-50?s.

Meeting at 8am at the Visitor Center pond overlook, we spotted Wood Duck,
Canada Goose, Northern Flicker, Brown-headed Cowbird, European Starling,
Red-winged Black Bird, Tree Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Barn Swallow and
Violet-green Swallow. A Red-winged Blackbirds nest was observed in the
cattails at the southwestern corner of the pond at the entrance to the
Visitor Center.

The number of waterfowl at the retention ponds adjacent to the access road
were decreased and we suspect many of the species are migrating. We scoped
American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, and
Mallard. Two Greater Yellowlegs provided nice observation, as well
Golden-crowned Sparrows and Song Sparrow. We added our 5th swallow species
for the day with multiple views of the Northern Roughed-winged Swallow. A
Killdeer was also seen.

Swallows were abundant over the entire refuge with terrific opportunities to
observe nest building and breeding behaviors. Many Vaux?s Swifts were seen
readily and at close range from the Twin Barns Overlook and the new dike.

The flooded fields are muddy and drying out. We had great looks at 6
Greater White-fronted Geese, and were humbled with the opportunity to study
many shorebirds. In a nutshell, Dunlin, Least Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper,
and Greater Yellowlegs. The shorebird festival is coming up this weekend,
and with our increased opportunity to observe these birds, we look forward
to improving our abilities to ID these beautiful creatures.

Along the west boardwalk we saw Yellow Warbler, Myrtle and Audubon?s variety
of Yellow-rumped Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Orange-crowned Warbler, Great
Blue Heron, Bewick?s Wren, Marsh Wren, Rufus Hummingbird, American Goldfinch
and American Crow. We?ve been lucky enough to monitor 4 Rufus Hummingbird
nests, 2 American Robin nests, 1 Marsh Wren nest, and 1 Bushtit nest on the
boardwalk loop. We also observed a large Painted Turtle basking in the sun.
A group of 12 Double-crested Cormorants were observed riding a thermal high
above the refuge in a circular pattern. A male Anna?s Hummingbird
reportedly was seen as well.

At the Twin Barns overlook, we added Turkey Vulture and a small flock of 14
Cacklers to our list. A completely white ?necklace/collared? Aleutian
subspecies was seen in line with the other Cacklers. A young, probably
second year, Bald Eagle was seen in the eagles nest in the Cotton Wood tree
adjacent to the barns. Canada Geese had occupied this nest for the last 2-3
weeks.

The Great Horned Owls were last seen by our group 4/14, hopefully the
parents are successfully raising their two fledglings. On our way to, and
at the Nisqually River overlook we saw Downy Woodpecker, Black-capped
Chickadees, more Yellow-rumped Warblers, Brown Creeper, Bufflehead, and
Common Merganser. The Pacific Slope Flycatcher was heard multiple times by
many of our group.

Out on the new dike, the pond beyond the restored riparian area to the north
had Common Goldeneye and Gadwall. We saw several American Pipits and Least
Sandpipers as well. Further out on the new dike, we added Hooded Merganser,
American Bittern, Savannah Sparrow and American Coot to our list. A Sora
was heard in the cattail marsh on the inside of the new dike. Additional
adult Bald Eagles were seen, but the consensus is there are less raptors to
be witnessed.

On our way back, along the old Nisqually River dike, we saw Red-tailed Hawk,
Pileated Woodpecker, and Spotted Towhee. We also heard Purple Finch and
Warbling Vireo. By the time we finished our walk, the Pied-billed Grebe was
there to say good-bye at the Visitor Center pond overlook. Additional
species seen included Glaucous-winged Gull and Rock Pigeon.

51 species for the day with one reptile, decreased numbers of water fowl and
American Pipits, but lots of new species migrating in. Until next week when
Phil Kelley returns!

Good birding,

Shep Thorp
Browns Point
sthorp at theaec.com <mailto:sthorp at theaec.com>
253-370-3742