Subject: [Tweeters] Nisqually Wildlife Refuge Wed. morning walk
Date: Jul 29 13:38:41 2010
From: Shep Thorp - tanwaxlake at comcast.net


Hi Tweets,

18 of us enjoyed a cool summer morning walk with temperatures in the 50?s
and cloudy skies. Meeting at the Visitor Center at 8am, we noticed the
Cliff Swallows have moved out. Over the last two weeks, the Cliff Swallows
have been flocking and flushing in groups of 30 individuals or more. Today
we may have seen 2 or 3 remaining individuals. We saw plenty of Barn
Swallows and many Tree Swallows, but no Violet-green Swallows. Also at the
Visitor Center, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher,
Common Yellowthroat, American Goldfinch, and Western Wood-peewee.

Along the access road we had great looks at Savannah Sparrow. The return of
small groups of Canada Geese, 10-20 individuals, and Northern Harrier.

On the western side of the boardwalk loop, we observed two juvenile Wood
Ducks on the pond, American Crow, European Starling, Song Sparrow and Bewick
?s Wren. At the second observation deck, we had decent looks at a Yellow
Warbler singing an incomplete song, Warbling Vireo and Morning Dove. We
also saw a Swainson?s Thrush feeding a Cowbird, Brown Creeper, and heard
Downy Woodpecker.

The Willow Flycatcher?s nest at the Twin Barns cut off was empty, but the
adults are actively singing and fly catching in the area. We enjoyed a
beautiful juvenile Spotted Towhee with one adult, a gorgeous American Robin
with symmetrical white distal secondaries, and a singing Marsh Wren.

At the Twin Barns overlook two juvenile Northern Harriers were seen in the
recently mowed fields, large groups of 10-20 juvenile Red-winged Blackbirds
with subtle yellow and orange streaking were appreciated, Rufous Hummingbird
and an American Goldfinch feeding a Cowbird.

Where the north boardwalk loop connects to the east, looking southwest on
the inside of the loop, we again had great looks at the juvenile Great
Horned Owl. We?ve been extremely fortunate to enjoy these birds over the
last 5 months.

At the Nisqually River overlook, two fledgling Cedar Waxwings stoically
endured our oohing and ahhing.

Out on the new dike, the repaired riparian lake was productive with scoping
and we saw Mallard, Gadwall, female Bufflehead, more Canada Geese, Bald
Eagle and Glaucous-winged Gull. The flooded pond on the inside of the dike
had many families of Teal, at least 3-4 groups, 11 one week old birds in one
group, and as expected less individuals as the ducklings aged. Without
Phil, Eric, and David we were challenged with which female birds were
Cinnamon Teal and which were Blue-winged Teal. Researching our references
and reviewing our field notes I feel confident we saw Cinnamon Teal. We may
have also had Blue-winged Teal too, but I?m not sure. Please email me if
you have any advice! We?ve had males of both species this spring, so
hybridization could be a confusing factor for our identification. We also
observed a Wilson?s Snipe possibly working on a nest in the middle of the
pool. Outside the dike, Greater Yellowlegs, one Lesser Yellowlegs
identified by call, Ring-billed Gull, Killdeer, and Common Merganser on
McAllister Creek.

Heading back along the east Boardwalk loop along the old Nisqually River
dike we had great looks at a female Hairy Woodpecker, Western Wood-peewee
family, and heard Pacific-slope Flycatcher. Back at the Visitor Center,
Black-capped Chickadee and Common Raven.

A great summer day, with the feel of changing seasons, 61 species seen.
Until next week, good birding!

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