Hello Tweeters,

19 of us enjoyed a foggy morning and sunny afternoon at the refuge with
temperatures in the 50?s and 60?s. At the visitor center pond overlook we
were greeted by the Green Heron, which has been around for the last several
weeks, Belted Kingfisher, and Red-winged Blackbird.

The field between the access road and the entrance road has been flooded for
the first time this fall, and the waterfowl were appreciative. Lots of
Canada Geese, at least 12 Greater White-fronted Geese, and the Cackler Geese
were back. We also saw Mallard, Northern Shoveler and Wood Duck. Dark-eyed
Junco was heard in the stand of trees adjacent to the road, we saw Song
Sparrow and Golden-crowned Sparrow as well. Along the access road we saw
Bewick?s Wren and American Crow. The fields south of the Twin Barns yielded
more Geese including Cacklers and another 10 Greater White-fronted Geese.

Looking over the pond along the eastern part of the boardwalk loop trail, we
had more great looks of the same Green Heron. This bird had a yellow lower
bill and was moderately streaked on the front of the neck, breast and belly
suggestive of a young adult. A juvenile Barn Swallow feeding over the pond
rested on the boardwalk rail and watched us as we studied the Heron. At the
second overlook we heard Common Yellowthroat and Marsh Wren, on our way to
the cut off we had great looks of a female Downy Woodpecker, and saw Spotted
Towhee and Brown Creeper.

At the Twin Barns Overlook we were treated to a Merlin hunting swallows over
the tidally influenced area beyond the new dike. A hundred feet high, the
Merlin would fly above the swallows, then repeatedly dive down upon a single
prey. After 5 minutes we observed the Merlin catch a Tree Swallow, only to
be quickly harassed by a female American Kestrel, and fly off to the
northwest. We also saw Bald Eagle, Greater Yellowlegs, Red-tailed Hawk,
Common Raven, Lincoln Sparrow, and more Golden-crowned Sparrow.

Along the northern boardwalk loop between the Twin Barns and Nisqually
River, members of our group identified Pileated Woodpecker, Northern
Flicker, Fox Sparrow, Bewick?s Wren, and Black-capped Chickadee. Stella had
returned from the new dike to report the Great Egret was visible on the
inside of the new boardwalk under construction. A young adult Great Horned
Owl was roosting on the inside of the boardwalk loop where the north
boardwalk joins the west boardwalk high in a cotton wood tree.

At the Nisqually River overlook we saw Bald Eagle, Belted Kingfisher and
Double Crested Cormorants. Starting out on the new dike, scoping north into
the repaired riparian area, we saw approximately 50 Dowitchers almost all
were Long-billed. A few were attenuated with flat backs and we presumed
Short-billed as well. Many Greater Yellowlegs and Green-winged Teal were
seen. We also saw American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail,
Gadwall, and Ringed-bill Gull. Many Killdeer were calling and flying about,
as an American Kestrel remained perched in a snag. A Northern Harrier was
hunting the fields and harassing the waterfowl. Many Great-blue Herons were
visible from the new dike, but the Great Egret eluded us. We saw peeps,
Caspian Tern, Savannah Sparrow, and Glaucous-winged Gull. Heading back to
the Nisqually River dike, a Peregrine Falcon flew into the repaired riparian
area flushing large flocks of Dowitchers and Green-winged Teal. We heard
Lesser Yellowlegs.

Heading back to the visitor center we picked up Yellow-rumped Warbler,
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and Golden Crowned Kinglet. We had terrific views of
two Pacific Wrens. A Chestnut-backed Chickadee was seen at the riparian
overlook. Finishing up at the visitor center, we added American Goldfinch
and Violet-green Swallow to our list. As the tide was going out, Matt, Ruth
and I stopped at the entrance gate and finally spotted the Great Egret in
the tidal mud flats adjacent to McAllister Creek.

60 species in all, and the Great Egret was new for the year. Mammals seen
were Harbor Seal, California Sea Lion and Grey Squirrel.

Until next week, good birding!

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