Hello Tweets,

Fifteen of us enjoyed nice weather and good birding with partly sunny skies
and temperature in the 50?s degree Fahrenheit. At the Visitor Center Pond
Overlook we saw Yellow-rumped Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Cliff Swallow,
Tree Swallow, Marsh Wren, Rufous Hummingbird, American Bittern, Mallard,
Ring-necked Duck, American Green-winged Teal, Black-capped Chickadee, and
nesting Canada Goose.

>From the access road view point looking south over the flooded fields
towards the entrance road and route I-5 we observed approximately 10 Wood
Duck, American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler and another 10 Ring-necked Duck.
We also added Barn Swallow and Northern Rough-winged Swallow with the many
Tree and Cliff Swallows flying around in aerial pursuit of insects.
Golden-crowned Sparrows were seen high in deciduous trees eating from
catkins. Along the access road and new dike, the Savannah Sparrows were
abundant and singing. From the gated McAllister Creek access road view
point, looking at the flooded fields south of the Twin Barns, we had
terrific views of breeding or alternate plumage Dunlin, approximately 35,
with chestnut brown backs and black bellies. We also enjoyed good looks of
Cinnamon Teal, Northern Pintail, Gadwall, American Coot, Pied-billed Grebe,
Bufflehead, and Common Goldeneye.

Along the western portion of the Twin Barns Boardwalk Loop Trail we added
Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Spotted
Towhee, Red-winged Blackbird and American Robin to our list. We had
fabulous views of a second American Bittern at the Twin Barns cut-off.
There are five Rufous Hummingbird nests we?ve discovered so far this year on
the Boardwalk Loop Trail, and we?ve enjoyed watching the females build and
incubate their clutches. Consider waiting near salmon berry blossoms where
trees overhang water or openings and listen for foraging females. When the
female is discovered foraging, follow her closely so you can observe her
return to the nest. The small moss and lichen built nests are usually 10 to
40 feet high on a forked branch that drops beneath another branch for
protection from the elements. Good luck!

At the Twin Barns Overlook we had two first of the years, an Anna?s
Hummingbird and Blue-winged Teal. Anna?s Hummingbird was first reported at
the refuge last year, so it was exciting to see this infrequent visitor.
The Blue-winged Teal was swimming with several Cinnamon Teal in the flooded
fields, and we?re fairly confident there?s a female Blue-winged Teal as well
but the females of these two species continue to challenge our
identification skills. We also saw Cooper?s Hawk, American Kestrel ? male
and female, Common Raven, Hooded Merganser and Eurasian Wigeon.

Out on the new dike, another first for the year was an Osprey fly over. We
had great viewing of Lesser Scaup, some with green iridescent heads, and
many more waterfowl. The Great Egret was feeding along Leschi Slough. 400
to 500 Cackling Geese flew over the refuge from the agricultural fields just
south of I-5. The Violet-green Swallows seem to prefer the flooded fields
adjacent to the new dike in comparison to the other swallows. We also saw
Belted Kingfisher.

The first shelter on the new boardwalk provides a great location for
observing the Bald Eagle nest in the topped Douglas Fir across McAllister
Creek; one of the adults was sitting on the nest. At the second shelter and
gazebo at the end of the boardwalk we had great looks at a Whimbrel, another
first for the year. We also saw Greater Yellowlegs, Ring-billed Gull, Mew
Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Glaucous-winged x Western Gull Hybrid (Olympic),
Great Blue Heron, Double-crested Cormorant, Black Brant, Horned Grebe,
Common Loon and Red-breasted Merganser.

On our return to the visitor center, along the eastern portion of the Twin
Barns Boardwalk Loop Trail that runs parallel to the Old Nisqually River
Dike, we added Brown Creeper, Peregrine Falcon, Red-tailed Hawk, Downy
Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Bewick?s Wren and Ruby-crowned Kinglet to our
list. The Great Horned Owlets are across the dike from their nest tree and
were roosting with an adult 30 feet high in a large Maple Tree, hopefully we
will see them next week as well. Many Myrtle and Audubon?s variety of
Yellow-rumped Warblers were around feeding and singing. Other species seen
included European Starling, American x Northwestern Crow, Stellar?s Jay and
Rock Pigeon. Mammals seen were Otter and Columbia Black Tail Deer.

72 species for the day, 4 first of the year, with a total of 115 species for
the year.

Until next week when Phil Kelley returns,
Good birding!

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