Hi Tweets,

Thirteen of us enjoyed a frosty morning at the Refuge with temperatures
between 30-40 degrees Fahrenheit, cloudy skies and a High Tide of 14'8" at
8:04am and a Low Tide of 7'7" at 1:51pm.

Meeting at the Visitor Center at 8am, we had some of our best waterfowl
viewing in the Visitor Center Pond Overlook. This area had the only fresh
water that was not frozen over, so the birds were concentrated. We had
nice looks at Mallard, American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck, Gadwall,
Bufflehead, American Coot and Pied-billed Grebe. We observed the American
Wigeon kleptoparasitising the diving/feeding American Coot. A Bald Eagle
visited the Douglas Fir or 'Peregrine Tree' and an immature Red-tailed Hawk
hunted from the deciduous trees across the pond.

>From the Access Road, we had a terrific chance to study Cackling Geese. A
majority of the Cacklers where Minima (Branta hutchinsii minima), but we
found two slightly larger Cacklers with complete white collars which we
concluded were Aleutian subspecies (Branta hutchinsii leucopariea) and
eight larger lighter breasted Cacklers we concluded were Taverner's
subspecies (Branta hutchinsii taverneri).

The Twin Barns Boardwalk Loop Trail was very quiet. We heard both Northern
Flicker and Pileated Woodpecker. Finally we bumped into a nice mixed flock
of Black-capped Chickadee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet,
Brown Creeper, and Bushtits. We also saw Marsh Wren and Fox Sparrow.

The Twin Barns Overlook provided good viewing of Northern Harrier and
Red-tailed Hawk, but it was too cold to dilly dally. On the cut-off to the
New Dike Estuarine Trail we had good looks at Golden-crowned Sparrow and
Song Sparrow.

On the New Dike Estuarine Trail we had very nice observation of a Great
Egret and Snow Goose. There was plenty of waterfowl to be scoped, and we
also saw Yellow-rumped Warbler Audubon's variety, Greater Yellowlegs,
Dunlin, and Wilson's Snipe. We watched a Norther Harrier catch a vole,
then consequently survive harassment from another Northern Harrier, two
Red-tailed Hawks and an immature second year Bald Eagle. There were many
raptors to be seen. Virginia Rail was heard.

Out on the New Boardwalk Estuarine Trail we had fabulous views of Least
Sandpiper adjacent to the boardwalk. These sandpipers, as well as gulls
and waterfowl seemed very acclimated to us observing from the boardwalk,
which provided much appreciated study of these tiniest of peeps. It's not
very often one has the chance to observe Least Sandpipers from above as
they carefully walk over the nobby mud flats probing for food. We also saw
Glaucous-winged Gull, Glaucous winged x Western Gull Hybrid (Olympic Gull),
Mew Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Common Loon and Horned Grebe.

>From the gate that closes off the very end of the boardwalk, we scoped
Nisqually Reach were I spotted the Snowy Owl. Unfortunately, the owl did
not stay perched and I was unable to confirm the sighting with the rest of
the group. There were reports that the Snowy Owl was seen from the New
Dike adjacent to Leschi Slough the previous day. Obviously the Owl is
moving around.

A very birdy field trip despite the cold weather, we saw 59 Species with
our best looks at Cacklers, Raptors, Great Egret, Snow Goose and Least
Sandpiper. Thanks to all the wonderful birders who helped make the field
trip so enjoyable.

Good birding!

Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
sthorp at theaec.com
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