Hello Tweets,

25 of us enjoyed beautiful weather, sunny skies with temperature in the 80's
degrees Fahrenheit, on our survey day with the USGS. A high tide of 10'6"
occurred at 9:37am.

The Twin Barns Boardwalk Loop Trail/North Dike/Boardwalk group noted that
waterfowl numbers are very low and shorebird migration has started. Wood
Duck, Mallard, Cinnamon Teal, Greater Yellowlegs, Western Sandpiper, Least
Sandpiper and Wilson Snipe were seen. The Least Sandpiper were flying north
of the New Dike in the tidally influenced marsh plain in a large 200-300
flock. Vaux's Swift was seen over the parking lot, other swallows seen
during the day included Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Cliff Swallow
and Barn Swallow. There are many juvenile swallows flying around and
despite our best efforts we were not able to identify any Bank Swallows
reportedly seen last week. Many female Rufous Hummingbirds were seen as
well an Anna's Hummingbird. Western Wood-pewee and Willow Flycatcher were
common and a single Pacific-slope Flycatcher was heard. Five Common Raven's
were observed at the Visitor Center Pond Overlook, two individuals appeared
to be parenting the other three. On the boardwalk loop, Black-capped
Chickadee, Bushtit, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Swainson's Thrush, Cedar
Waxwing, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler,
Common Yellowthroat, Purple Finch and American Goldfinch. Many juvenile
Brown-headed Cowbirds were observed, one parented by a Western Wood-pewee.
A female Bullock's Oriole was observed feeding two juvenile orioles at the
Twin Barns Overlook, and another female Bullock's Oriole was discovered
feeding chicks in a nest 50 feet south of the eastern start of the boardwalk
to the right of the visitor center. A single Osprey was observed hunting
Leschi Slough.

The South Dike group, which surveyed the restricted access sanctuary area,
picked up Pied-billed Grebe, Gadwall, Hooded Merganser, Red-tailed Hawk,
Virginia Rail, Killdeer with juveniles, Spotted Sandpiper, Marsh Wren and
close up views of Coyote and Deer.

>From the boat leaving Luhr Beach, I observed a dozen Purple Martins nesting,
and heard Wilson Warbler and Pacific Wren. From the northwest section of
the delta adjacent to the mouth of McAllister Creek, eighty Great Blue Heron
flew in as the tide rose. Over sixty predominantly immature Bonaparte's
Gulls were seen flocking and rafting beyond the delta between the mouth of
McAllister Creek and Leschi Slough. Along the north old dike foot print,
150 Ring-billed Gulls and 70 Caspian Terns, were observed roosting, which
were visible from the end of the New Boardwalk. At the mouth of the
Nisqually River, 125 adult Double-crested Cormorants and 30 female/juvenile
Common Mergansers, were seen in roosting flocks. Four Pigeon Guillemots
were observed in the sound where the water is deeper, one with brown plumage
consistent with a juvenile bird.

72 species were seen with 151 for the year. Mammals seen included Coyote,
Columbia Black-tailed Deer, River Otter and Eastern Gray Squirrel. Great
Horned Owl and Sharp-shinned Hawk were seen Thursday 7/7 while surveying the
restricted tribe site to the north of the refuge.

Until next week, when we meet at the Visitor Center Pond Overlook at 8am for
our regular walk, good birding!

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