Hi Tweets,

14 of us enjoyed a pretty "birdy" day for summer time with partly cloudy
skies, intermittent showers and temperatures in the 60's degree Fahrenheit.
There was a -2'6" low tide at 10:54am.

At and around the Visitor Center we observed American Bittern, Hooded
Merganser, Rufous Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern
Flicker, Warbling Vireo, Cliff Swallow, Barn Swallow, Brown Creeper,
Bewick's Wren, Cedar Waxwing, Savannah Sparrow, and Song Sparrow. There
were many juvenile species seen, some being fed by adults, including
American Robin, European Starling, Common Yellowthroat, Black-headed
Grosbeak, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Bullocks Oriole and
American Goldfinch. Anna's Hummingbird was observed feeding in the
Educational Center interactive park.

Along the western and northern portions of the Twin Barns Boardwalk Loop
Trail, and Twin Barns Overlook, we observed Canada Geese, Western
Wood-pewee, Willow Flycatcher, Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swallow,
Black-capped Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Marsh Wren, Swainson's Thrush, Yellow
Warbler, Spotted Towhee, and Purple Finch.

Interestingly, at the Nisqually River Overlook, we discovered two Greater
Yellowlegs feeding along the western bank of the gravel edged river
downstream. A Spotted Sandpiper made an appearance from upstream were the
banks are muddier.

Out on the New Dike, on the inside fresh water side, we observed Pied-billed
Grebe, Gadwall, Mallard, Cinnamon Teal, Virginia Rail, Least Sandpiper,
Long-billed Dowitcher, Wilson's Snipe, and heard Sora. One of the nice
surprises of the day was a Green Heron flushed from this area and flying
towards the freshwater pond inside the Loop Trail. On the outside of the
New Dike in the surge plain beyond the restored riparian area, we observed
many peeps and dowitchers flying around. With scoping the peeps appeared to
have lighter breasts then Least Sandpipers and were feeding on the mud just
inshore from the dowitchers, so I think most were Western Sandpipers. Many
of the dowitchers were Long-billed Dowitchers with beautiful red-rufous
neck/breast/belly. At least three dowitchers had white bellies with less
barring on their sides leading me to think we were also seeing some
Short-billed Dowitchers as well. Along the tidally influenced channels and
marsh plain we also observed Ring-billed Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, and
Caspian Tern. With the low tide, only 5 Great Blue Heron were seen at the
outer extent of the delta reach.

On the eastern portion of the Twin Barns Boardwalk Loop Trail on our way
back to the Visitor center, we were surprised to see two juvenile Great
Horned Owls on the inside of the trail 50' south of the northeast
intersection, in a large Cottonwood Tree. I think these are different
owlets then those that fledged from our new nest tree. One of our Refuge
biologists photographed two owlets and an adult 4 weeks ago just south of
the old Ring Dike while surveying, and just last week I observed an adult
GHOW hunting during the day in Phase 1 of the Tribal Restoration Site while
surveying, which is directly across the Nisqually River from the Ring Dike.
These birds look younger then our previous owlets and I think the second
nest discovered by our volunteers 2 years ago along the more northern
portion of the eastern old Nisqually River Dike footprint is still active.

60 species seen for the day, with the Green Heron being new for year, 153
species for the year.

Mammals seen were Columbia Black-tailed Deer, Muskrat, and Eastern Gray
Squirrel.

Until next week when Phil Kelley will return, good birding!

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