Subject: [Tweeters] Nisqually NWR Wednesday morning walk 6/22/11.
Date: Jun 24 08:54:29 2011
From: TheMartins - tipndick at gmail.com


My wife and I were visiting from Wenatchee, and joined the group for the
Wednesday morning walk for the first time.



We want to publicly thank everyone in the group for their very friendly
welcome. We instantly felt like "insiders."



My wife specifically asked Shep for a chance to see a Sora, and he succeeded
far beyond our wildest expectations. We'll never forget that experience.



We learned a lot on the walk, and we are anxious to join the group again.



We would also like to send a special thanks to Matt and others in the group
for all of their wonderful help.



Sincerely,

Tip and Dick Martin

Wenatchee Valley



From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Shep Thorp
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2011 8:15 PM
To: Tweeters
Subject: [Tweeters] Nisqually NWR Wednesday morning walk 6/22/11.



Hi Tweets,


27 of us enjoyed a cool summer day at the refuge with temperatures in the
low 60's degree Fahrenheit and cloudy skies. High tide was at 11:02am with
an 8'10" tide, we birded the new boardwalk between 11:30am and 12:30pm


A Western Scrub Jay welcomed us at the entrance gait. This bird has been
regularly seen around the entrance gait this spring and has been an
enjoyable find.


Meeting at the Visitor Center pond overlook at 8am, we observed many of our
regular species for this time of year. Barn Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Tree
Swallow, Common Yellowthroat, Cedar Waxwing, Wood Duck, Red-winged Blackbird
and Gadwall. Unfortunately, we saw several of many Brown-headed Cowbirds
which were abundant throughout the day.


Along the Access Road that provides view points of the fields along the
entrance road, old McAllister Creek road, and south of the Twin Barns we
picked up Black-headed Grosbeak, Savannah Sparrow, American Robin, American
x Northwestern Crow, American Goldfinch, and Purple Finch. A dark juvenile
Bald Eagle was scoped along with two adults in the nest tree across
McAllister Creek. The nest tree is a large topped Douglas Fir half way up
the ridge on the west side of the creek. It is best scoped from the access
road 50 feet south of the old McAllister Creek road directly West or
perpendicular to the road.


On the West side of the Twin Barns Boardwalk Loop Trail we observed
Violet-green Swallow, Mallard, Marsh Wren, Song Sparrow and Bushtits.
Black-capped Chickadee, Bewick's Wren and Tree Swallow were seen feeding
young, and we had great looks at Yellow Warbler, Swainson's Thrush, Willow
Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, and Downy Woodpecker.


At the Twin Barns Overlook we observed or heard Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper
and additional Cedar Waxwing. The flooded fields are rapidly drying up, and
the best place to observe waterfowl is inside the New Dike. On the New Dike
we had great looks at American Wigeon, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal,
Gadwall, and Northern Shoveler. We saw Hooded Merganser, Canada Goose and
Mallard with young. We had spectacular observations of Wilson's Snipe and
Sora. Virginia Rail was heard calling. A large flock, 22 birds, of
Double-crested Cormorants was observed flying along the Nisqually River in V
formation.


On the New Boardwalk, we had great views of Caspian Tern, Ring-billed Gull,
Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Glaucous-winged Gull, Glaucous-winged x
Western Hybrid Gull and Bald Eagle. At one point approximately 40 Great
Blue Herons flew in from the south and landed in the restored estuarine
area, the heron flushed over one hundred gulls which were predominantly
Ring-billed Gull.


Along the East portion of the Twin Barns Boardwalk Loop Trail that runs
along the old Nisqually River Dike, we observed juvenile and adult Warbling
Vireo and picked up Brown Creeper. Rufous Hummingbird was seen along the
north section of the loop trail. Oddly, we have not heard or seen
Pacific-slope flycatcher over the last several weeks.


55 species for the day, with 148 species for the year, mammals seen were
Muskrat and Eastern Gray Squirrel, reptiles seen were Western Painted
Turtle.


Until next week, when Eric will lead the walk,


Good birding,


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