Hi Tweets,

20 of us enjoyed good weather and diversity of bird species at the Refuge
today with clouds in the morning and sun in the afternoon. Temperature was
in the 50's degrees Fahrenheit with no breeze. There was a low 6'6" tide
at 10:47am and a high 12'8" tide at 3:45pm.

Driving into the Refuge, approximately 1,000 Cacklers were seen flying in
flocks around the Refuge and south into the Nisqually Valley. Starting out
at 8am at the Visitor Center Pond Overlook, we had good observations of
Pied-billed Grebe, Mallard, American Wigeon, Red-tailed Hawk, American x
Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, American Robin, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Song
Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, Red-winged Blackbird, and American Goldfinch.

On the Access Road viewing the Flooded Field south between the Access Road
and the Entrance Road, we saw Canada Goose, Bufflehead, Northern Pintail,
and Northern Shoveler along with other waterfowl. Fifteen Golden-crowned
Kinglet were feeding in the mixed deciduous-coniferous wood adjacent to the
road. Approximately 20 Long-billed Dowitchers silently flew into the field
and were later flushed calling with a diagnostic "keekeekeek." A swan flew
through that we were able to identify later roosting in the flooded field
south of the Twin Barns at the end of our walk as a Trumpeter Swan.

Viewing the fields west of the Access Road on either side of the old
McAllister Creek Road and south of the Twin Barns, we had nice observations
of Cackling Geese, Northern Harrier, Peregrine Falcon and American Pipit.
A Snow Goose was later seen with the Cackling Geese.

On the Twin Barns Boardwalk Loop Trail, we had fabulous viewing of an
American Bittern just on the inside of the trail. Fortunately, this was
one of three different American Bitterns we were lucky enough to enjoy.
The Visitor Center Pond had additional waterfowl including Gadwall,
Ring-necked Duck and American Coot along with other waterfowl. We observed
several nice mixed flocks of Black-capped Chickadee, Golden-crowned
Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, and Downy Woodpecker. Two
flocks of Bushtits were seen and we had visualization of all three wrens:
Bewick's Wren, Marsh Wren and Pacific Wren. We also saw a Hairy Woodpecker
along the east section parallel to the Old Nisqually River Dike. At the
Twin Barns cut-off, many Golden-crowned Sparrows were observed. Multiple
Fox Sparrows were heard singing broken songs of whistles and slurs, and a
Virginia Rail gave several calls after our group moved through.

At the Twin Barns Overlook, we had nice observation of Bald Eagles and
Northern Shrike. We scoped the Cackling Geese and observed a probable
Aleutian Cackler and several Taverner's Cacklers. At the cut-off to the
New Dike Estuarine Trail and along the slough that runs west from the Twin
Barns we saw lots of sparrows and finches including Song Sparrow, Fox
Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow,
Dark-eyed Junco, American Goldfinch, and House Finch.

Out on the New Dike Estuarine Trail we appreciated lots of water fowl in
the surge plain, marsh plain, and mud flats including Green-winged Teal,
Bufflehead, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, American Wigeon,
and Gadwall. Shorebirds seen included Greater Yellowlegs and Black-bellied
Plover. Many Dunlin were seen, and at one point a flock of 200 Dunlin was
predated by a Peregrine Falcon with success. The prey was separated from
the flock and observed diving into shallow water several times until
exhausted and finally captured. The lighting was wonderful and we had
great observation of Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Ring-billed Gull,
Glaucous-winged Gull, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Western Meadowlark, and
Northern Shrike.

On the New Boardwalk Estuarine Trail we observed Common Loon, Horned Grebe,
Bufflehead, American Wigeon, Mew Gull, Bonaparte's Gull, Glaucous winged x
Western Gull Hybrid, Least Sandpiper and Belted Kingfisher. We observed
two Peregrine Falcons harassing each other with talons opposed while
calling. A female Hooded Merganser was observed for five minutes eating a
Sculpin Fish twice the size of her head.

Overall we probably saw 4 Peregrine Falcons, 6 Red-tailed Hawks, 4 Northern
Harriers and 5 Bald Eagles which are unexpectedly good numbers. Myself and
other birders from our group thought we would see less Red-tailed Hawk and
Northern Harrier this Autumn. We saw 61 species for the day with the
Trumpeter Swan being our first of the year towards our year count of 172
species.

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

Until next week, good birding.

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