Hello Tweeters,

21 of us had an initially cool, but quickly warming and humid autumn day at
the refuge with temperatures between 60 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit, mostly
cloudy skies and a light sprinkle in the afternoon. A 11'7" high tide was
at 2:22pm.

Starting out at the Visitor Center pond overlook at 8am, a Common Raven flew
into the Peregrine Tree and roosted there for an hour. We had great
observations of Belted Kingfisher, Red-winged Blackbird, Cedar Waxwing, and
Canada Goose flying overhead. Other species seen were American Robin,
European Starling, Wood Duck, Rock Pigeon, Song Sparrow, Great Blue Heron,
Marsh Wren, Purple Finch, Barn Swallow and Common Yellowthroat. Some of our
birdwatchers picked up the Western Scrub Jay at the entrance gate.

The fields south of the Access Road, between the Access Road and Entrance
Road are now being flooded. The Refuge Biologists use a pump to begin
flooding these fields in September to provide more habitat for early
arriving migrating waterfowl. This shallow pond is now providing good
habitat for waterfowl, and consequently we observed Mallard, Northern
Shoveler, Wood Duck and Hooded Merganser. A flock of 12 Wood Duck and 1 or
2 Hooded Mergansers were hidden from view in grass close to our view point,
unexpectedly the flock flushed circled around the pond 2-3 times before
breaking up with a few returning to the pond. Directly west, beyond the
gait, we observed White-crowned Sparrow and our first Golden-crowned Sparrow
of Fall.

The fields west of the Access Road are still dry and quiet. Over the next
several weeks the Refuge Biologists will begin to board up the aqueducts
that drain these fields, and with future rains these fields will begin to
flood as well. For now, the habitat is good for raptors and we observed
Red-tailed Hawk and Northern Harrier hunting. We also saw our first Western
Meadowlark of Fall, perched very high in a dead deciduous tree, doing a very
good impression of a Northern Flicker, surprise!

On the western side of the Twin Barns Boardwalk Loop Trail, we had terrific
observations of American Bittern, immature Pied-billed Grebe and Wood Duck.
We also saw Black-capped Chickadee, American Goldfinch, Brown Creeper,
Bewick's Wren, and Dark-eyed Junco. Fox Sparrow was heard.

At the Twin Barns Overlook we had some quick looks at Lincoln Sparrow, and
better observation of Savannah Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow and additional
Song Sparrow.

Out on the New Dike Trail, we scoped the restored riparian surge plain north
and could see several hundred waterfowl. Challenging identification as most
male ducks are in eclipse plumage, but considering the size of individuals
in the mixed flock, silhouettes, and the most obvious field marks we
observed good numbers of Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Northern
Shoveler and Mallard. Gadwall, Greater Yellowlegs and Ring-billed Gull were
also seen.

At the junction of the New Dike Trail and the New Estuarine Boardwalk we
scoped a female Cinnamon Teal roosting with Mallards, heard a Virginia Rail,
viewed a Peregrine Falcon flying over with a very distended crop, and added
Double-crested Cormorant, Glaucous-winged Gull, and Northwestern/American
Crow to our list.

Out on the New Estuarine Boardwalk Trail, we observed a Wilson's Snipe
bobbing up and down on a root over water's edge of mud flat and salt water,
unexpected behavior and habitat for this species which makes me wonder?
House Finch were observed in the dead bushes of the marsh plain, Steller's
Jay was heard across McAllister Creek, and two adult Bald Eagles were
observed working on their nest along the ridge west of McAllister Creek just
south of the Luhr Beach. This pair did not successfully breed this past
spring.

At the Octagon or last shelter, we observed Horned Grebe, Red-breasted
Merganser, and large numbers of Barn Swallows, Gulls and Peeps. Despite our
time, 1pm, with the high tide being at 2:22pm, we did not have good viewing
of shorebirds. Through the scope, it looked like most were Least
Sandpipers, Ring-billed Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls. However, on our
walk back, by the time we made it to the restored riparian surge plain area
just north of the New Dike Trail it was 2:30pm, and we were rewarded with
close views of 3 Pectoral Sandpipers, 6 Greater Yellowlegs, and 30 Western
Sandpipers. Walking back with the incoming tide, we had great looks at 30
plus American Pipits that were soon flushed by a Cooper's Hawk. The
swallows got pushed in as well and we picked up on many Violet-green
Swallows mixed in with Barn Swallows as well an immature California Gull.
Most interesting to many of us was observing several Ring-billed Gull
100-200 feet high flying around like they were flycatching. I asked Dennis
Paulson about this behavior and he suspects the gulls are eating termites,
wow!

On our return, we observed Hairy Woodpecker, Yellow-rumped Warbler and
Common Merganser at the Nisqually River Overlook. Downy Woodpecker and
Northern Flicker were heard.

61 Species for the day, with nothing new for the year count of 161 species.
Mammals seen were Eastern Gray Squirrel, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Harbor
Seal and either a Fox or Coyote.

Until next week, good birding!

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