Subject: [Tweeters] Nisqually NWR Wednesday morning walk 4/25
Date: Apr 27 13:02:22 2012
From: Shep Thorp - shepthorp at gmail.com


Hi Tweets,

warblers and shorebirds were abundant at the Refuge making for an exciting
day of birding despite the rainy conditions. There was a High 11'4" Tide
at 7:56am which was not ideal for shorebird viewing, but the mud flats and
new marsh plans outside the new dike were peppered with LEAST SANDPIPER,
DUNLIN and WESTERN SANDPIPER. The willows along the Access Road and the
Twin Barns Loop Trail were active with YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (AUDUBON'S and
MYRTLE variety), ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, YELLOW
WARBLER, WILSON'S WARBLER, and WARBLING VIREO.

Meeting at the Visitor Center Pond Overlook at 8am, 5 different swallow
species we observed (CLIFF, BARN, TREE, VIOLET-GREEN and NORTHERN
ROUGH-WINGED). The Cliff Swallow and Barn Swallow are nesting in the
center. In the twin snag to the left of the observation platform nesting
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, in the cat tails to the right nesting RED-WINGED
BLACKBIRD, and on the grass islands front and center nesting CANADA GOOSE.
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH and HOODED MERGANSER were also seen. WESTERN SCRUB JAY
was seen at the Refuge entrance gait.

Along the Access Road in the flooded fields we had great looks at NORTHERN
SHOVELER, RING-NECKED DUCK, WOOD DUCK, AMERICAN WIGEON, GREEN-WINGED TEAL,
NORTHERN PINTAIL, GADWALL, AMERICAN COOT, and BUFFLEHEAD. Feeding along
the side of the road were many GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED
SPARROW and SONG SPARROW. SORA was clearly calling out and LONG-BILLED
DOWITCHERS were seen feeding along the waters edge.

On the western side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail we observed the two
juvenile GREAT HORNED OWLs with one adult in a large Cottonwood Tree on the
inside of boardwalk from the observation platform just south of the Twin
Barns cut-off. Other species seen included PIED-BILLED GREBE, BEWICK'S
WREN, MARSH WREN and drumming DOWNY WOODPECKER.

>From the Twin Barns Observation Platform, we had fabulous viewing of
swallows and waterfowl. Russ located three WILSON'S SNIPE preening in the
flooded grass field.

Out on the new dike, Nisqually Estuary Trail, we enjoyed the abundant
shorebirds sprinkled over the surge plain, mud flats and new marsh plains.
Earlier in the morning Dennis Ellison had reported seeing BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVER and BONAPARTE'S GULL, which we were unable to relocate. However if
we were there within an hour or two of the high tide we would have had a
better opportunity to see more shorebirds, gulls and terns. A
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was seen perched in the fresh water cat tails after
flying in from the mud flats estuary side. We have observed blackbirds
foraging from the mudflats and overturning flakes of mud to find insects.
The AMERICAN BITTERN was hunting frogs along the fresh water side of the
dike, and VIRGINIA RAIL was heard calling. Four CINNAMON TEAL flew in to
dabble on the fresh water side providing beautiful looks. We also saw a
MERLIN and PEREGRINE FALCON.

On the new boardwalk, Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail, we could check the
two BALD EAGLE nests on the west side of the McAllister Creek, one south
and the other north of the McAllister Creek Observation Platform. We have
seen a chick in the south nest, the north nest is deep making line of sight
to scope difficult, but the adults have been observed changing shifts.
Many GREATER YELLOWLEGS were observed chasing prey in shallow water. We
picked up EURASIAN WIGEON, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, HORNED GREBE, COMMON
GOLDENEYE, BELTED KINGFISHER, MEW GULL, RING-BILLED GULL,
WESTERN/GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS along the sloughs and McAllister Creek.
PILEATED WOODPECKER and STELLER'S JAY were heard across the creek. On the
Puget Sound Viewing Platform we were able to scope BRANT GEESE, COMMON
LOON, and GREATER SCAUP. We had fantastic viewing of swallows including
additional NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW on a small tree adjacent to the
boardwalk, and came across many small flocks of LEAST SANDPIPER with lesser
number of WESTERN SANDPIPER. Approximately 15 BALD EAGLES were seen, many
immature. A few good sized flocks of CACKLING GEESE moved in and out of
the Refuge.

At the Nisqually River Overlook, we had great looks at COMMON MERGANSER.
We have been watching two RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD nests on the east side of the
Twin Barns Loop Trail approximately 200 feet north of the Riparian Forest
Overlook cut-off marked by a piece of pink ribbon. One nest is on the
inside of the trail and the other over the Old Nisqually River Dike. I was
fooled by a SPOTTED TOWHEE singing a harmonic call note sounding similar to
a VARIED THRUSH, and we picked up BROWN CREEPER. The trees seemed to be
full of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, making for tired arms, but I'm not
complaining.

We saw 79 species during our walk and have seen a total of 129 species for
the year. Mammals seen included Eastern Gray Squirrel, Muskrat, and
Raccoon.

Until next week, good birding!

Shep Thorp
Browns Point
sthorp at theaec.com
253-370-3742
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/pipermail/tweeters/attachments/20120427/2bb57dcb/attachment.htm