Hi Tweets,

another great day at the Refuge with an unexpected Parakeet or Budgerigar
at the Riparian Forest Overlook and great looks at dozens of shorebirds
including Baird's Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Western Sandpiper, and
Least Sandpiper. Refuge volunteers with the USGS reported possibly
observing Pectoral Sandpiper and Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in the vicinity of
the Baird's Sandpipers along the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail just
north of the McAllister Creek Viewing Platform, but our group was not able
to relocate these species.

Before starting the walk at 8am at the Visitor Center Pond Overlook, I
birded Nisqually Reach from Luhr Beach at 7am. Purple Martins were feeding
young at their nest boxes on the Nature Center dock. Noteworthy sightings
included two early Black-bellied Plover on the mudflats adjacent to Leschi
Slough, over 100 Common Mergansers at the mouth of Nisqually River, and two
Red Crossbills feeding under small stones on the beach adjacent to the boat
launch 15 feet from the waters edge.

24 birders joined the walk with overcast skies, temperatures in the high
60's to 70 degrees Fahrenheit and a High 10'1" Tide at 11:09am. At the
Visitor Center Pond Overlook we observed PIED-BILLED GREBE, WOOD DUCK,
GREAT BLUE HERON, RED-TAILED HAWK, NORTHERN FLICKER, BARN SWALLOW, CLIFF
SWALLOW, TREE SWALLOW, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, SPOTTED TOWHEE, SONG SPARROW,
HOUSE FINCH, and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH.

Along the Parking Lot, Access Road and Orchard things were pretty quiet
with sightings of CEDAR WAXWING and PURPLE FINCH.

Starting out on the east entrance to the Twin Barns Loop Trail, we added
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, AMERICAN ROBIN, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, BEWICK'S WREN, and
WILSON'S WARBLER to our list.

At the Riparian Forest Overlook we were very excited to observe a
BUDGERIGAR or PARAKEET which we suspect must be an escaped bird. We heard
a raspy ascending "suvreee" call, and debated whether we were hearing a
juvenile Hutton's Vireo or Western Tanager. We finally located the
blue-green, sparrow sized, hooked bill parakeet perched on a lower level
horizontal Maple Tree branch with a long pointed tail, scaly back or
mantle, and blue-green rump and head. Other species seen included
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, PACIFIC WREN, DARK-EYED JUNCO, CHESTNUT-BACKED
CHICKADEE, and BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE.Other species heard were BROWN
CREEPER and WARBLING VIREO.

Along the east side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail we had nice looks at a
female or immature WESTERN TANAGER and fly over GREEN HERON at the cut-off
for the Nisqually River Overlook. On the north side of the Loop Trail we
added WILLOW FLYCATCHER and YELLOW WARBLER to our list.

At the Twin Barns Observation Platform we had nice looks at two juvenile
NORTHERN HARRIER flying over the fresh water marsh and fields. We had
additional observation of swallows and small flocks of CANADA GEESE are
beginning to fly around the Refuge.

Out on the Nisqually Estuary Trail, or new dike, we saw BALD EAGLE,
SAVANNAH SPARROW, GREAT BLUE HERON, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, RING-BILLED GULL
and MARSH WREN.

On the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail, new boardwalk, we had very nice
sightings of shorebirds. Adjacent to the boardwalk north of the McAllister
Creek Viewing Platform we enjoyed great viewing of BAIRD'S SANDPIPER X 4,
GREATER YELLOWLEGS X 1, WESTERN SANDPIPER X 40, and LEAST SANDPIPER X 100.
Refuge volunteers volunteering with the USGS had reported seeing
SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER and PECTORAL SANDPIPER, but unfortunately we were
not able to relocate these species. The BAIRD'S SANDPIPER was slightly
larger then Peeps, with dark legs and a long primary projection beyond the
length of the tail giving an attenuated appearance. There was no rufous
plumage like that of the breeding/juvenile plumage Western Sandpiper and
not as brown as the breeding/juvenile plumage Least Sandpiper. These
sandpipers were light brown or buffy in appearance with scaly pattern on
back or mantle and finely streaked bib or breast band. Two call notes were
heard, raspy "kreep" lower pitched and less ascending then Least Sandpiper.
Many CASPIAN TERNS, CALIFORNIA GULLS, BONAPARTE'S GULLS, DOUBLE-CRESTED
CORMORANTS, MALLARDS and GREAT BLUE HERON'S were seen. We also saw three
OSPREY, a COOPER'S HAWK chasing a large flock of EUROPEAN STARLING, and a
PEREGRINE FALCON being harassed by swallows. Unfortunately we could not
relocate the American White Pelican seen two weeks ago and reported last
week.

During our return we picked up a RING-NECKED DUCK hen with two ducklings at
the Visitor Center Pond which is a rare finding of successful breeding. A
CINNAMON TEAL flew into the pond and VAUX'S SWIFT was spotted high above
with additional swallows.

73 species for the day, with FOY Green Heron, Black-bellied Plover, Baird's
Sandpiper and Budgerigar. We've seen 165 species for the year.

Mammals seen included North American Beaver, Eastern Gray Squirrel, Harbor
Seal and Muskrat.

Until next time, 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/20120809/2257a9ee/attachment.htm