Hi Tweets,

25 of us enjoyed a great day of birding at the Refuge with overcast skies
in the morning, sun in the afternoon, temperatures in the 60's-70's degrees
Fahrenheit, and a High 11'8" Tide at 9:48am. Highlights included GREAT
HORNED OWL, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, GREEN HERON, YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD,
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, and BLACK
PHOEBE.

Starting out at the Visitor Center Pond Overlook at 8am we had nice looks
at PIED-BILLED GREBE, GADWALL, CEDAR WAXWING, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, and
NORTHERN FLICKER.

Entering the east side entrance to the Twin Barns Loop Trail we had great
looks at WESTERN TANAGER, and heard many call notes and some songs of
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, YELLOW WARBLER, WESTERN
WOOD-PEWEE, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, and BEWICK'S WREN.

At the Riparian Forest Overlook we enjoyed SONG SPARROW feeding along the
waters edge, but could only look and listen to the many WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE,
YELLOW WARBLER and BROWN CREEPER that were calling around us.

The GREAT HORNED OWL was seen on the inside of the Twin Barns Loop Trail
north of the Riparian Forest Overlook cut-off and just south of the first,
or southeast, overlook. We suspect the bird may be this year's juvenile
hatchling as it has been reliably seen in this area for 3-4 weeks, flushes
easily, and is relatively easy to relocate. However, the plumage is very
clean and adult in appearance.

At the northeast corner of the Twin Barns Loop Trail we enjoyed a great
mixed flock of RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH (rarely seen on the Refuge),
CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, DOWNY WOODPECKER, HAIRY
WOODPECKER, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER and WILLOW
FLYCATCHER.

The Nisqually River Overlook was a good opportunity to scope BALD EAGLE
perched in the Cottonwood Trees on the northwest side of the river.

The north section of the Twin Barns Loop Trail gave us nice looks at WILLOW
FLYCATCHER and RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD. Our entire group had a wonderful
opportunity to observe an immature GREEN HERON in the slough along the Twin
Barns cut-off hunting and eating a small Frog.

>From the Twin Barns Overlook Platform we enjoyed 20 + DOWITCHERS in the
Surge Plain, BARN SWALLOW, TREE SWALLOW, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW and immature
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW.

Out on the Nisqually Estuary Trail, new dike, we had great looks at
COOPER'S HAWK, 3+ YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD,
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD and SAVANNAH SPARROW. A BLUE-WINGED TEAL was seen in
the fresh water side of Leschi Slough. Thousands of Shorebirds could be
seen flying around the mudflats and marsh plain but were too distant to
identify other then Peeps.

On the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail we had great looks at BLACK PHOEBE
X 1 , SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER X 1, BAIRD'S SANDPIPER X 3, SEMIPALMATED
PLOVER X 8, PEREGRINE FALCON X 2, LEAST SANDPIPER X 500, WESTERN SANDPIPER
X 500, RING-BILLED GULL, CASPIAN TERN and GLAUCOUS WINGED GULL. There were
thousands of Peeps, many were easily enjoyed adjacent to the boardwalk.
Our group was able to spend plenty of time searching for the more unusual
birds and working on our field marks for adult breeding, adult non breeding
and juvenile plumage's. The action was exciting as a North American
variety and Peale's variety of Peregrine Falcon took turns hunting. The
Black Phoebe was located on the cyclone fence gate 700 feet south of the
Puget Sound Viewing Platform. Other species seen included CANADA GOOSE,
MALLARD, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, CALIFORNIA GULL, GREAT BLUE HERON,
OSPREY, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, BELTED KINGFISHER, VAUX'S SWIFT, COMMON
RAVEN, AMERICAN/NORTHWESTERN CROW, and EUROPEAN STARLINGS.

On our return we picked up CINNAMON TEAL, WOOD DUCK, and RING-NECKED DUCK
in the Visitor Center Pond.

73 species seen for the day which is great for August, with 166 species
seen for the year. Mammals seen included Eastern Gray Squirrel and Harbor
Seal.

Until next week when we meet again at 8am at the Visitor Center Pond
Overlook.

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