Hi Tweets,

Eighteen birders had a wet start to our day at the Refuge with temperatures
in the high 40's degrees Fahrenheit and a Low 5'3" Tide at 12:11pm.
Despite the rainy weather we had a very enjoyable day with first of the
year sightings of Violet-green Swallow, Tree Swallow and Great-horned Owl.
We were also treated to very nice looks of the Great Egret, Glaucous Gull
and Snowy Owl.

Meeting at the visitor center at 8am, we had good observations of Bewick's
Wren, Hooded Merganser, Pied-billed Grebe, Bufflehead, American Coot and
Steller's Jay. We watched a Belted Kingfinsher beat a salamander or newt
on it's perch for nearly 10 minutes as it tried to kill its prey in
preparation for eating.

The flooded fields south of the Access Road were quiet with a few Northern
Pintail and Norther Flicker. The flooded fields west of the Access Road
and south of the Twin Barns had several hundred waterfowl with many
Cacklers (Branta hutchinsii minima), Mallards, Northern Pintails, Northern
Shovelers, and Green-winged Teal.

The Twin Barns Boardwalk Loop Trail was fairly quiet as well with sightings
of Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Marsh Wren, and Ring-necked Duck. From the
Twin Barns Overlook, we had continued good observation of waterfowl. Many
Bald Eagles could be seen, adults and immature birds as well Northern
Harrier. We had good looks at Golden-crowned Sparrow, Lincoln Sparrow and
a nice close fly bye of our first of the year Violet-green Swallow.

Out on the Estuary Dike Trail we were greeted by a Peregrine Falcon. A
female Northern Harrier flew over the dike and dropped down on the fresh
water side on a grassy area along an access road. As we tried to determine
if the Northern Harrier was successful in hunting, a Peregrine Falcon flew
in fast to flush the Harrier, shortly followed by a gliding Red-tailed
Hawk, and then two Bald Eagles which scattered the raptors. We had the
best looks I've ever had of the American Bittern along the dike hunting. A
birding photographer who had joined our group showed us a video of the
Bittern catching a Vole off the dike a few days previously. We've observed
the Great Blue Heron hunting and eating voles around the refuge, but again
it's the first time for me observing the American Bittern hunting Voles.

At the Observation Tower at the start of the Estuary Boardwalk Trail we had
approximately 8 first of the year Tree Swallows fly over, and very nice
looks at Great Egret, Great Blue Heron and Horned Grebe. From the Estuary
Boardwalk Trail we observed many American Wigeon, one Eurasian Wigeon and
one American x Eurasian Wigeon hybrid were seen. We also saw Greater
Yellowlegs, Red-breasted Mergansers, Common Goldeneye, Mew Gull,
Ring-billed Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull and Glaucous winged x Western Gull
Hybrid (Olympic Gull).

>From the Puget Sound Viewing Platform, we had nice scoping of the Snowy Owl
on Nisqually Reach to the east, just north of the old dike foot print
between Leschi Slough and the Nisqually River perched on a log snag on the
marsh plain. To make the white bird day complete, a large white gull
landed on the mud flats with white primaries, pink legs and a pink black
tipped bill consistent with a Glaucous Gull! Hundreds of American Wigeon
were observed, and a flock of at least 20 Black Brant Geese flew in for
very nice looks. Beyond the reach we could scope Greater Scaup west of
McAllister Creek. Red-throated Loon, Surf Scoter and all three Cormorants,
Double-crested, Brandt's and Pelagic were seen. Approximately 1000 Dunlin
were seen foraging on the mudflats, and 10 Bald Eagles seen perched on
various log and root ball snags.

At the Nisqually River Overlook, we picked up Common Mergansers.

Our first of year Great Horned Owl was seen in the large Cottonwoods just
south of the northern section of the Twin Barns Boardwalk Loop Trail
between the Twin Barns cut-off and the Nisqually River Overlook cut-off.
This section of trail is currently closed from winter storm damage, but the
owl was seen from the Nisqually River Overlook cut-off and the start of the
Estuary Dike Trail. Along the Old Nisqually River Dike additional species
seen included Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Ruby-crowned Kinglet,
Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper and Bewick's Wren.

67 species for the day, mammals seen were Eastern Gray Squirrel, River
Otter x 4 and Harbor Seal.

Until next week, good birding!

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