Hi Tweets,

18 of us enjoyed the return of winter residents CACKLING GEESE, GREAT
EGRET, WESTERN MEADOWLARK, GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, and
had great looks at WILSON'S SNIPE, LESSER SCAUP, GREAT-HORNED OWL, and
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER on a cloudy morning/sunny afternoon day with
temperatures in the 60's degrees Fahrenheit and a Low 0'10" Tide at 9:25am.

Starting out at the Visitor Center Pond Overlook at 8:00am we observed
CANADA GOOSE, WOOD DUCK, AMERICAN WIGEON, COMMON RAVEN, AMERICAN ROBIN,
EUROPEAN STARLING, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, SONG SPARROW,
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, DARK-EYED JUNCO, and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH.

The fields south of the parking lot and adjacent to the entrance road are
being flooded by Refuge biologists to provide more habitat for returning
waterfowl, and this is where we had our First of Season CACKLING GEESE x 40
(Branta canadensis minima). One of our birders located a WILSON'S SNIPE
feeding for wonderful looks, we also enjoyed a female or immature LESSER
SCAUP, MALLARD, NORTHERN SHOVELER, and CEDAR WAXWING. The first of many
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET were heard, as well as PINE SISKIN.

Entering the Twin Barns Loop Trail at the southeast entrance to the right
of the Visitor Center we could hear SWAINSON'S THRUSH, BROWN CREEPER,
SPOTTED TOWHEE, and additional GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET. Along the east side
we could hear FOX SPARROW, PACIFIC WREN and WARBLING VIREO. At the
northeast corner of the trail just south of the Nisqually River Overlook on
the east side of the old Nisqually River Dike a GREAT HORNED OWL roosted
approximately 15-20 feet high in Maple Tree providing some of the best
looks I've had all year of this species. At the Nisqually River Overlook
we saw many BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE and one of our birders spotted PURPLE
MARTIN flying high above the river. Along the north section of the Twin
Barns Loop Trail we observed a mixed flock of RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET,
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, DOWNY WOODPECKER and HAIRY
WOODPECKER. The Downy and Hairy were within 10 feet of each other giving
us a great opportunity to observe the black spots on the outer white
rectrices of the short billed Downy versus the plain white outer white
rectrices of the longer billed Hairy. True to their behavior, the Hairy
foraged on the large diameter trunk of the Cottonwood while the Downy
foraged on smaller branches adjacent to the trunk.

The Twin Barns Observation Platform was a hot spot for Sparrows, Swallows
and Swifts. Here we picked up SAVANNAH SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW,
LINCOLN'S SPARROW, BARN SWALLOW and VAUX'S SWIFT. As the morning was
cloudy, some of the flybys of Vaux's Swift were spectacular. We also
observed RED-TAILED HAWK, NORTHERN HARRIER, GADWALL, and MARSH WREN. The
grass fields have been mowed, some plowed, and we observed multiple COMMON
RAVEN scavenging for carrion.

Out on the Nisqually Estuary Trail, new dike, we had great looks of WESTERN
MEADOWLARK, GREAT BLUE HERON, and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS. AMERICAN PIPIT
were heard.

On the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail we rediscovered our old friend the
GREAT EGRET. Although not certain, our presumption is this is the same
individual that wintered at the Refuge last year. There was a large flock
of 10 plus COMMON MERGANSERS fishing in the confluence of McAllister Creek
and Shannon Slough which were being aggressively kleptoparasitised by
RING-BILLED GULL. We observed both PEREGRINE FALCON, Peale's Variety, and
a pair of BALD EAGLE hunting AMERICAN WIGEON (flock of over 1,000). There
were great looks at SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, LEAST SANDPIPER and WESTERN
SANDPIPER, but the number of shorebirds was down in comparison to last
month. We also saw HOUSE FINCH, MEW GULL, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, GLAUCOUS
WINGED X WESTERN GULL HYBRID or Olympic Gull, NORTHERN PINTAIL, PIED-BILLED
GREBE, HOODED MERGANSER and DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT. STELLER'S JAY was
heard.

On our return, along the west side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail, we had
nice looks at CINNAMON TEAL and RING-NECKED DUCK.
Mammals seen included Columbia Black-tailed Deer, Harbor Seal, and Muskrat.

77 species for the day, with nothing new for our 171 species for the year.

Until next week, when Phil will return to lead the walk.

Good birding!

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