Hi Tweets,

another fabulous day at the Refuge with unexpectedly nice weather, sunny
late morning, temperatures from 45 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit and a high
14'3" tide at 7:48am. Highlights included FOY Varied Thrush, Sanderling,
Herrring Gull, and FOS Snow Goose and Eurasian Wigeon. We also had high
counts of 300 Pine Siskins, 7 Pectoral Sandpipers, 17 Black-bellied Plovers
and 100 Least Sandpiper. We had great looks at American Bittern, Merlin,
Great Egret, Great Horned Owl, Dunlin and peeps, and enjoyed a Peale's
variety of Peregrine Falcon eating a Dunlin. A pair of Bald Eagles is
building a new nest along the mouth of McAllister Creek. Unfortunately, we
were not able to relocate the White-throated Sparrow or Northern Saw-whet
Owl which have been reported in the last two weeks.

Approximately 20 of us started out at the Visitor Center Pond Overlook at
8am. Initially we observed Mallard, American Robin, Ruby-crowned Kinglet,
Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, and Red-winged Blackbird. On our way out a
couple of our birders picked up FOY Varied Thrush and Common Yellowthroat
around the east side of the Visitor Center. Over the past few weeks, some
of our birders have suspected hearing Varied Thrush east of the Visitor
Center.

The flooded field immediately adjacent to the entrance road across from the
orchard was very productive with great looks at 7 Pectoral Sandpiper. We
also saw 2 Wilson's Snipe and Northern Pintail. This field has been a nice
hot spot during high tides. We also had great observation of Bald Eagle
and Common Raven with many flocks of Pine Siskin flying around. Some of
our birders picked up Townsend's Warbler, Golden-crowned Kinglet,
Black-capped Chickadee in the riparian stand adjacent to the road. Evening
Grosbeaks were heard and seen flying high overhead.

The flooded field along the access road south had many Mallards. The
deciduous stand immediately west has been reliable for Red-tailed Hawk.

The fields west of the access road and on either side of the old McAllister
Creek access road are starting to flood and we observed over 1000 Cackling
Geese plus 1 immature Snow Goose and 1 immature Greater-White Fronted
Goose. We observed our first of two Northern Shrikes, this an adult, on
the east slope of the new dike west beyond the fields.

The grassy and bramble area adjacent to the west entrance to the Twin Barns
Loop Trail has been productive for sparrows, and even though we could not
relocate the White-throated Sparrow, we had nice observation of
Golden-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow and many Cedar Waxwings.

On the Twin Barns Loop Trail we had wonderful observation of American
Bittern hunting in the main pond. We also saw Hooded Merganser,
Yellow-rumped Warbler both Audubon's and Myrtle subspecies, Pacific Wren,
Bewick's Wren, Bushtit, Gadwall, American Green-winged Teal, Northern
Pintail and additional Mallard, Kinglet and Pine Siskin. We had a very
nice fly over of a Merlin.

The Twin Barns Observation Platform was quiet, but we had a gorgeous fly by
from a Great Egret and we picked up Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Lincoln
Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, Northern Shoveler as well
as additional sparrows.

Out on the new dike, Nisqually Estuary Trail, the surge plain was loaded
with waterfowl for very distant scoping. Nice finds included two Eurasian
Wigeon and probable Long-billed Dowitchers mixed with many American Wigeon,
American Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail and Mallard. The plowed field
on the inside of the dike was full of Canada/Cackling Geese providing a
nice opportunity to work through the Moffitti or Western Canada to find
several Parvipes or Lesser, and Minima or Cackling to find two Taverneri or
Taverner's. We also enjoyed nice looks of Northern Harrier and Western
Meadowlark.

On the boardwalk, Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail, we had additional
observation of Great Egret as well as Great Blue Heron, Ring-billed Gull,
California Gull and Savannah Sparrow. At the McAllister Creek Observation
Platform we observed 4 Sanderlings flying around as if they were looking
for some sand, and a second year winter plumage probable Herring Gull.
Further out we were treated to great close up viewing of shorebirds
including many Least Sandpiper and Black-bellied Plover, as well Western
Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover and Killdeer. Our second immature Northern
Shrike showed up at the cyclone fence that closes off the last 700 feet of
the boardwalk (for hunting season through January). Here we enjoyed the
pair of Bald Eagles building a second nest in tall Douglass Fir with a 10
foot bald spar on the west bank of the mouth of McAllister Creek just south
of Luhr Beach and just north of the 2 year old feather duster nest.

On our return, we picked up Brown Creeper and Great Horned Owl on the east
side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail along the old Nisqually River Dike just
100 feet south of the northeast corner. We observed another huge flock of
Pine Siskin, and a mixed flock of Chickadee and Kinglet further south.

For the day 77 species seen with 176 species for the year.

Mammals seen were Columbia Black-tailed Deer 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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