Hi Tweeters,



Twenty-two of us enjoyed another great day at the refuge.? There wasn't much activity at the beginning of the walk, but a couple of hot spots more than made up for the slow start.? Low tide was at 7:50am, 1' 0", and high tide was at 3:33pm, 10' 10".? Dave Richardson's eBird report for the walk is below.


The two hot spots included an eld erberry bush and adjacent trees inside the boardwalk loop on the river side and the fresh water pond on the south side of the dike.



A mixed flock was in and out of the elderberry bush near the first set of benches as we came down the boardwalk headed toward the river overlook. ? Species included Wilson's Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Bewick's Wren, Brown Creeper, Downy Woodpecker and Black-capped Chickadee.



The freshwater pond on the south side of the dike was very active and gave us great sightings.? As the summer weather continues, the pond is reducing in area and tending to concentrate the birds.? Species along this pond included Long-billed Dowitcher, Wilson's Snipe, Cinnamon Teal with young, Hooded Merganser, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs (excellent comparison looks), Virginia Rail, Sora, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, Wood Duck, Least Sandpiper, Pied-billed Grebe, American Coot and Marsh Wren.



Another sighting of note on the walk was a pair of Lazuli Buntings on the north (salt water) side of the dike, just past the twin barns.? The birds?were in small?saplings near the dike and gave us great looks.



Total species:? 63

Mammals:? Beaver, Rabbit, Weasel



Until next week when Phil Kelley returns to lead the walk.



Eric Slagle, Olympia






Nisqually NWR, Thurston, US-WA
Jul 31, 2013 8:00 AM - 1:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
4.2 mile(s)
63 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose ?128
Wood Duck ?22
Mallard ?220
Blue-winged Teal ?4
Cinnamon Teal ?13
Northern Shoveler ?1
Green-winged Teal ?4
Hooded Merganser ?12
Pied-billed Grebe ?1
Double-crested Cormorant ?6
Great Blue Heron ?108
Turkey Vulture ?3
Bald Eagle ?6
Virginia Rail ?3
Sora ?2
American Coot ?9
Killdeer ?6
Greater Yellowlegs ?5
Lesser Yellowlegs ?3
Least Sandpiper ?13
Long-billed Dowitcher ?24
Wilson's Snipe ?6
Ring-billed Gull ?130
California Gull ?1
Glaucous-winged Gull ?4
Caspian Tern ?9
Rock Pigeon ?3
Vaux's Swift ?1
Anna's Hummingbird ?1
Belted Kingfisher ?6
Downy Woodpecker ?1
Western Wood-Pewee ?15
Willow Flycatcher ?7
Hutton's Vireo ?2
Steller's Jay ?3
American/Northwestern Crow ?25
Common Raven ?2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow ?2
Purple Martin ?2
Tree Swallow ?16
Violet-green Swallow ?8
Barn Swallow ?200
Cliff Swallow ?8
Black-capped Chickadee ?9
Brown Creeper ?1
Pacific Wren ?1
Marsh Wren ?5
Bewick's Wren ?7
Swainson's Thrush ?11
American Robin ?9
European Starling ?30
Cedar Waxwing ?2
Common Yellowthroat ?8
Yellow Warbler ?5
Black-throated Gray Warbler ?2
Wilson's Warbler ?2
Spotted Towhee (Pacific) ?6
Savannah Sparrow ?4
Song Sparrow ?9
White-crowned Sparrow (Puget Sound) ?11
Lazuli Bunting ?2
Red-winged Blackbird ?90
Brown-headed Cowbird ?20
American Goldfinch ?24

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14827551

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)