Hi Tweets,

forty of us had a fun day at the Refuge with cloudy skies, temperature in
the 60's-70's degrees Fahrenheit, and a High 11'3" Tide at 10:02am.
Highlights included three LONG-BILLED CURLEW, juvenile BULLOCK'S ORIOLE,
PEREGRINE FALCON chasing LONG-BILLED/SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, SORA,
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER and MEW GULL.

Meeting at the Visitor Center Pond Overlook, we had close views of an
immature Bullock's Oriole feeding in the bramble adjacent to the platform.
PIED-BILLED GREBE and BELTED KINGFISHER were seen and the NORTHERN FLICKER
family was hanging around the nest tree. Dozens of BARN SWALLOWS were
roosting on the visitor center metal roof.

Along the south side of the west parking lot we had nice looks of WILSON'S
WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER and CEDAR WAXWING. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW and
COMMON YELLOW were observed along the Access Road. South of I5 an OSPREY
nest can be scoped and we observed adults feeding young. Scanning the
fields west we observed additional swallows including TREE, VIOLET-GREEN,
CLIFF and BANK. SAVANNAH SPARROWS were observed in the tall grasses. At
one point the swallows suddenly scattered and an unidentified accipiter
flew through. Near the entrance to the west side of the Twin Barns Loop
Trail we observed WARBLING VIREO, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, and an EURASIAN
COLLARED-DOVE in the tall Douglas Fir.

As we walked the west side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail we added
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, BEWICK'S WREN, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, DOWNY WOODPECKER,
ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, and MARSH WREN for the day. Most
of our group got terrific looks of a VIRGINIA RAIL just south of the Twin
Barns cut-off.

Out on the new dike or Nisqually Estuary Trail we observed a PEREGRINE
FALCON harassing an Osprey that may have been carrying a bird in its
talons. Another Peregrine was observed chasing a DOWITCHER. Good number
of peeps were observed foraging in the surge plain. Further west, adjacent
to Leschi Slough, we had terrific looks at two LONG-BILLED CURLEW. One of
the Curlew had a shorter Whimbrel sized bill and we speculated this
individual may be a juvenile bird. Aside from having great looks of LEAST
SANDPIPER and WESTERN SANDPIPER, other great finds included SEMIPALMATED
SANDPIPER, BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, GREATER YELLOWLEGS and
WILSON'S SNIPE. The entire group were treated to great views of SORA and
AMERICAN BITTERN. In the fresh water marsh pond across the dike from the
Observation Tower we observed AMERICAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL, CINNAMON TEAL,
MALLARD, and HOODED MERGANSER.

Continuing on the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail we enjoyed RING-BILLED
GULL, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, first of season MEW GULL, good numbers of
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW over McAllister Creek and an unexpected fly
over and landing of first of season RED-BREASTED MERGANSER.

>From the Puget Sound Viewing Platform we observed good numbers of CASPIAN
TERN, GREAT BLUE HERON and DOUBLE-CRESTED COMORANT. PURPLE MARTIN continue
to use the martin houses off Lhur Beach.

On our return, we added BUSHTIT, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, BROWN CREEPER,
WILLOW FLYCATCHER, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, PILEATED WOODPECKER, and DARK-EYED
JUNCO.

We observed 78 species for the day, with 166 species for the year.

Mammals seen included Cotton-tailed Rabbit, Mink, Harbor Seal, California
Sea Lion.

Until next week when we meet again, happy birding!

Shep Thorp

--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
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