Hi Tweets,

thirty of us enjoyed a nice day at the Refuge with overcast skies in the
early morning and sun in the late morning and afternoon. Temperatures
started out in the 60's but quickly warmed up to the 70's and 80's with a
cool breeze from the north. There was a 12 foot high tide just before the
walk, and a Low -1.2 Tide at 2:29pm. We elected to walk the west side of
the Twin Barns Loop Trail, and make our way to the new dike or Nisqually
Estuary Trail to catch the falling tide. Highlights included lots of
recently fledged young. The morning chorus has become significantly quiet
- summer doldrums.

Starting out at the Visitor Center at 8am, we observed many baby WOOD
DUCKS, and juvenile BARN SWALLOW and NORTHERN FLICKER. BLACK-HEADED
GROSBEAK, and PURPLE FINCH can be heard around the parking lot. Many CEDAR
WAXWING feeding juveniles can be heard and seen.

Along the west side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail we observed juvenile HAIRY
WOODPECKER, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, and YELLOW WARBLER. A
family of WILLOW FLYCATCHER'S were feeding juveniles at the Twin Barns
cut-off. Other species seen included many SONG SPARROW, BLACK-CAPPED
CHICKADEE, WESTERN WOOD PEWEE, and RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD.

On the Nisqually Estuary Trail we had great looks at juvenile SORA and
VIRGINIA RAIL. There were two WILSON'S SNIPE roosting with MALLARDS and a
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER flushed from the freshwater marsh. Out on the surge
plain a single GREEN-WINGED TEAL was seen with additional Mallards and
CANADA GEESE. We had several fly overs by the PEREGRINE FALCON. Reports
of AMERICAN BITTERN and SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER from other bird watchers on
the dike. CLIFF SWALLOWS are nesting in the observation tower, other
swallows seen included TREE SWALLOW and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW.

On the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail we enjoyed nice observations of
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, CASPIAN TERN, BONAPARTE'S GULL, RING-BILLED GULL,
CALIFORNIA GULL, GLAUCOUS-WINGED and hybrid GULL, LEAST SANDPIPER, WESTERN
SANDPIPER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, and BALD EAGLE with
occupied nest. PURPLE MARTIN are nesting in the human made nest boxes on
the piles of the old dock at Luhr Beach. STELLER'S JAY was heard along the
west bank of McAllister Creek.

On our return along the east side of the Twin Barns Loop trail we added
BROWN CREEPER, PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER, WARBLING VIREO and juvenile
RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER being fed by an adult.

We had 66 species for day, with 147 species for the year.

Mammals seen include AMERICAN BEAVER, LONG-TAILED WEASEL, HARBOR SEAL,
CALIFORNIA SEA LION, and COLUMBIA BLACK-TAILED DEER.

Until next week when Eric and Dave will lead the walk at 8am from the
Visitor Center.

Happy birding,

Shep Thorp

--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742