Hi Tweets,

thirty of us had a good day at Nisqually, with temperatures in the 60's to
70's degrees Fahrenheit and a Low -2.67ft Tide at 10:38am. Highlights
included many baby birds and the return of Peeps. We observed recently
fledged WOOD DUCK, MALLARD, HOODED-MERGANSER, BALD EAGLE, VIRGINIA RAIL,
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, DOWNY WOODPECKER, BARN SWALLOW, TREE
SWALLOW, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, SONG SPARROW, and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH. We
watched four different species feed juvenile BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD CHICKS
including WARBLING VIREO, YELLOW WARBLER, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, and COMMON
YELLOWTHROAT.

Starting out at 8am at the Visitor Center Overlook, we had great looks at
WOOD DUCK with recently fledged young. As well a pair of BAND-TAILED
PIGEON.

The Orchard was hopping with baby BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS and the four
variety of foster species we observed. There is also nesting CEDAR WAXWING
and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH in the area.

The Access Road was great for WILLOW FLYCATCHER, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE and
PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER. This is where we saw a Coyote approximately 3
months old, no doubt parent nearby. The Access Road is good for scoping
the OSPREY nest south of I5 and RED-TAILED HAWK. The front of the group
picked up a quick fly by of the PEREGRINE FALCON.

The fields west of the Access Road and south of the Twin Barns was nice for
swallow watching, 7 species seen, BARN SWALLOW, TREE SWALLOW, VIOLET-GREEN
SWALLOW, CLIFF SWALLOW, NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, BANK SWALLOW and
PURPLE MARTIN.

The west side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail was good for SPOTTED TOWHEE,
BEWICKS WREN, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, SONGS SPARROW, YELLOW WARBLER, COMMON
YELLOWTHROAT and MALLARD. We had fantastic looks at SWAINSON'S THRUSH
hunting for aquatic damselfly like insects off the lily pads of the pond,
and picked up fly by of VAUX'S SWIFT. Many PACIFIC CHORAL FROGS were
observed on vegetation.

The Twin Barns Overlook was quiet with a fly by EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE.

Out on the new dike or Nisqually Estuary Trail we added AMERICAN KESTREL,
RING-BILLED GULL, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT and juvenile VIRGINIA RAIL to
our list.

On the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail we enjoyed the return of Peeps,
LEAST SANDPIPER'S, about a dozen foraging on the mudflats. The south side
BALD EAGLE nest still has one juvenile, along the west side of McAllister
Creek. BELTED KINGFISHER continue to raise there young near the mouth of
McAllister Creek. We had nice looks of CALIFORNIA GULL, GLAUCOUS-WINGED
GULL, WESTERN X GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL hybrid and CASPIAN TERN. Many CANADA
GEESE and GREAT BLUE HERON were out on the reach.

On our return we picked up immature WILLOW FLYCATCHER and WESTERN
WOOD-PEWEE along the east side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail. We observed a
BROWN CREEPER sunning itself on the side of trunk. And ended the day
locating two immature HOODED-MERGANSER eating polliwogs at the Visitor
Center Pond Overlook.

Not a bad summer's day with 61 species observed, we have seen 144 species
for the year on the Wednesday Walk.

Mammals seen included Eastern Cotton-tailed Rabbit, Long-tailed Weasel or
maybe it was a Mink, Coyote, Columbia Black-tailed Deer and Harbor Seal.

Until next week, happy birding!

Shep
--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
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