Hi Tweets,

a very pleasant summers day at Nisqually for 30 plus bird watchers, with
cloudy skies and temperatures in the 60's degrees Fahrenheit. We had a Low
-1.59ft Tide at 12:03pm. Highlights included many babies, HOODED
MERGANSER, BALD EAGLE, DOWNY WOODPECKER, TREE SPARROW, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD,
WILLOW FLYCATCHER and YELLOW WARBLER. We also had many males singing on
territory. Jon Anderson reports another visitor reported a Summer Tanager
on the Riparian Side of the Twin Barns area, but we did not see this
species on our way through. Jon did give it a second try, but was not able
to confirm.

Starting out at the Visitor Center Pond Overlook, there were 5 baby HOODED
MERGANSER with a hen in the pond and many recently fledged TREE SWALLOW
learning to fly over the pond. BARN SWALLOW were nesting in the Visitor
Center. We also observed NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW foraging.

The Orchard was good for nesting CEDAR WAXWING, YELLOW WARBLER and AMERICAN
GOLDFINCH. We also had good looks of RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, BLACK-HEADED
GROSBEAK, WILLOW FLYCATCHER and juvenile DOWNY WOODPECKER.

The Access Road was good for SAVANNAH SPARROW, PURPLE FINCH, both variety
of CHICKADEE, and a large flock of BUSHTIT.

The west entrance to the Twin Barns Loop Trail provided nice observation of
SWAINSON'S THRUSH, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, BEWICK'S
WREN, MARSH WREN and RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD.

The Twin Barns Overlook had two juvenile WILLOW FLYCATCHERS that were
really just fly chasing and not quite ready for graduation. The grass in
the field is tall with no visible water, so waterfowl viewing only exists
with something flying in or something flushed out by an eagle fly over.

Out on the dike or Nisqually Estuary Trail, we had nice observation of
CINNAMON TEAL with quick looks at VIRGINIA RAIL and BANK SWALLOW. A flock
of 10 plus GADWALL flew into the fresh water marsh. There were many more
CLIFF SWALLOW over the marsh, along with good numbers of RED-WINGED
BLACKBIRDS.

The Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail was good for BALD EAGLE,
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, CALIFORNIA GULL,
RING-BILLED GULL and GREAT BLUE HERON. BELTED KINGFISHER and CASPIAN TERN
were seen along the way, and PURPLE MARTIN was observed off Luhr Beach.

On our return we picked up BROWN CREEPER, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, PACIFIC-SLOPE
FLYCATCHER, and WARBLING VIREO along the east side of the Twin Barns Loop
Trail.

For the day we had 62 species with 143 species for the year so far.

Until next week when we meet again at 8am at the Visitor Center Pond
Overlook,

happy birding,

Shep

--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
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