Hi folks,

It was a good day to be out birding, and we got to view a few mixed-species flocks, and got great views of Warbling Vireos, Black-throated Gray, Yellow, Orange-crowned, Wilson's and Yellow Warblers, Western Wood-pewees still feeding a fledgling, a Willow Flycatcher, and Chestnut-backed Chickadees. There are a lot of young birds-of-the-year to be seen, making species identifications a bit more problematic. It is definitely Autumn, based on the cooler weather (with fresh, non-smoky air), and based on the fact that we saw our first migrant White-fronted Geese of the year, and Wigeon over the marsh.

Those who went out onto the estuary boardwalk were treated to views of a juvenile Whimbrel, as well as Least and Western Sandpipers & Semipalmated Plovers in the 'peep' flock.

One of the exciting "life history" moments was when we saw a Bald Eagle fly to the mudflat at the base of the estuary boardwalk, carrying a recently-deceased immature California Gull, and began to pluck it for its lunch. We watched for a bit, as another adult Bald came in to wait its turn for a meal, and a Peregrine flew over checking out the situation. We pointed it out to a couple of birders coming back from the boardwalk. They noted that they'd seen a Peregrine kill the young gull, and the eagle came down and pirated the prey from the Falcon!! Nature in the Raw!

Here's hoping to see you at Nisqually, where we meet at the Visitors' Center at 8 a.m. every Wednesday. Good Birding,
- Jon. Anderson
festuca at comcast dot net

---------- Original Message ----------
From: ebird-checklist at cornell.edu
Date: September 12, 2018 at 7:56 PM
Subject: eBird Report - Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Sep 12, 2018

Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Sep 12, 2018 7:58 AM - 2:47 PM
Protocol: Traveling 6.07 mile(s)
Comments: Wednesday walk. A little foggy at the start, but clearing off quickly, until about 1:00 when there were some moderately heavy rain showers. Light southwest breeze at 3-8 knots, 53-64° F. The tide was ebbing toward a +1.7-foot low water at 2:17 p.m. Mammals seen included Eastern cottontail, Eastern gray squirrel, harbor seal.
63 species (+13 other taxa)

Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) 4 First of the fall season
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 17
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) 1
American Wigeon (Mareca americana) 6
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 55
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) 1
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) 35
dabbling duck sp. (Anatidae sp. (dabbling duck sp.)) 300 Too far out on the mudflats to Identify
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon)) 2 One at twin barns; one at Refuge entrance gate
Vaux's Swift Chaetura vauxi 1
Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) 2
hummingbird sp. (Trochilidae sp.) 2
Virginia Rail Rallus limicola 1 Heard in cattail marsh
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) 7
Killdeer Charadrius vociferus 1
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) 1 Large brown shorebird, immature, down-curved bill, dark eye-line through light face. Photos
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) 45
Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri) 48
peep sp. (Calidris sp. (peep sp.)) 75
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) 6
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 115 85%+ adults
California Gull (Larus californicus) 35 Almost all immatures
Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) 26
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus occidentalis/glaucescens) 30
gull sp. (Larinae sp.) 85 At edge of the water on the Reach/mudflats
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) 2
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) 45
cormorant sp. (Phalacrocoracidae sp.) 3 On the 'Brandt's cormorant' channel marker on the reach
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 32
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) 2 One still on the cell tower nest, one on fencepost north of the estuary overlook
Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) 1 Male soaring in thermal, seen from Orchard area
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 17 One adult stole an immature California gull that had just been predated by a Peregrine! *Flagged as high count: Many birds congregating near mouth of Nisqually River, now that the chinook salmon run has begun.
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 2
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 3 Two along McAllister Creek, one at the River overlook
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific) (Dryobates pubescens gairdnerii/turati) 6
Hairy Woodpecker (Pacific) (Dryobates villosus [harrisi Group]) 1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 2
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) (Colaptes auratus [cafer Group]) 3
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) 1 Continuing female
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) 1 Killed a juvenile California gull & it was taken away by the Bald eagle
Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus) 4 Adult Feeding young!
Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) 1
Empidonax sp. (Empidonax sp.) 1
Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) 12
Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) 4 Three were West of McAllister Creek in the timber, one was at the Visitor Center parking lot
American/Northwestern Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos/caurinus) 4
Common Raven (Corvus corax) 2
Purple Martin (Progne subis) 6 In Douglas fir, seen from the Visitors center and from along the west boardwalk
Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor 1 *Flagged as late. White breast and belly, white did not extend above dark eye line
Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) 38
Tree/Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor/thalassina) 15 Too high to ID; likely Violet-greens
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 40
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 38
Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Poecile rufescens) 9
Bushtit (Pacific) (Psaltriparus minimus [minimus Group]) 8
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) 5
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) 1 Cattail marsh
Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) 6
Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) 9
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 25
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 155
American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) 2 Estuary boardwalk
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 28
Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) 3
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 2
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 14
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) Junco hyemalis [oreganus Group] 5
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) 16 Many juveniles
White-crowned Sparrow (pugetensis) (Zonotrichia leucophrys pugetensis) 2
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) 42
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 24
Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) 1 Heard Only
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group) (Pipilo maculatus [oregonus Group]) 3
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 10
Orange-crowned Warbler (Oreothlypis celata) 1
Orange-crowned Warbler (lutescens) (Oreothlypis celata lutescens) 1
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) 18
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) 26
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) (Setophaga coronata coronata) 1
Black-throated Gray Warbler (Setophaga nigrescens) 8
Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla) 2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S48468578

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (/content/nw)