Hi Tweets,

approximately 28 of us enjoyed a beautiful summers day at the Refuge with
temperatures in the 60's to 80's degree Fahrenheit and a Low -1.89ft Tide
at 10:35pm. Highlights included GREEN HERON at the Visitor Center Pond
Overlook, a male AMERICAN KESTREL hunting in the restored surge plain,
AMERICAN BITTERN sighting, and the return of migrating/wintering waterfowl
NORTHERN PINTAIL, AMERICAN WIGEON, and NORTHERN SHOVELER. Phil Kelley
joined us in the beginning of our walk, but pealed off to lead a student
field trip visiting from Pacific Lutheran University.

Starting out at the Visitor Center Pond Overlook at 8am we were greeted by
an immature GREEN HERON hunting in the pond. Swallows were scarce as the
numbers have significantly dropped with migration in full swing, just two
BARN SWALLOWS at the start of our walk. A GREAT BLUE HERON perched high on
snag and water can be heard along the west side of the Visitor Center as
the pumps are turned on to begin flooding the dried up fields for returning
water fowl.

The Orchard was good for AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, CEDAR WAXWING, BLACK-CAPPED
CHICKADEE, CHESTNUT BACKED CHICKADEE, and ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD. The stand of
trees opposite the entrance road and adjacent the Access Road entrance
WILSON'S WARBLER, BEWICK'S WREN and STELLER'S JAY were observed. HAIRY
WOODPECKER was heard calling in the tall stand between the parking lots and
the Access Road.

Near the west entrance to the Twin Barns Loop Trail we picked up PURPLE
FINCH, DARK-EYED JUNCO and WHITE CROWNED SPARROW. Along the boards we had
nice looks of COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, BROWN CREEPER
and WARBLING VIREO. NORTHERN FLICKER and Columbia Black-tailed Deer were
seen at the first observation platform. The cut-off to the Twin Barns was
really hopping with a family of 4 WILLOW FLYCATCHERS busy foraging and very
nice looks of BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT.

Out on the Nisqually Estuary Trail, there were distant COMMON RAVEN across
the surge plain with BALD EAGLE, RED-TAILED HAWK, and COOPER'S HAWK. A
male AMERICAN KESTREL was observed hunting from one of the snags. The
Kestrel was observed chasing a LEAST SANDPIPER, and eating bird prey. This
is the first time I've seen this species hunt other birds. We observed
approximately 4 OSPREY around the Refuge. The fresh water marsh on the
inside of the dike was good for AMERICAN BITTERN, MALLARD, and CINNAMON
TEAL, NORTHERN SHOVELER-on our return.

The Nisqually Boardwalk Estuary Trail was open, along with construction on
the new bridge over a tributary off Shannon Slough. Two HOODED MERGANSERS
were seen near the photo blind and several small groups of peeps, LEAST
SANDPIPER and WESTERN SANDPIPER, were observed flying over the mudflats. A
large group, 20+ KILLDEER, were foraging around the McAllister Creek
Viewing Platform. With the low tide we had nice observation of Gulls and
Eagles foraging Sand Lance fish from the sandy bottom of the creek.
RING-BILLED GULL, CALIFORNIA GULL, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, "OLYMPIC GULL",
and WESTERN GULL were all observed. We picked up two SPOTTED SANDPIPERS
along the west bank of McAllister Creek, BELTED-KINGFISHER from the Puget
Sound Observation Platform and PURPLE MARTIN off Luhr Beach.
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT and BRANDT'S CORMORANT were observed out on the
reach. We saw about 10 CASPIAN TERNS and were not able to relocate the
Franklin's Gull and Common Tern reported earlier in the last two weeks. As
the tide shifted many hundreds of waterfowl took flight and we were able to
count hundreds of NORTHERN PINTAILS mixed with MALLARDS and a few dozen
AMERICAN WIGEON. There may have even been some Green-winged Teal in the
mix. A small flock of 6 SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPERS were observed flying
around the board walk as well.

On our return, there were WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER,
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH and additional chickadee along the east side of the Twin
Barns Loop Trail. A single GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET was observed at the
Riparian Forest Overlook.

65 species for the day, with 157 species for the year for the Wednesday
Walk eBird list. Mammals seen were Columbia Black-tailed Deer, Harbor
Seal, and Mink - on the east side of the loop trail.

Until next week, happy birding!

Shep


--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
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