Hi Tweets,

fourteen of us had a pleasant and breezy day at the Refuge with cloudy
skies, occasional light rain, and temperatures in the 40's to 50's degrees
Fahrenheit. There was a Low 8.83ft Tide at 8:57am and a High 12.52ft Tide
at 1:25pm. The entire length of the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail is
now open with the closure of hunting season. Highlights included first of
year YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD, HERRING GULL and WESTERN
GULL. We also had great looks of PACIFIC LOON in McAllister Creek,
EURASIAN WIGEON on the estuary board walk trail, and over 25 COMMON
MERGANSER from the Nisqually Overlook.

Starting out at 8am at the Visitor Center Pond Overlook, we had nice looks
of the predominantly male RING-NECKED DUCK flock of 6, and GADWALL.

The Orchard was quiet with a mixed flock of BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE,
CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, BROWN CREEPER, DOWNY WOODPECKER, BEWICK'S WREN,
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET and RUBY CROWNED KINGLET. The flooded field across
the entrance road from the orchard also had PIED-BILLED GREBE and KILLDEER
in addition to MALLARD.

The flooded fields south and west of the Access Road had good numbers of
CACKLING GEESE, NORTHERN SHOVELER, NORTHERN PINTAIL and AMERICAN COOT. A
pair of BALD EAGLE were perched on either side of the fields. NORTHERN
HARRIER was spotted hunting the inaccessible central access road. A good
size flock of 15 plus GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS continues to forage along the
Access Road to the Twin Barns.

Our first of many YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was observed in the big willow in
the middle of the field west of the parking lot. The "butter-butts" seen
were predominantly Myrtle variety, which I suspect are early migrants (Over
the past 10 years I've observed audubon's variety being the subspecies most
likely to stay over the winter.). Yellow-rumped Warblers were also seen in
the Maple Trees by the Twin Barns and the tall mixed deciduous trees at the
northeast corner of the Twin Barns Loop Trail at the cut-off for the
Nisqually Overlook.

The Twin Barns Loop Trail on the west side was productive with nice looks
of FOX SPARROW in the bramble just left of the boards. We had another
mixed winter flock of passerines near the cut off to the Access Road.
Pacific Wren was heard and seen near the north twin bench overlook.

The fields are fully flooded with our recent rains. Both the Twin Barns
Overlook and the Nisqually Estuary Trail, or new dike, were excellent for
observing hundreds of GREEN-WINGED TEAL, AMERICAN WIGEON, Northern Pintail,
and Northern Shovelers. Depending on the weather conditions, there is good
opportunity to search for Eurasian Wigeon and Eurasian Green-winged Teal.
The surge plain is also good for MEW GULL, RING-BILLED GULL, and GREATER
YELLOWLEGS. There is a new Bald Eagle nest in a tall Cottonwood Tree on
the far side of the plain. The fresh water marsh on the inside of the new
dike is were we pick up MARSH WREN.

The Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail provided great looks of BUFFLEHEAD,
COMMON GOLDENEYE, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, HOODED MERGANSER, RED-BREASTED
MERGANSER, and SURF SCOTER. Between the McAllister Creek Viewing Platform
and the Puget Sound Viewing Platform we had great looks of two PACIFIC LOON
in McAllister Creek and EURASIAN WIGEON. There is a small flock of LEAST
SANDPIPER hanging around the pickle weed marsh plain just south of the
closure gate. We got scope views of COMMON LOON, RED-THROATED LOON, and
BRANDT'S CORMORANT form the terminus or Puget Sound Viewing Platform.
There is a nice flock of 50 BLACK BRANT on the marsh plain of the reach.
We also spotted a FOY HERRING GULL foraging on the salt water marsh.
Another discovery was a Bufflehead carcass suspected to be a Bald Eagle
prey due to the surrounding talon prints in the sand.

The Nisqually River Overlook was a real treat with over two dozen COMMON
MERGANSERS, they seem to collect or stage in this area the second half of
winter.

We have not seen the Great Horned Owl in many weeks. Hopefully they are
nesting, but we don't know...

We observed 61 species for the day, and have seen 83 species for the walk
this year. Mammals seen were Columbia Black-tailed Deer, Coyote, and
Harbor Seal.

Until nest week when we will meet again at 8am, happy birding!

Shep

--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
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