Hi Tweets,

twenty of us enjoyed a nice day at the Refuge with cloudy skies in the
morning and partly cloudy skies in the afternoon, temperatures between the
40's to 50's degrees Fahrenheit. There was a High 13.94ft Tide at 7:36am
and a Low 3.91ft Tide at 1:44pm, so we decided to chase the tide by walking
the west side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail, Twin Barns Observatory
Platform, Nisqually Estuary Trail - or new dike, and the Nisqually Estuary
Boardwalk Trail before doing the Orchard and flooded fields. Highlights of
the day included FOY VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, with continuing rare sightings
of BARN SWALLOW, WESTERN SANDPIPER, and RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. We also had
fun looks at WILSON SNIPE, nesting BALD EAGLE, WESTERN MEADOWLARK, flying
VIRGINIA RAIL and singing and showing HUTTON'S VIREO.

Starting out at the Visitor Center Pond Overlook at 8am, we had great looks
at WILSON SNIPE, PIED-BILLED GREBE, HOODED MERGANSER, RING-NECKED DUCK,
GADWALL, MALLARD, and a bonded pair of CANADA GEESE.

The west side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail was good for mixed flocks of
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, GOLDEN CROWNED KINGLET and
BROWN CREEPER. We had nice sightings of SONG SPARROW, FOX SPARROW,
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW and PACIFIC WREN.

The Twin Barns Observation Platform was great for RED-TAILED HAWK, NORTHERN
SHOVELER, NORTHERN PINTAIL, AMERICAN WIGEON, GREEN-WINGED TEAL and AMERICAN
COOT. Flying over the flooded fields and overhead we observed 75+ TREE
SWALLOW, with a few FOY VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW in the mix. Two BARN SWALLOWS
were seen which is considered rare on eBird.

Out on the new dike or Nisqually Estuary Trail, a pair of BALD EAGLE
continue to work on a nest half way up a large Cottonwood Tree
approximately 1/4 mile out on the west side of the Nisqually River in the
area of the old "ring dike". We had nice looks of WESTERN MEADOWLARK in
the grassy area of the surge plain, and many swallows continued to fly
overhead. There is an intergrade NORTHERN FLICKER continuing in the snags
around the surge plain. Several GREAT BLUE HERON were roosting in trees
along the Nisqually River. West of Leschi Slough on the dike continued
great looks of waterfowl. The 700+ CACKLING GEESE counted flew out early
before the walk up into the Nisqually Valley. We observed two AMERCIAN X
EURASIAN WIGEON hybrids, and had great looks at GREATER YELLOWLEGS,
RING-BILLED GULL and MEW GULL. MARSH WREN were numerous in the fresh water
marsh.

On the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail we had fabulous looks of
BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON GOLDENEYE, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, SURF SCOTER, and
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT. We relocated two WESTERN SANDPIPER's which is
considered rare in eBird with a flock of LEAST SANDPIPER, and had nice
looks of DUNLIN. A RED-THROATED LOON was hunting the McAllister Creek
confluence and mouth which was fun to see. We picked up STELLER'S JAY,
BELTED KINGFISHER, and SPOTTED SANDPIPER along the west bank of McAllister
Creek. The Puget Sound Viewing Platform or terminus was good for GREATER
SCAUP, HORNED GREBE and COMMON LOON. The BRANT GEESE were not visible to
all as they swam south of Luhr Beach with American Wigeon.

On our return, it warmed up in the early afternoon and we relocated the
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK in the trees along old McAllister Creek Access Road
hunting, presumably for Garter Snakes, distant digiscope photos were added
to the eBird report. We also had a nice sightings of VIRGINIA RAIL flying
through the marsh adjacent to the dike.

The Nisqually River Overlook was good for COMMON MERGANSER and COMMON
GOLDENEYE. We also had great looks at a MINK. On our return, the east
side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail had a great mixed flock of BROWN CREEPER,
BUSHTIT, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, GOLDEN-CROWNED
KINGLET, BEWICK'S WREN and DOWNY WOODPECKER.

We located three HUTTON'S VIREO singing and showing, two near the Visitor
Center and another in a mixed flock in the stand of riparian trees across
the entrance road from the Orchard. The Orchard was good for
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW and KINGLET. We picked up KILLDEER in the flooded
field across the entrance road from the Orchard.

We observed 67 species for the day, and have seen 92 species for the year.
Mammals seen were Eastern Gray Squirrel, Harbor Seal, Columbia Black-tailed
Deer and Mink.

Until next week, happy birding,

Shep

--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
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