Hi Tweets,

approximately 25 of us enjoyed a cool day with temperatures in the 40's to
50's and partly cloudy skies. There was a High 15.01ft Tide at 7:42am and
a Low 1.97ft Tide at 2:01pm. Highlights included First of Year WOOD DUCK,
and SWAMP SPARROW. We also had great looks of MERLIN, nesting BALD EAGLE
and WESTERN SANDPIPER.

Starting out at the Visitor Center Pond Overlook at 8am, the early morning
arrivers were treated to FOY WOOD DUCK drake in beautiful breeding
plumage. A male and female were seen together in the afternoon, so
hopefully we'll see them using one of our many nest boxes. We also had
great looks at RING-NECKED DUCK, BUFFLEHEAD, GADWALL, MALLARD, CANADA GOOSE
and PIED-BILLED GREBE. Upwards of 8 HOODED MERGANSERS were paired up with
courtship behavior. A MERLIN flew into the Peregrine Tree with agitated
TREE SWALLOWS flying overhead.

With the early high tide, we decided to head out to the dike before doing
the Orchard. The west side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail was good for
NORTHERN FLICKER, SONG SPARROW, GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, FOX SPARROW and
PACIFIC WREN. The flooded fields west of the Access Road had good numbers
of waterfowl including NORTHERN SHOVELER, NORTHERN PINTAIL, AMERICAN COOT,
AMERICAN WIGEON, and GREEN-WINGED TEAL. A flock of 600 plus CACKLING
GEESE, predominantly minima's with a few dozen taverner's were foraging in
the field west of the parking lot. Dozens of TREE SWALLOWS were foraging
over the fields with many VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS mixed in.

The stand of Maple Trees adjacent to the Twin Barns and along the cut-off
to the Twin Barns Overlook were very busy with a large mixed flock of
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, BROWN CREEPER, and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER both
Audubon's and Myrtle variety - some in striking breeding plumage. An
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was heard along the adjacent slough. The Twin Barns
Overlook is a great place to observe the waterfowl foraging on the flooded
fields.

Out on the new dike or Nisqually Estuary Trail, a pair of BALD EAGLE
continue to nest in a large Cottonwood Tree on the west side of the
Nisqually River. Scoping the surge plain was good for observing hundreds
of GREEN-WINGED TEAL. Several GREATER YELLOWLEGS were foraging along the
waters edge, joined by many MEW GULL and RING-BILLED GULL. A brightly
colored FOY SWAMP SPARROW popped up along the north side of the dike across
from the cut-off to the Twin Barns along with LINCOLN SPARROW, FOX SPARROW,
and MARSH WREN. Unfortunately it did not show for long, so most of our
group were unable to observe the bird, and we could not relocate it. In
contrast to the Lincoln's Sparrow, the Swamp had red-brown wings and tail
with blurry sides and a two toned bill. Hopefully it will stick around for
a few days.

The inside of the dike or fresh water side was good for NORTHERN HARRIER,
VIRGINIA RAIL and several singing MARSH WREN. Many NORTHERN SHOVELER were
circling in groups to agitate the surface water while they were filter
feeding. A BARN SWALLOW was observed among the other swallows foraging.

The Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail was good for BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON
GOLDENEYE, SURF SCOTER, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT
and RED THROATED LOON. On the way out we picked up LEAST SANDPIPER,
SPOTTED SANDPIPER and BELTED KINGFISHER. We observed adult BALD EAGLE on
two additional nests, one south of the McAllister Creek Viewing Platform
and another adjacent to the Puget Sound Observation both on the west side
of the creek. From the terminus, we scoped BRANT GEESE, HORNED GREBE,
BRANDT CORMORANT, PELAGIC CORMORANT, GREAT BLUE HERON and many additional
BALD EAGLE. Coming back on the board walk, we were able to locate a
EURASIAN WIGEON and an AMERICAN X EURASIAN hybrid WIGEON among the 2-300
AMERICAN WIGEON in McAllister Creek. A good sized, 100+, flock of peeps
had 13 WESTERN SANDPIPER which are still considered rare on eBird. I'm not
sure it these are winter residents or winter migrants. We heard PILEATED
WOODPECKER and STELLER'S JAY along the west bank of McAllister Creek.

The Nisqually Overlook had 4 COMMON MERGANSER. Along the east side of the
Twin Barns Loop Trail we observed additional mixed flocks and picked up
RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER.

We observed 67 species for the day and have 98 species for the year on the
Wednesday Walk. I was surprised we did not observe Rufous Hummingbird.
Mammals seen included Mink, Eastern Gray Squirrel, Columbia Black-tailed
Deer and Harbor Seal.

Until next week, wishing you good health, and good birding.

Shep Thorp


--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/pipermail/tweeters/attachments/20200312/81900e3c/attachment.html>