Hi Tweets,

a chilly but productive day at the Refuge with temperatures in the 30's
degrees Fahrenheit, overcast skies and fortunately no rain. Highlights
included the SWAMP SPARROW contact note being heard along the west side of
the Visitor Center Pond along the west side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail, a
quick sighting of COMMON REDPOLL in the Alder Stand between the slough that
runs along the Twin Barns and the south side of the Nisqually Estuary Trail
or new dike, two RED-SHOULDERED HAWK - one adult and one immature along the
line of trees adjacent to the access road in the restricted sanctuary
between the Twin Barns and the old McAllister Creek Access Road.

Starting out at the Visitor Center Pond overlook at 8am we had nice looks
of RING-NECKED DUCK and PIED-BILLED GREBE.

The flooded fields along the Access Road are good for viewing NORTHERN
SHOVELER, NORTHERN PINTAIL, AMERICAN WIGEON and GREEN-WINGED TEAL. We had
good numbers of CACKLING GEESE, most minima with several taverners. There
is a pair of BALD EAGLE routinely perched in a nest tree, Cottonwood, over
the Twin Barns.

The west side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail was slow, with exception to
hearing the contact call of the SWAMP SPARROW along the west side of the
Visitor Center Pond and MARSH WREN.

Out on the new dike or Nisqually Estuary Trail, we observed many GADWALL in
the surge plain north and had an intergrade NORTHERN FLICKER in a snag in
the grassy canary reed grass area. The COMMON REDPOLL was seen briefly in
Indian Plumb in a short Alder Stand south of the dike and north of the
slough adjacent to the Twin Barns. In this same area we had nice flocks of
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW and BUSHTIT.

Two RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS continue on the Refuge. An adult California type
and an immature bird. Both were working the line of trees along the
central access road in the restricted sanctuary between the Twin Barns and
old McAllister Creek Viewing Platform.

With the falling tide, we had nice looks of GREATER YELLOWLEGS and DUNLIN.
We had a FOY, first of the year, SAVANNAH SPARROW along Leschi Slough.
NORTHERN HARRIER, several RED-TAILED HAWK, and many BALD EAGLES were seen.

The Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail was good for BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON
GOLDENEYE, three EURASIAN WIGEON mixed in with the American Wigeon,
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, SURF SCOTER, HORNED GREBE and a COMMON LOON. From
the Puget Sound Viewing Platform we picked up BRANT GEESE and BRANDT'S
CORMORANT. We had good numbers of SHORT-BILLED GULL, RING-BILLED GULL, and
WESTERN/GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL.

The Nisqually River Overlook was good for COMMON MERGANSER, GOLDEN-CROWNED
KINGLET and BROWN CREEPER.

We were not able to relocate the Northern Saw-whet Owl seen the previous
two weeks.

We observed 62 species for the day with 90 species for the year. Mammals
seen included Long-tailed Weasel, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Coyote,
Harbor Seal, and Eastern Gray Squirrel.

Happy birding,
Shep

--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742