Hi Tweets,

The volunteer program at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR remains suspended
with the persistent COVID-19 pandemic. An informal Wednesday Walk has
continued meeting at 8am at the Visitor Center Pond Overlook. We had a
nice day today with cloudy skies in the morning and light rain in the
afternoon. There was a High 15.69ft Tide at 8:19am. With the morning high
tide, we elected to head out the west side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail to
make our way to the dike and Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail while we had
plenty of water. Highlights included 70 plus SNOW GOOSE, AMERICAN BITTERN,
continuing RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, and several thousand DUNLIN on the mudflats
seen on the falling tide around 9-10 feet. SANDERLING, LONG-BILLED
DOWITCHER, and WESTERN MEADOWLARK were seen by some of our group.

The Visitor Center Pond Overlook was good for RING-NECKED DUCK, and
AMERICAN COOT. At the start of the walk we had two flocks of SNOW GEESE
fly into the Refuge and land in the flooded fields south of the Twin
Barns. In these fields we also had great looks at NORTHERN SHOVELER,
NORTHERN PINTAIL, AMERICAN WIGEON and GREEN-WINGED TEAL. There is a
breeding pair of BALD EAGLE seen most often in the large Cottonwood Trees
just south of the Twin Barns where a nest built in the last 1-2 years
continues to be worked on.

The west side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail was good for mixed flocks of
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, BROWN CREEPER and
RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER.

The slough along the Twin Barns Observation Platform has been recently
occupied by the AMERICAN BITTERN. FOX SPARROW and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET
forage in the surrounding bramble. The RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, which is a
mature adult California type with red head, red breast, and black and white
mantle and tail is frequently seen from the observation deck in the trees
that line the central access road in the sanctuary that runs from the Twin
Barns west and south to the old McAllister Creek Access Road.

Out on the new dike or Nisqually Estuary Trail, we had great looks at
PEREGRINE FALCON and NORTHERN HARRIER. More than 20 BALD EAGLE, mostly
immature birds, dotted the snags over the entire tidal estuary. Good
numbers of AMERICAN WIGEON, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN PINTAIL and GADWALL
foraged in the surg plain. WILSON SNIPE X 3 were spotted in the
freshwater marsh where cattails are next to the dike. We were not able to
relocate the Short-eared Owl that has been recently seen along Leschi
Slough north of the dike. However, SANDERLINGS, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and
WESTERN MEADOWLARK were seen by some of our group. We also had nice looks
of GREATER YELLOWLEGS, RING-BILLED GULL, SHORT-BILLED GULL and
WESTERN/GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL.

On the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail we had nice looks of BELTED
KINGFISHER, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON GOLDENEYE, HOODED MERGANSER, RED-BREASTED
MERGANSER, SURF SCOTER and HORNED GREBE. The last 700 feet of the
boardwalk is closed during hunting season (October-January), but we could
scope decent views of BRANT GEESE, COMMON LOON, and RED-THROATED LOON.
While scoping we enjoyed thousands of DUNLIN foraging across the vast mud
flats. SPOTTED SANDPIPER was seen along the west bank of the McAllister
Creek and LEAST SANDPIPER in the pickleweed along the boardwalk.

COMMON MERGANSER can be viewed from the Nisqually River Overlook. Along
the east side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail we picked up HAIRY WOODPECKER
and additional mixed flocks.

We observed 68 species for the day. For 2021 we observed 169 species for
the year. Mammals seen included Otter, Coyote, Eastern Gray Squirrel,
Harbor Seal, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, and Eastern Cotton-tail Rabbit.

Until next week when we hope to meet again, good birding.

Shep Thorp

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Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742