Date: 6/18/25 7:50 pm From: Shep Thorp via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk for Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 6/18/2025
Dear Tweets,
Approximately 30 of us started out for a wet Wednesday with Cloudy skies
and light rain, but by late morning the sprinkles subsided and we had
partly Sunny skies in the afternoon. Temperatures were in the 50's to 60's
degrees Fahrenheit. There was a High 9'0" Tide at 11:18am, so we did our
regular route. Highlights included BLACK PHOEBE in the Visitor Center Pond
by the first twin bench overlook before the Access Road seen by Steve and
Mary at 7am, BULLOCK'S ORIOLE at the nest in the Cottonwood Trees on the
outside of the Twin Barns Loop Trail approximately 100 feet south of the
Twin Barns cut-off, WILSON'S SNIPE in the freshwater marsh, and both
FRANKLIN'S GULL and WHIMBREL on the mudflats west of Leschi Slough and
north of the Nisqually Estuary Trail or new dike. We also had wonderful
views of nesting YELLOW WARBLER and WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE on the Riparian
Forest Overlook Trail six railing planks from the entrance with the YEWA
nest on the left twenty feet out and twenty feet high and the WEWP fifty
feet high above the right side of the trail.
For the day we observed 71 species, with Black Phoebe being FOY we have
observed 158 species this year. See our eBird report pasted below with
additional details.
We also observed Muskrat, Eastern Cotton-tailed Rabbit, Columbian
Black-tailed Deer, Harbor Seal, Townsend's Chipmunk, Eastern Gray Squirrel,
American Bullfrog and Northern Red-legged Frog.
Until next week when we meet again at 8am at the Visitor Center Pond
Overlook, happy birding,
Shep
--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Jun 18, 2025 6:09 AM - 4:10 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.259 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Cloudy with light rain in the
morning. Partly sunny in the afternoon. Temperatures between 50’s to 60’s
degrees Fahrenheit. A High 9’0”Tide at 11:18am. Others seen Muskrat,
Eastern Cotton-tailed Rabbit, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Harbor Seal,
Townsend’s Chipmunk, and Eastern Gray Squirrel. Others seen, American
Bullfrog and Northern Red-legged Frog.
71 species (+2 other taxa)
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima) 75
Wood Duck 6
Blue-winged Teal 4
Mallard 30
Hooded Merganser 1
Common Merganser 13
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 12
Band-tailed Pigeon (Northern) 2
Mourning Dove 1
Anna's Hummingbird 2
Rufous Hummingbird 6
Virginia Rail 3
Sora 1
Killdeer 1
Whimbrel 1 Large shorebird foraging on mudflats west of Leschi Slough
and north of Nisqually Estuary Trail. Photo.
Wilson's Snipe 3
Spotted Sandpiper 1 Female
Franklin's Gull 1 Observed with other gulls on mudflats north of
Nisqually Estuary Trail. Roosting on mudflats. Dark mantled gull with
black head and split white eye arcs. Black wing tips, dark to black and red
bill and legs. Pink wash to breast. Photos.
Ring-billed Gull 75
California Gull 75
Glaucous-winged Gull 1
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 2
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 10
Caspian Tern 40
Pied-billed Grebe 3
Brandt's Cormorant 7
Pelagic Cormorant 1
Double-crested Cormorant 75
Great Blue Heron 90
Bald Eagle 20
Belted Kingfisher 5
Red-breasted Sapsucker 1
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific) 3
Pileated Woodpecker 1 Spotted by Rob in Twin Barns Picnic Area.
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 1
Western Wood-Pewee 6 Nest on Riparian Forest Overlook Trail 50 feet
high and 6 railing planks from entrance over right side of trail. Across
the trail from Yellow Warbler Nest.
Willow Flycatcher 4
Western Flycatcher (Pacific-slope) 1
Black Phoebe 1 Spotted by Steve Meyers and Mary on the west side of
the Twin Barns Loop Trail near the first double bench overlook before the
access road. Seen at 7am. Black Flycatcher with white belly, distinctive.
Warbling Vireo (Western) 3
American Crow 8
Common Raven 1
Black-capped Chickadee 4
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 4
Bank Swallow 5
Tree Swallow 25
Violet-green Swallow 10
Purple Martin 2 Luhr Beach gourds.
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 5
Barn Swallow (American) 40 Occupied nests Visitor Center.
Cliff Swallow (pyrrhonota Group) 50 Occupied nests Visitor Center,
Observation Tower, and McAllister Creek Viewing Platform.
Brown Creeper 2
Marsh Wren 11
Bewick's Wren (spilurus Group) 2
European Starling 20
Swainson's Thrush 22
American Robin 25
Cedar Waxwing 20
House Finch 2
Purple Finch (Western) 4
Red Crossbill 5 Heard and seen by Janelle at 7:30am from Nisqually
River Overlook.
Pine Siskin 2 Seen by Janelle at Twin Barns Overlook.
American Goldfinch 35
Savannah Sparrow (Savannah) 6
Song Sparrow (rufina Group) 35
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group) 1
Bullock's Oriole 2
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) 150
Brown-headed Cowbird 50
Common Yellowthroat 10
Yellow Warbler (Northern) 27 Occupied nest with young on Riparian
Forest Overlook Trail, 6 railing planks from entrance on left side of trail
20 feet back and 20 feet high on a drooped branch off the right side of a
Red Alder, across the trail from Western Wood-pewee nest.
Wilson's Warbler 2 Heard only
Black-headed Grosbeak 4
