Date: 10/9/25 3:58 pm From: Shep Thorp via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 10/8/2025: split list AM and PM
Hi Tweets,
Approximately 30 of us had another fine Fall Day at the Refuge with sunny
skies and temperatures in the 40's to 60's degrees Fahrenheit. There was a
High 13'7" Tide at 7:11am and a Low 4'2" Tide at 1:02pm, so we changed up
our route and chased the tide in the morning heading directly out to the
dike or Nisqually Estuary Trail and the Nisqually Boardwalk Estuary Trail.
I had to leave early, so it was also a split list day with an AM list by me
and a PM list by Ken Brown.
Highlights included a BARRED OWL hunting in the vicinity of the Orchard.
First of Fall VARIED THRUSH along the Twin Barns Loop Trail. Great looks
of a continuing PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER in the mud flats just north of the
dike and just west of Leschi Slough. And First Of Year SWAMP SPARROW,
heard by Jon, Brian and Darchelle in the freshwater marsh near the entrance
to the boardwalk.
The morning chorus has re-ignited with the "autumnal recrudescence of the
amatory urge". We had lots of fun sightings with Fall migration and many
shorebirds to pick through with the tidal push.
For the day we observed a total of 72 species, and with FOY Swamp Sparrow
we now have observed 172 species so far this year. Photos are being
uploaded as this is being posted.
The Refuge remains open to the public, despite the Federal Government shut
down. We are very lucky that our supervisors at the Refuge have allowed us
to continue the walk, but we are not wearing our uniforms. This was our
last Wednesday to walk out to the end of the boardwalk, as the gate closure
occurs Saturday October 11th for the last 750 feet of the Nisqually Estuary
Boardwalk Trail for hunting season until February 2026.
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
Oct 8, 2025 7:40 AM - 12:39 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.09 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: First half of Wednesday Walk from 8am until 12pm
with Shep listing. Sunny with temperatures in the 40’s-60’s degrees
Fahrenheit. A High 13’7” Tide at 7:11am and Low 4’2” Tide at 1:02pm.
Mammals seen included Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Eastern Gray Squirrel
and Harbor Seal.
58 species (+4 other taxa)
Cackling Goose (minima) 50
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima) 2
Wood Duck 2
Northern Shoveler 1
Gadwall 1
American Wigeon 500
Mallard 50
Northern Pintail 250
Green-winged Teal (American) 200
Common Merganser 1
Band-tailed Pigeon (Northern) 4
Black-bellied Plover 11
Pacific Golden-Plover 1 Previously reported. Photos. Observed at
50-150 feet with spotting scope. Roosting and foraging on marsh plain and
mudflats. Yellow washed Plover with contrasting darker cap, prominent
supercillium, ear spot and dark sides to under tail coverts. Primary
projection 3-4 primaries, likely too short for AGPL. Slightly smaller and
longer legged the juvenile BBPL in immediate area.
Killdeer 8
Whimbrel 2 Previously reported large Shorebird. Photos.
Short-billed/Long-billed Dowitcher 21 Too far to discern. Likely LBDO
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Greater Yellowlegs 30
Least Sandpiper 150
Western Sandpiper 50
Short-billed Gull 1
Ring-billed Gull 250
California Gull 4
Glaucous-winged Gull 1
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 3
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 15
Caspian Tern 1
Double-crested Cormorant 20
American Bittern 1
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue) 16
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper's Hawk 2
Northern Harrier 2
Bald Eagle 6
Barred Owl 1
Belted Kingfisher 2
Northern Flicker 3
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 1
American Kestrel 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
Steller's Jay 1
American Crow 100
Black-capped Chickadee 6
Barn Swallow 1
Bushtit (Pacific) 26
Pacific Wren 2
Bewick's Wren 1
European Starling 40
Varied Thrush 3
Hermit Thrush 1
American Robin 21
Cedar Waxwing 10
American Goldfinch 10
Fox Sparrow 1
White-crowned Sparrow (pugetensis) 1
Golden-crowned Sparrow 4
Savannah Sparrow (Savannah) 11
Song Sparrow 11
Western Meadowlark 5
Red-winged Blackbird 20
Orange-crowned Warbler (lutescens) 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 10
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Oct 8, 2025 11:19 AM - 3:49 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.498 mile(s)
53 species (+3 other taxa)
Greater White-fronted Goose 18 West side of Peek-a-boo pond.
Cackling Goose 600
Wood Duck 6
American Wigeon 120
Mallard 100
Northern Pintail 50
Green-winged Teal 150
Common Merganser 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 9
Anna's Hummingbird 1
Black-bellied Plover 6
Pacific Golden-Plover 1 Continuing bird.
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Greater Yellowlegs 35
Least Sandpiper 6
Ring-billed Gull 200
California Gull 9
Glaucous-winged Gull 2
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 20
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 30
Larus sp. 250
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Brandt's Cormorant 8
Double-crested Cormorant 200
American Bittern 1
Great Blue Heron 8
Cooper's Hawk 1 Flushed, then flew over Ed. Center. Presumed same
bird perched in snag over Visitor's Center pond.
Bald Eagle 3
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Barred Owl 1 Pale morph, in children's play area.
Belted Kingfisher 2
Hairy Woodpecker 1 In maple grove near twin barns.
Northern Flicker 3
Steller's Jay 1 Heard across McAllister Ck.
American Crow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 18
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 6
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
Brown Creeper 6
Pacific Wren 2
Marsh Wren 2
Bewick's Wren 8
European Starling 350
American Robin 5
Cedar Waxwing 2
American Goldfinch 2
Fox Sparrow 1
Dark-eyed Junco 4 In cottonwood in front of Nisqually Land Trust bldg.
White-crowned Sparrow 1
Golden-crowned Sparrow 12
Savannah Sparrow 10
Song Sparrow 14
Swamp Sparrow 1 Heard by Jon A., Darchelle, and Brian Pendleton.
Red-winged Blackbird 24
Yellow Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 8
