Date: 3/11/26 7:46 pm From: Shep Thorp via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for March 11th, 2026
Hi Tweets,
Approximately 18 of us endured a wet and windy Wednesday at the Refuge with
temperatures in the 40's to 50's degrees Fahrenheit and a High 10'11" Tide
at 10:50am. Highlights included RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD in the Orchard, high
count of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW moving through the Refuge in large numbers,
WILSON'S SNIPE in the flooded field west of the west end parking lot, both
NORTHWEST SALAMANDER and RED-LEGGED FROG egg clusters at the bridge cut-off
to the Twin Barns from the Twin Barn Loop Trail, two TRUMPETER SWANS in the
fresh water marsh, several WESTERN SANDPIPERS in a large flock of DUNLIN on
the mudflats west of Leschi Slough, first cycle Thayer's variety of ICELAND
GULL roosting on the mudflats, and many GREATER SCAUP off Luhr Beach in the
Nisqually Reach along with HORNED GREBE and COMMON LOON.
For the day we observed 66 species, with First Of Year Iceland Gull and
Greater Scaup, we now have seen 98 species this year. Check out our eBird
report with additional details pasted below.
Until next week when we hope for dryer weather and 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
Mar 11, 2026 7:32 AM - 2:22 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.048 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Cloudy with rain and temperatures
in the 40’s to 50’s degrees Fahrenheit. A High 10’11” Tide at 10:50am.
Others seen Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Northwest Salamander egg cluster,
Red-legged Frog egg cluster, Pacific Chorus Frog, Eastern Gray Squirrel,
and Harbor Seal.
66 species (+6 other taxa)
Brant (Black) 46 Nisqually Reach, mouth of Leschi Slough.
Cackling Goose (minima) 60
Cackling Goose (Taverner's) 1 Injured bird along Nisqually Estuary
Trail.
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima) 28
Trumpeter Swan 2 Seen in freshwater marsh.
Northern Shoveler 150
Gadwall 30
American Wigeon 1000
Mallard 75
Northern Pintail 200
Green-winged Teal (American) 600
Ring-necked Duck 4 Visitor Center Pond.
Greater Scaup 30 Nisqually Reach.
Surf Scoter 80
Bufflehead 100
Common Goldeneye 50
Hooded Merganser 6
Common Merganser (North American) 4
Red-breasted Merganser 6
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 30
Rufous Hummingbird 1 Orchard.
American Coot (Red-shielded) 150
Killdeer 1 McAllister Creek Access Road.
Wilson's Snipe 1 Flooded field west of west parking lot.
Spotted Sandpiper 1 West Bank of McAllister Creek.
Greater Yellowlegs 15
Dunlin 1100
Western Sandpiper 4 Seen at 1/4 mile using spotting scopes foraging on
mud flats along side Dunlin. Small peep sized shorebird that is lighter,
with lighter throat, and more crouched posture then Dunlin. Previously
reported.
Short-billed Gull 150
Ring-billed Gull 50
Glaucous-winged Gull 2
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 20
Iceland Gull (Thayer's) 1 Observed roosting on mud flats 100-200 yards
north from Nisqually Estuary Trail or dike. Small pink legged gull first
cycle with black bill, brown wing tips with Buffy edges, small bill with no
gonydeal angle, and more fine details on mantle pattern.
Larus sp. 50
Horned Grebe 20
Common Loon 4
Brandt's Cormorant 6 Nisqually Channel marker.
Double-crested Cormorant 5
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue) 30
Northern Harrier 2 1 male, 1 female.
Bald Eagle 25
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Belted Kingfisher 2
Northern Flicker 2
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 2
American Kestrel (Northern) 1 Male
American Crow 150
Black-capped Chickadee 6
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2
Tree Swallow 6
Violet-green Swallow 300
Barn Swallow (American) 1
Bushtit (Pacific) 10
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 15
Golden-crowned Kinglet 10
Brown Creeper 6
Pacific Wren (Pacific) 1
Marsh Wren 10
Bewick's Wren (spilurus Group) 3
European Starling 25
American Robin (migratorius Group) 110
Fox Sparrow (Sooty) 2
White-crowned Sparrow 1
Golden-crowned Sparrow 45
White-throated Sparrow 2 Seen in the afternoon along the Nisqually
Estuary Trail north of Twin Barns.
Song Sparrow (rufina Group) 17
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group) 6
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) 50
Orange-crowned Warbler (Gray-headed) 1 Trees, bramble south of
Nisqually Estuary Trail and north of Twin Barns.
Yellow-rumped Warbler 20
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 10
