Date: 5/21/26 12:12 pm From: Shep Thorp via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk for Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR on 5/20/2026
Hi Tweets,
We had a really nice spring day at the Refuge with cloudy skies in the
morning and sunny skies in the afternoon. Temperatures were in the 50's to
60's degrees Fahrenheit. There was a High 12'5" Tide at 7:43am and a Low
-3'2" Tide at 3:06pm. The walk group decided to skip the Orchard and the
Access Roads in the morning to attempt to chase the falling tide on the
Nisqually Estuary Trail. Myself and some of our other birders did check
out the Orchard and Access Road before 8am when we started the walk, or at
the beginning of their own walk.
The Visitor Center Pond Overlook has nesting BARN SWALLOW, CLIFF SWALLOW,
AMERICAN ROBIN, and MARSH WREN.
The Twin Barns Loop Trail was very active with birds singing and nesting.
We had high counts: over 40 YELLOW WARBLER and over 40 SWAINSON'S THRUSH.
CINNAMON TEAL, WOOD DUCK, and HOODED MERGANSER can be found in the Visitor
Center Pond. North of the Access Road cut through, there are several
hummingbird nests on the inside of the trail. All are RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD
and there is one ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD. A RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER nest cavity
is in a large snag on the outside of the trail just north of the Twin Bench
Overlook that is south of the Twin Barns Cut-off. The Twin Barns Picnic
Area and its surroundings are good place to listen and look for BULLOCK'S
ORIOLE.
The Twin Barns Overlook was good for observing both WOOD DUCK and
RING-NECKED DUCK. The TREE SWALLOWS are nesting in the nest boxes in front
of the overlook.
On the dike or Nisqually Estuary Trail, Ken confirmed BALD EAGLE chicks in
the large Cottonwood Tree on the west bank of the Nisqually River on the
east side of the surge plain. Laurie observed a previously reported GREEN
HERON flying from the slough adjacent to the Twin Barns into the fresh
water marsh, which we could not relocate. We had nice looks of CINNAMON
TEAL, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, MARSH WREN, and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD in the
freshwater marsh. Jim and several birders observed a few VIRGINIA RAIL
chicks with adults across from the boardwalk entrance; upwards of 8 VIRA
were seen. Peter and I spotted a late LINCOLN'S SPARROW in a bush along
the dike; severalSAVANNAH SPARROW singing and observed. Both KILLDEER and
WILSON'S SNIPE were foraging out in the open.
The Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail was good for GREATER WHITE-FRONTED
GEESE, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, WESTERN X GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, CALIFORNIA
GULL, RING-BILLED GULL, and a late breeding plumage SHORT-BILLED GULL
spotted by Ken. We also observed a late BUFFLEHEAD and a single GREATER
YELLOWLEGS. Some in our group did a better job at chasing the tide, and
ahead of us Gene and Jennifer observed upwards of 10 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS
and HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL. As the walk progressed we ended up counting 11-13
WHIMBREL. The BALD EAGLE nest on the west bank of McAllister Creek south
of the McAllister/Medicine Creek Viewing Platform, with an adult bird
sitting in it. Both NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW and BELTED KINGFISHER
appear to be nesting in the bank on the west side of McAllister Creek
between the two observation towers (McAllister Creek and Puget Sound). The
west bank hill side of McAllister Creek was very productive with
BAND-TAILED PIGEON, COMMON RAVEN and TURKEY VULTURE being seen. As well
STELLER'S JAY, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, PURPLE MARTIN and RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCH were heard.
Returning to complete the Twin Barns Loop Trail, the WESTERN
FLYCATCHER(Pacific-slope variety) was heard and HUTTON'S VIREO was heard
and seen by Jon. The Nisqually River Overlook was good for seeing COMMON
MERGANSER with 6 chicks. Kelly and others reported a reliable day sighting
of a GREAT HORNED OWL in the Riparian Forest on the inside of the east side
of the Twin Barns Loop Trail just south of the Beaver Deceiver. Jim got us
on yet another RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD nest just north of the deceiver. We also
had some quick looks of WESTERN TANAGER.
Birding the Orchard in the afternoon was still productive with good looks
of CEDAR WAXWING, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK. A BUSHTIT
nest continues in the Douglas Fir just to the left of the green access gate
across from the Education Center Parking lot. Jon observed a late
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW along the entrance road.
As a side note, we regularly see BANK SWALLOW at the Refuge with varying
numbers. Sometimes it's just 2-3, yesterday was upwards of 9 and probably
more. Last week we had a count greater than 20. Reviewing our records we
found several counts of 20 or more in May, June and July over the last 5
years. We speculate a breeding colony may exist further up the Nisqually
River, but we don't know for certain.
For the Day we observed 84 species. First of Year included: Green Heron,
Great-Horned Owl, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Western Wood-pewee, Red-breasted
Nuthatch(really hard to confirm on the Refuge), and Western Tanager. See
our eBird Report pasted below, which includes details and embedded photos.
Hopefully we will hear and see the Willow Flycatcher next week.
Others seen included many Eastern Cottontail Rabbit, Columbia Black-tailed
Deer, Townsend's Chipmunk, Muskrat, Long-tailed Weasel, and Harbor Seal.
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
May 20, 2026 6:29 AM - 4:40 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.35 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Cloudy in the morning with sunny
skies in the afternoon. Temperatures in the 50’s to 60’s degrees
Fahrenheit. A Low -3’02” Tide at 3:06pm. Mammals seen Eastern Cotton-tailed
Rabbit, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Muskrat, Long-tailed Weasel,
Townsend’s Chipmunk, and Harbor Seal.
84 species (+5 other taxa)
Greater White-fronted Goose 7
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima) 80
Wood Duck 10
Blue-winged Teal 4
Cinnamon Teal 6
Northern Shoveler 4
Gadwall 7
Mallard 100
Northern Pintail 2
Green-winged Teal (American) 3
Ring-necked Duck 2
Bufflehead 1
Hooded Merganser 30
Common Merganser 6
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 2
Band-tailed Pigeon 35
Mourning Dove 2
Anna's Hummingbird 1
Rufous Hummingbird 10
hummingbird sp. 1
Virginia Rail 8
Sora 5
Killdeer 1
Hudsonian Whimbrel 12
Long-billed Dowitcher 10
Wilson's Snipe 1
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Short-billed Gull 1 Small yellow legged gull with small yellow bill
and dove shaped head. Foraging on mudflats with RBGU and
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull, observed with bins and scope at 100-300 feet.
Photos.
Ring-billed Gull 75
California Gull 60
Glaucous-winged Gull 3
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 40
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 30
Larus sp. 100
Caspian Tern 53
Pied-billed Grebe 2
Double-crested Cormorant 54
Green Heron 1 Seen by Laurie and others flying over the Nisqually
Estuary Trail or dike into the fresh water marsh.
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue) 60
Turkey Vulture (Northern) 4
Bald Eagle 50
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Great Horned Owl 1
Belted Kingfisher 2
Red-breasted Sapsucker 2
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific) 1
Northern Flicker 1
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 1
Olive-sided Flycatcher 1
Western Wood-Pewee 6
Western Flycatcher (Pacific-slope) 2
Hutton's Vireo (Pacific) 2
Western Warbling Vireo 8
Steller's Jay (Coastal) 2
American Crow 8
Common Raven 3
Black-capped Chickadee 10
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2
Bank Swallow 9 Counted individually. Likely more.
Tree Swallow 25
Violet-green Swallow 1
Purple Martin 2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 6
Barn Swallow (American) 60
Cliff Swallow (pyrrhonota Group) 80
Bushtit (Pacific) 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
Brown Creeper 2
Marsh Wren 15
Bewick's Wren 6
European Starling 100
Swainson's Thrush 45 Counted in groups of three. Likely more. Numerous
through out the Refuge.
American Robin 40
Cedar Waxwing 20
Purple Finch 2
American Goldfinch 8
Savannah Sparrow (Savannah) 5
Song Sparrow (rufina Group) 34
Lincoln's Sparrow 1 Observed on the Nisqually Estuary Trail/Dike
perched in a small leafless bush. Observed with spotting scope at 100 feet
for 15 seconds. A melospiza type sparrow with gray and brown stripes on the
head. Dark bill, and Buffy breast with fine stripes. Likely late migrant.
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group) 3
Bullock's Oriole 5
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) 50
Brown-headed Cowbird 20
Orange-crowned Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 10
Northern Yellow Warbler 55
Wilson's Warbler 4
Western Tanager 3
Black-headed Grosbeak 4
