Date: 7/16/26 9:15 am From: Shep Thorp via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 7/15/2026
Hi Tweets,
Approximately 30 of us had a fine Summer Day at the Refuge with sunny skies
and temperatures in the 50's to 80's degrees Fahrenheit. There was a Low
-3'8" Tide at 12:57pm. Highlights included great views of active WESTERN
WOOD-PEWEE, MOURNING DOVE, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, AMERICAN ROBIN, and RUFOUS
HUMMINGBIRD nests; fun observation of GREAT HORNED OWL; return of good
numbers of shorebirds including LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER in Leschi Slough
along the Nisqually Estuary Trail; an early SHORT-BILLED GULL; and great
looks of a juvenile SORA in the freshwater marsh with an unusually bright
yellow bill.
For the day, we recorded 66 species. With the First Of Year HAMMOND'S
FLYCATCHER spotted in the Orchard, we now have observed 154 species thus
far this year. See more details in our eBird Report pasted below.
Other fun sightings included Muskrat, Monarch Butterfly, and many
fledglings adjusting to life outside the nest.
Until next week when we meet again at 8:00am at the Visitor Center Pond
Overlook. Happy birding,
Shep
--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Jul 15, 2026 6:55 AM - 4:44 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.249 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday walk. Sunny, with temperatures between
50°F and 80°F. A Low -3’8” Tide at 12:57pm. Others seen Eastern
Cotton-tailed Rabbit, Townsend’s Chipmunk, Muskrat, Harbor Seal, Red-Veined
Meadowhawk, Monarch Butterfly, Puget Sound Garter Snake, American Bullfrog,
and Boxelder Bugs.
66 species (+3 other taxa)
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima) 8
Wood Duck 6
Mallard 30
Hooded Merganser 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 2
Band-tailed Pigeon (Northern) 8
Mourning Dove 8 Riparian Forest Overlook. Nest spotted on piling seen
from overlook.
Vaux's Swift 1
Rufous Hummingbird 6 Occupied nest in Maple Tree over Nisqually River
Dike where cut through from Twin Barns Loop Trail joins dike.
Virginia Rail 2 Heard only.
Sora 1 Ken spotted juvenile, brown neck but unusually bright yellow
bill, seen well in freshwater marsh by many in the afternoon.
Killdeer 1
Long-billed Dowitcher 17 Leschi Slough adjacent to the Nisqually
Estuary Trail. Most in breeding plumage with mostly red bellies, barring
on neck, slopped forebrow, and long bills - some slightly decurved at tip.
Vocalizing to confirm identification was heard.
Spotted Sandpiper 1 West side of McAllister Creek.
Greater Yellowlegs 8
Least Sandpiper 150
Western Sandpiper 350 Counted in groups of 10 on surge plain and
mudflats. Over 500 peeps, majority WESA, 3/10 LESA. Observed at 7am.
Short-billed Gull 1 Small yellow legged gull with dark eye,
yellow-green based black tipped gull, and dove shaped head. Observed
foraging on mudflats in area with RBGU, CAGU, and GWGU.
Ring-billed Gull 75
California Gull 75
Glaucous-winged Gull 2
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 1
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 10
Larus sp. 350
Caspian Tern 12
Double-crested Cormorant 20
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue) 45
Bald Eagle 60 Counted individually. 51 Observed on reach. Occupied
nest on west bank of McAllister Creek north of McAllister/Medicine Creek
Observation Platform.
Great Horned Owl 1 Seen on inside of Twin Barns Loop Trail just south
of the Beaver Deceiver. Heard by Miranda, and spotted by Steve, most
participants observed preening in riparian stand, then flew north closer to
Beaver Deceiver, but landed low in forest.
Belted Kingfisher 6
Red-breasted Sapsucker (ruber) 5
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific) 5
Hairy Woodpecker (Pacific) 1
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 6
Western Wood-Pewee 10 Occupied nest on Access Road and Twin Barns Loop
Trail.
Willow Flycatcher 3
Hammond's Flycatcher 1 Seen by Marc in Orchard between 7a-8a.
Western Flycatcher (Pacific-slope) 5
American Crow 8
Black-capped Chickadee 20
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 6
Bank Swallow 4
Tree Swallow 30 Nest snag along Twin Barns Loop Trail outside of train
just north of double bench overlook south of Twin Barns Cut-off.
Violet-green Swallow 2
Purple Martin 12
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Northern) 6
Barn Swallow (American) 50 Visitor Center Pond Overlook.
Cliff Swallow (pyrrhonota Group) 40 Occupied nest McAllister/Medicine
Creek Viewing Platform.
Bushtit (Pacific) 12
Brown Creeper 6
Marsh Wren 6
Bewick's Wren (spilurus Group) 4
European Starling 200
Swainson's Thrush (Russet-backed) 34
American Robin (migratorius Group) 30
Cedar Waxwing 12
Purple Finch (Western) 4
Red Crossbill 6 Heard by Whittier flying over parking lot at start of
walk.
American Goldfinch 43 Twin Barns Loop Trail and Twin Barns Picnic Área.
Savannah Sparrow (Savannah) 6
Song Sparrow (rufina Group) 17
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group) 6
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) 30
Brown-headed Cowbird 18
Orange-crowned Warbler (lutescens) 1
Common Yellowthroat 18
Northern Yellow Warbler 30
Wilson's Warbler 1
Western Tanager 3
