Date: 8/26/26 9:01 pm From: Shep Thorp via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 8/26/2026
Hi Tweets,
Approximately 25 of us enjoyed a nice summer's day at the Refuge with
overcast skies in the morning and sunny skies in the afternoon.
Temperatures ranged from the 60's to 70's degrees Fahrenheit, and there was
a Low -0'5" Tide at 11:21am. Highlights included good views of
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH in the Orchard, which is not usually seen at the
Refuge. We noted the autumnal return of waterfowl including AMERICAN COOT
and NORTHERN PINTAIL. We had distant looks of BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, and first
of year SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER were observed from the dike on a falling
tide at 7am. We had good looks of the AMERICAN BITTERN in the freshwater
marsh, and PEREGRINE FALCON harassing several RED-TAILED HAWKS soaring over
the Refuge.
For the day we observed 74 species. With the FOY Semipalmated Sandpiper, we
have now seen 159 species so far this year. See our eBird report below for
additional details.
Other fun sightings included BARN SWALLOW eating vegetation off the road
along the old McAllister Creek Access Road and a Coyote.
Until next week when we meet again at 8am at the Visitor Center Pond
Overlook, happy birding and be well.
Shep
--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Aug 26, 2026 6:37 AM - 5:04 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.275 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Temperatures in the 60’s to 70’s
degrees Fahrenheit. Overcast skies in the morning with sunny skies in the
afternoon. A Low -0’5” Tide at 11:21am. Others seen included Eastern
Cotton-tailed Rabbit, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Coyote, Harbor Seal,
American Bullfrog and Pacific Chorus Frog.
74 species (+5 other taxa)
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima) 80
Wood Duck 8
Cinnamon Teal (Northern) 1
Northern Shoveler 1
Mallard 50
Northern Pintail 35
Green-winged Teal (American) 30
Hooded Merganser 2
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 40
Band-tailed Pigeon (Northern) 11
Eurasian Collared-Dove 1
Mourning Dove 1
Vaux's Swift 3
Anna's Hummingbird 2
hummingbird sp. 1
American Coot (Red-shielded) 1
Killdeer 1
Semipalmated Plover 10
Spotted Sandpiper 5
Greater Yellowlegs 25
Baird's Sandpiper 2 Mudflats north of Nisqually Estuary Trail and west
of Leschi Slough.
Least Sandpiper 60
Western Sandpiper 25
Semipalmated Sandpiper 2 Observed foraging with LESA and WESA just
north of Nisqually Estuary Trail and west of Leschi Slough at 7am on
falling tide.
peep sp. 400
Short-billed Gull 1
Ring-billed Gull 150
California Gull 11
Glaucous-winged Gull 1
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 2
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 10
Caspian Tern 3
Brandt's Cormorant 3
Double-crested Cormorant 25
American Bittern 2 Freshwater Marsh.
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue) 35
Osprey (American) 1
Northern Harrier 1
Bald Eagle 8
Red-tailed Hawk (calurus/alascensis) 4
Belted Kingfisher 2
Hairy Woodpecker (Pacific) 1
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 2
American Kestrel (Northern) 1
Merlin 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
Western Wood-Pewee 6
Willow Flycatcher 1
Empidonax sp. 1
Hutton's Vireo (Pacific) 1
Western Warbling Vireo 2
Steller's Jay (Coastal) 2
American Crow 15
Common Raven 6
Black-capped Chickadee 7
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 3
Tree Swallow 2
Violet-green Swallow 10
Purple Martin 1
Barn Swallow (American) 90
Cliff Swallow 1
Bushtit (Pacific) 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch 3
Brown Creeper 3
Pacific Wren (Pacific) 1
Bewick's Wren (spilurus Group) 4
European Starling 250
Swainson's Thrush 5
American Robin (migratorius Group) 20
Cedar Waxwing 40
Purple Finch 6
Red Crossbill 11
American Goldfinch 12
White-crowned Sparrow 4
Savannah Sparrow (Savannah) 1
Song Sparrow (rufina Group) 15
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group) 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 6
Common Yellowthroat 4
