Date: 9/23/26 8:37 pm From: Shep Thorp via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 9/23/2026
Hi Tweets,
Approximately 37 of us enjoyed our first of Fall walk at the Refuge;
conditions were nice and the birding was great. There was a Low 0'11" Tide
at 10:07am and a High 12'9" Tide at 5:08pm. Highlights included the return
of CACKLING GEESE, minima variety. A BARRED OWL was near the Orchard. We
observed a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK hunting in the Willows on the west side of
the field south of the Twin Barns. VIRGINIA RAIL was seen on the west side
of the Twin Barns Loop Trail. We had great looks of PECTORAL SANDPIPER
along the Nisqually Estuary Trail. A single WESTERN GREBE swam up
McAllister Creek on the incoming tide.
For the day we observed 86 species. With First Of Year RED-SHOULDERED
HAWK, PINE SISKIN, and WESTERN GREBE, we now have observed 166 species so
far this year. For more details see our eBird Report pasted below.
Other fun sightings included Mink, Muskrat, Harbor Seal and River Otter.
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
Sep 23, 2026 7:17 AM - 5:33 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.196 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Mostly cloudy with temperatures in
the 50’s to 60’s degrees Fahrenheit. A Low 0’11” Tide at 10:07 and a High
12’9” Tide at 5:08pm. Others seen: Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Eastern
Cottontail Rabbit, Mink, Harbor Seal and River Otter.
86 species (+3 other taxa)
Cackling Goose (minima) 360
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima) 24
Wood Duck 30
Northern Shoveler 16
Gadwall 6
American Wigeon 20
Mallard 200
Northern Pintail 1000
Green-winged Teal 500
Surf Scoter 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 80
Band-tailed Pigeon 20
Mourning Dove 1
Anna's Hummingbird 3
Virginia Rail 3 One seen adjacent to the Twin Bench Overlook south of
Twin Barns cut-off.
Black-bellied Plover 11 Counted individually. Seen multiple times
through out the walk on the surge plain and mudflats. Seen foraging,
roosting, flying and vocalizing.
Killdeer 1
Long-billed Dowitcher 1
Greater Yellowlegs 40
Least Sandpiper 100
Pectoral Sandpiper 3 Surge plain and Nisqually Estuary Trail.
Western Sandpiper 80
Rhinoceros Auklet 8
Short-billed Gull 1
Ring-billed Gull 200
Glaucous-winged Gull 1
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 10
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 30
Larus sp. 300
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Western Grebe 1 Seen in McAllister Creek on incoming tide.
Common Loon 4
Brandt's Cormorant 8 Nisqually River channel marker.
Double-crested Cormorant 75
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue) 15
Turkey Vulture 1
Cooper's Hawk 2
Northern Harrier 2
Bald Eagle 8
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Spotted by Danielle and seen by group in the
Riparian Stand along the central access road between the old McAllister
Creek access road and Twin Barns. Observed foraging from the Willow trees
on the west side of the field south of the Twin Barns. Perched and flying.
First year subadult bird. Small buteo with prominent crescents at base of
flight feathers. Strongly barred long tail. No belly band.
Red-tailed Hawk 3
Barred Owl 1 Spotted by Ken and Cathy, seen by group, along slough
across from the entrance to the Education Center parking lot near green
gate.
Belted Kingfisher 4
Red-breasted Sapsucker 5
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific) 6
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 4
American Kestrel 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
Hutton's Vireo 2
Western Warbling Vireo 1
Steller's Jay (Coastal) 3
California Scrub-Jay 1
American Crow 100
Common Raven 6
Black-capped Chickadee 30
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 8
Barn Swallow 30
Bushtit (Pacific) 8
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 8
Golden-crowned Kinglet 12
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
Brown Creeper 8
Marsh Wren 6
Bewick's Wren (spilurus Group) 6
European Starling 20
Varied Thrush 1
Swainson's Thrush 1
American Robin (migratorius Group) 30
Cedar Waxwing 60
American Pipit 10
Evening Grosbeak 3
Purple Finch (Western) 4
Red Crossbill 2
Pine Siskin 20
American Goldfinch 8
Fox Sparrow 2
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 2
White-crowned Sparrow (Gambel's) 16
Golden-crowned Sparrow 30
White-throated Sparrow 1 Spotted by Laurie in the Orchard.
Savannah Sparrow 4
Song Sparrow (rufina Group) 22
Spotted Towhee 3
Red-winged Blackbird 20
Brown-headed Cowbird 1 Spotted by Marc in the Orchard.
Orange-crowned Warbler (lutescens) 3
Common Yellowthroat 10
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 2
