Date: 10/9/26 6:05 am From: Shep Thorp via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 10/7/2026
Hi Tweets,
We had a really good Autumn Day at the Refuge with approximately 30
birders. The morning was overcast, but the afternoon had sun.
Temperatures were in the 50's to 60's degrees Fahrenheit. There was a Low
0'9" Tide at 9:41am and a High 13'7" Tide at 4"35pm. Highlights included
many flocks of 40 plus PINE SISKIN which have recently migrated into the
Refuge and were seen at many different places throughout the Refuge; a
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH seen in the slough south of the Access Road
adjacent to the green white across from the entrance to the Education
Center parking lot; a continuing RUDDY DUCK in the Visitor Center Pond
along the west side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail; and an AMERICAN GOLDEN
PLOVER on the mudflats north of the Nisqually Estuary Trail or dike just
west of Leschi Slough on the high tide in the afternoon with BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVER and DUNLIN. Other notable sightings included PILEATED WOODPECKER in
the Orchard, over 30 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS soaring around the mouth of
the Nisqually River, and a HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL foraging near the
McAllister/Medicine Creek Observation Platform.
For the day we observed 82 species. With First of Year Northern
Waterthrush, Ruddy Duck, and American Golden Plover, we have observed 170
species thus far this year. Check out our eBird Report pasted below for
additional details and photos.
A big shout out to all the eyes, and cameras that helped make the Wednesday
Walk so much fun. Our group typically spreads out and communicates via
Walkie-Talkie and cell phone, which helps alert others of sightings as well
stake out sightings that are a challenge to relocate. We reported the
Golden Plover on the Thurston County RBA and received immediate help
identifying American Golden Plover for our birders which was super
informative.
Other species seen included Columbian Black-tailed Deer, American Bullfrog,
Pacific Chorus Frog, Harbor Seal and Puget Sound Garter Snake.
Until next week when we meet again at the Visitor Center Pond Overlook at
8am, be well, and happy birding.
Shep
--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Oct 7, 2026 7:07 AM - 5:15 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.403 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Cloudy in the morning, sunny in the
afternoon. Temperatures in the 50’s to 60’s degrees Fahrenheit. A Low 0’9”
Tide at 9:41am and a High 13’7” Tide at 4:35pm. Others seen Columbian
Black-tailed Deer, Coyote, American Bullfrog, Pacific Chorus Frog, Harbor
Seal, and Puget Sound Garter Snake.
82 species (+6 other taxa)
Cackling Goose 20
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima) 1
American Wigeon 75
Mallard 200
Northern Pintail 800
Green-winged Teal (American) 400
Surf Scoter 25
Common Merganser 1 Seen by Chris in Nisqually River.
Ruddy Duck 1 Previously reported. Re-found by Rod and Christy in
Visitor Center Pond, north of west side entrance. Immature female type
bird.
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 203 Entrance gate to Refuge. Highway
overpass area.
Mourning Dove 1
Anna's Hummingbird 2
hummingbird sp. 1
Virginia Rail 2
Black-bellied Plover 14
American Golden-Plover 1 Spotted by Cameron with flock of BBPL and
Dunlin on incoming high tide north of Nisqually Estuary Trail or Dike just
west of Leschi Slough in the afternoon. Observed for 30 minutes at 200 feet
with spotting scopes and binoculars. Juvenile Golden Plover foraging,
preening and roosting with surrounding shorebirds. Distinctly smaller and
more yellow than surrounding BBPL. Darker cap, very light eyebrow, smaller
bill, tan-yellow wash on sides of undertail coverts. Four feathers
observed on primary projection most consistent with AGPL in contrast to
PGPL. Overall lighter than what may be expected of PGPL. Photos of mixed
quality taken.
Killdeer 1
Hudsonian Whimbrel 1 Large distinctive shorebird observed for 20
minutes preening and foraging at 100 feet to 1/4 mile. Seen along Shannon
slough from Nisqually Estuary Trail and McAllister/Medicine Observation
Platform. Tan and brown crown stripes with long-decurved bill.
Long-billed Dowitcher 4
Spotted Sandpiper 1 West Bank of McAllister Creek.
Greater Yellowlegs 40
Dunlin 20
Least Sandpiper 200
Western Sandpiper 20
Short-billed Gull 2
Ring-billed Gull 250
California Gull 1
Glaucous-winged Gull 1
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 10
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 10
Larus sp. 300
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Horned Grebe 4
Common Loon 3
Brandt's Cormorant 5
Double-crested Cormorant 40
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue) 40
American White Pelican 38 Observed flying over Refuge, around the
mouth of the Nisqually River, and over the tribe site east of Nisqually
River.
Cooper's Hawk 1
Northern Harrier 1
Bald Eagle 4
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Heard by Steve in the morning north of Nisqually
Estuary Trail in Riparian Stand west of Nisqually River. Distinctive,
repeated “kyeer” call.
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Belted Kingfisher 4
Red-breasted Sapsucker (ruber) 2
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific) 4
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Downy/Hairy Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1 Orchard.
Northern Flicker 2
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 5
American Kestrel (Northern) 2
Hutton's Vireo (Pacific) 1 Orchard.
American Crow 100
Common Raven 4
Black-capped Chickadee 25
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 4
Barn Swallow (American) 1 Spotted by Heather flying over fields west
of parking lot.
Bushtit (Pacific) 40
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 15
Golden-crowned Kinglet 5
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
Brown Creeper 6
Pacific Wren (Pacific) 4
Marsh Wren 2
Bewick's Wren (spilurus Group) 6
European Starling 50
Varied Thrush 2
American Robin (migratorius Group) 40
Cedar Waxwing 60
American Pipit 1
House Finch 1
Purple Finch (Western) 2
Red Crossbill 16
Pine Siskin 300 Multiple groups of 40-60 birds flying in many
locations around the Refuge.
American Goldfinch 6
Fox Sparrow (Sooty) 2
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 4
Golden-crowned Sparrow 10
White-throated Sparrow 1 Spotted by back half of the group in the
Orchard.
Savannah Sparrow (Savannah) 4
Song Sparrow (rufina Group) 19
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group) 6
Western Meadowlark 2
Red-winged Blackbird 200
Northern Waterthrush 1 Spotted by Ken and Laurie, relocated by Gene
and Whittier, in the slough south of the Access Road immediately adjacent
to the green gate across from the parking lot entrance to the Education
Center Parking Lot. Large brown topped and yellow washed warbler with light
supercillium and streaking on the throat and breast and sides. Distinctive
tail bobbing and metallic “tink” call. Observed at 30 feet along water’s
edge. Did respond to playback.
Common Yellowthroat 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 6
