Date: 10/15/26 9:21 am From: Shep Thorp via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 10/14/2026
Dear Tweets,
Approximately 30 of us had a very fine Fall day at the Refuge with mild
temperatures in the 60s Fahrenheit. There was a High 13'3" Tide at 9:22am
and a high Low 7'4" Tide at 3pm. We walked our usual route. Highlights
included the continued irruption of PINE SISKIN with literally hundreds of
birds swirling around the Orchard, Riparian Forest and Twin Barns. Along
with the Pine Siskin, we have seen good numbers of RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH
and RED CROSSBILL. The Orchard is full of fruit attracting mixed flocks
including HUTTON'S VIREO, ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD, RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER,
VARIED THRUSH, and big guys PILEATED WOODPECKER and COMMON RAVEN. We
couldn't relocate the Northern Waterthrush in the slough across from the
Education Center, but we had nice views of a WILSON'S SNIPE. We observed
all 5 expected woodpeckers for the day, including a likely Yellow-shafted
NORTHERN FLICKER seen in the morning from the Visitor Center Pond
Overlook. We also saw all expected falcons with nice looks of AMERICAN
KESTREL and PEREGRINE FALCON. With the falling tide we enjoyed fantastic
observation of continuing AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER just north of the
Nisqually Estuary Trail/Dike just west of Leschi Slough. The HUDSONIAN
WHIMBREL continues to show well from the McAllister/Medicine Creek
Observation Platform. Birders were able to enjoy the return of good
numbers of WESTERN MEADOWLARK, SURF SCOTER, and SHORT-BILLED GULL. The
tail end of our group got to enjoy great looks of BARRED OWL in the
afternoon along the east side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail.
For the Day we observed 81 species. We have seen 170 species thus far this
year. See our eBird Report pasted below for further details.
Other sightings included Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Pacific Chorus Frog,
Harbor Seal, Puget Sound Garter Snake, American Bullfrog, and many
Darners. Numerous mushrooms are in the Riparian Forest, and there were
many reports of Mink over the weekend.
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
Oct 14, 2026 7:41 AM - 4:50 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.079 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Cloudy with temperatures in the
60’s degrees Fahrenheit. A High 13’3” Tide at 9:22am and a Low 7’4” Tide at
3:00pm. Others seen Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Pacific Chorus Frog,
Puget Sound Garter Snake, Harbor Seal, American Bullfrog, and Green Darner.
81 species (+4 other taxa)
Greater White-fronted Goose 3 Heard in flock of Cackling Geese.
Cackling Goose (minima) 300
Northern Shoveler 3
American Wigeon 1200
Mallard 250
Northern Pintail 1200
Green-winged Teal (American) 800
Greater/Lesser Scaup 10
Surf Scoter 80
Red-breasted Merganser 6 Nisqually Reach
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 200
Anna's Hummingbird 3
Virginia Rail 3
Black-bellied Plover 8
American Golden-Plover 1 Previously reported rarity. Photos. Seen
along the north side of the Nisqually Estuary Trail west of Leschi Slough.
Killdeer 3
Hudsonian Whimbrel 1 Previously reported rarity. Photos. Seen from
the McAllister/Medicine Creek Observation Platform.
Long-billed Dowitcher 12
Wilson's Snipe 1
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Greater Yellowlegs 50
Least Sandpiper 300
Western Sandpiper 30
Rhinoceros Auklet 1 Nisqually Reach
Short-billed Gull 15
Ring-billed Gull 300
Western Gull 1
California Gull 1
Glaucous-winged Gull 1
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 13
Larus sp. 500
Pied-billed Grebe 2
Horned Grebe 25 Nisqually Reach
Red-throated Loon 1 Spotted by Anders. Nisqually Reach
Common Loon 4
Brandt's Cormorant 7
Double-crested Cormorant 30
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue) 25
Cooper's Hawk 2
Northern Harrier 1
Bald Eagle 11
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Barred Owl 1 Spotted by Mary between the east entrance to the Twin
Barns Loop Trail and the Riparian Forrest Cut-off. Just west of old
Nisqually River dike and south of the boards.
Belted Kingfisher 6
Red-breasted Sapsucker 3
Downy Woodpecker 6
Hairy Woodpecker 3
Pileated Woodpecker 1 Spotted by Jon in Riparian Forrest behind
flagpole from east side parking lot.
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1 Spotted by Gene at the Visitor
Center Pond overlook. Yellow shafts, red on nape and black malar.
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 11
American Kestrel 3
Merlin 2 Spotted by Lisa
Peregrine Falcon 1 Carrying prey over fields south of Twin Barns and
Visitor Pond.
Hutton's Vireo (Pacific) 3
Steller's Jay (Coastal) 2
American Crow 30
Common Raven 3
Black-capped Chickadee 20
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2
Barn Swallow 2 Spotted by Sheryl, John and Lisa.
Bushtit (Pacific) 12
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 15
Golden-crowned Kinglet 10
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
Brown Creeper 8
Pacific Wren 4
Marsh Wren 8
Bewick's Wren 8
European Starling 60
Varied Thrush 4
American Robin 30
Cedar Waxwing 18
Purple Finch (Western) 6
Red Crossbill 10
Pine Siskin 400
Fox Sparrow (Sooty) 2
White-crowned Sparrow (Gambel's) 1
Golden-crowned Sparrow 10
White-throated Sparrow 1 Reported by Steve and Gabe in the Twin Barns
picnic area.
Savannah Sparrow (Savannah) 8
Song Sparrow (rufina Group) 11
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group) 4
Western Meadowlark 5
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) 20
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 4
