Date: 10/29/26 7:49 pm From: Shep Thorp via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for Wednesday 10/28/2026
Dear Tweets,
Approximately 30 of us enjoyed a windy Wednesday at the Refuge, with
intermittent dry and wet conditions. Temperatures ranged from the 40's to
50's degrees Fahrenheit. Because there was a High 14'3" Tide at 8:24am, we
skipped the Orchard in the morning to chase the tide out on the Nisqually
Estuary Trail. Highlights included a First Of Year SNOWGOOSE, mixed in
with thousands of CACKLING GOOSE, minima variety, in the flooded fields
south of the Twin Barns. We had great views of Waterfowl and Shorebirds in
the surge plain and on the mudflats during high tide. We also saw a
continuing HUDSONIAN GODWIT near the entrance to the Nisqually Estuary
Boardwalk Trail. Nice views of COMMON LOON in McAllister Creek. Upwards
of 4 AMERICAN BITTERN: three in the fresh water marsh across from the
entrance to the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail and one in the Visitor
Center Pond. We relocated a previously reported NORTHERN SHRIKE hunting
along the restricted dike south of the green gate at the end of the
Nisqually Estuary Trail. And the AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER continues, hanging
out with 5 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, observed from the McAllister/Medicine
Creek Viewing Platform.
We observed 76 species for the day. With the FOY Snowgoose, we now have
seen 171 species so far this year. Check out our eBird Report pasted below.
As many of you may know, the last 750 feet of the Nisqually Estuary
Boardwalk Trail is closed for the Hunting Season and will not re-open until
February 8th. You can still scope the reach fairly well from the gate
closure, but you won't have the benefit of the observation roof at the end
of the trail.
I'll be away for the next couple of months—Peru in November, Islands south
of New Zealand in December—but the walk will continue under the leadership
of Ken Brown, Rob Chrisler, Pete Kilburn, Jim Pruske, and all the regulars
who help with the many fun sightings. Happy Holidays, and happy birding,
Shep
--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Oct 28, 2026 7:51 AM - 4:26 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.922 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Temperature in the 40’s to 50’s
degrees Fahrenheit with intermittent rain and sun breaks. A High 14’3” Tide
at 8:24am and a Low 7’4” Tide at 1:54p. Others seen Columbian Black Tailed
Deer, Harbor Seal, Puget Sound Garter Snake, and Eastern Gray Squirrel.
76 species (+4 other taxa)
Snow Goose 7
Cackling Goose (minima) 2500
Canada Goose (Greater) 18
Trumpeter Swan 6
Northern Shoveler 1
American Wigeon 1500
Mallard 200
Northern Pintail 1500
Green-winged Teal (American) 1500
Surf Scoter 25
Bufflehead 75
Hooded Merganser 1
Red-breasted Merganser 3 Nisqually Reach
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 8
Mourning Dove 1
Anna's Hummingbird 1
American Coot 2
Black-bellied Plover 8 Seen on surge plain and on mud flats around
McAllister/Medicine Creek observation platform.
American Golden-Plover 1 Previously reported rarity. Observed on
mudflats from McAllister/Medicine Creek Observation Platform. Golden
Plover with long four feather primary projection. Darker cap, smaller bill
than area BBPL. Photo.
Hudsonian Whimbrel 1 Previously reported rarity. Seen from Nisqually
Estuary Trail. Photos.
Long-billed Dowitcher 20
Wilson's Snipe 8
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Greater Yellowlegs 30
Dunlin 50
Least Sandpiper 8
Bonaparte's Gull 20 Flying over Shannon Slough.
Short-billed Gull 150
Ring-billed Gull 100
California Gull 4
Glaucous-winged Gull 2
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 10
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 10
Larus sp. 100
Pied-billed Grebe 3
Horned Grebe 2
Western Grebe 1
Common Loon 3
Brandt's Cormorant 4
Double-crested Cormorant 20
American Bittern 4
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue) 26
Northern Harrier 1
Bald Eagle 8
Red-tailed Hawk 3
Belted Kingfisher 4
Red-breasted Sapsucker 1
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific) 4
Northern Flicker 3
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 2
American Kestrel (Northern) 1
Peregrine Falcon 2
Northern Shrike 1 Seen from the Nisqually Estuary Trail.
American Crow 50
Common Raven 1
Black-capped Chickadee 15
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 3
Bushtit (Pacific) 30
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5
Golden-crowned Kinglet 20
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
Brown Creeper 8
Pacific Wren (Pacific) 6
Western Marsh Wren 5
Bewick's Wren (Pacific) 4
European Starling 40
Varied Thrush 8 Riparian forest cut off.
Hermit Thrush 1 Seen along the east side of the Twin Barns Loop trail.
American Robin 40
Pine Siskin (Northern) 300
American Goldfinch 1
Fox Sparrow (Sooty) 4
Golden-crowned Sparrow 8
White-throated Sparrow 1 Spotted by Janel in the Orchard.
Savannah Sparrow (Common) 2
Song Sparrow (Pacific Northwest) 26
Lincoln's Sparrow 2 Spotted by Jon and Mary on Nisqually Estuary Trail.
Spotted Towhee (Pacific) 6
Western Meadowlark 2
Red-winged Blackbird (Common) 30
