Date: 1/29/26 8:32 am From: Shep Thorp via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 1/28/2026
Hi Tweets,
Approximately 25 of us endured a drizzly day at the Refuge with
temperatures in the 40's degrees Fahrenheit and a High 13'9" Tide at
12:01pm.
Highlights included WILSON'S SNIPE in the flooded field just north of the
old McAllister Creek Access Road west of the west end parking lot and in
the freshwater marsh along the Nisqually Estuary Trail, continuing
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW x 2-3 from the Twin Barns Overlook and Nisqually
Estuary Trail north of the Twin Barns, LINCOLN SPARROW spotted by Ken north
of the Nisqually Estuary Trail just north of the Twin Barns, three falcons
for the day - PEREGRINE/MERLIN/AMERICAN KESTREL, two AMERICAN BITTERNS in
the freshwater marsh along the Nisqually Estuary Trail, and a flock of
2-3,000 DUNLIN flying around the mudflats with a few WESTERN SANDPIPER in
the mix. Other notable sightings included a continuing yellow-shafted
NORTHERN FLICKER along the Nisqually Estuary Trail seen by a few and a
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER spotted by Janel at 7:30 a.m. flying into the
freshwater marsh.
We tried to relocate the previously reported Swamp Sparrow, but it
continues to elude us on the Wednesday Walk.
For the day we observed 67 species, with First of Year YELLOW-RUMPED
WARBLER, COOPER'S HAWK, CALIFORNIA GULL and Long-billed Dowitcher we now
have seen 82 species for the year. See our eBird report below with
additional details.
Others seen include Muskrat, Columbian Black-tailed Deer and Harbor Seal.
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
Jan 28, 2026 7:38 AM - 4:04 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.025 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Cloudy with intermittent light
rain. Temperatures in the 40’s degree Fahrenheit. A High 13’9” Tide at
12:01pm. Others seen include Muskrat, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Eastern
Gray Squirrel and Harbor Seal.
67 species (+8 other taxa)
Cackling Goose 500
Cackling Goose (minima) 1
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima) 6
Northern Shoveler 100
Gadwall 25
American Wigeon 500
Eurasian x American Wigeon (hybrid) 1 Spotted by Janel in the morning
from the Nisqually Estuary Trail or Dike.
Mallard 100
Northern Pintail 142
Green-winged Teal (American) 250
Ring-necked Duck 5 Visitor Center Pond.
Surf Scoter 30
Bufflehead 75
Common Goldeneye 25
Hooded Merganser 3 Visitor Center Pond.
Common Merganser 4 Nisqually River Observation Platform.
Red-breasted Merganser 20 McAllister Creek
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 20
Anna's Hummingbird 1 Spotted by Danielle in the Orchard.
Virginia Rail 1 Heard only
American Coot 35
Long-billed Dowitcher 1 Spotted by Janel in the morning flying into
the fresh water marsh.
Wilson's Snipe 5 Flooded fields either side of the old McAllister
Creek Access Road and fresh water marsh.
Greater Yellowlegs 15
Dunlin 2000
Least Sandpiper 9
Western Sandpiper 4 Observed foraging with large flocks of Dunlin with
spotting scopes at 100-500 feet. Peep sized shorebird with white throat and
dark legs. Previously reported.
Short-billed Gull 50
Ring-billed Gull 30
California Gull 1
Glaucous-winged Gull 1
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 1
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 25
Larus sp. 100
Horned Grebe 7
Brandt's Cormorant 3 Nisqually Channel Marker
Double-crested Cormorant 15
American Bittern 2 Fresh water marsh off Nisqually Estuary Trail.
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue) 30
Cooper's Hawk 1 Flying over Twin Barns Picnic Area.
Northern Harrier 2
Bald Eagle 15
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Belted Kingfisher 2
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific) 3
Downy/Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1 Previously reported. Spotted by
Pete and Janel along the Nisqually Estuary Trail.
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 9
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted x Red-shafted) 1
American Kestrel (Northern) 1
Merlin 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
American Crow 100
Black-capped Chickadee 30
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 12
Bushtit (Pacific) 20
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 12
Golden-crowned Kinglet 20
Brown Creeper 7
Pacific Wren (Pacific) 2
Marsh Wren 6
Bewick's Wren (spilurus Group) 3
European Starling 50
American Robin (migratorius Group) 42
Fox Sparrow (Sooty) 2 Spotted by Miles in Orchard.
White-crowned Sparrow (pugetensis) 3
Golden-crowned Sparrow 50
White-throated Sparrow 3 Twin Barns Observation Platform and Nisqually
Estuary Trail north of Twin Barns.
Song Sparrow (rufina Group) 21
Lincoln's Sparrow 2 Nisqually Estuary Trail.
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group) 8
Western Meadowlark 1 Nisqually Estuary Trail.
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) 50
Orange-crowned Warbler (lutescens) 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
