Date: 2/26/26 6:55 pm From: Kenneth Brown via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday at Nisqually
A scrape-the-windshield morning, bright and sunny, but cold. The sunshine brought out 30+ birders for the 8am start. A pair of Hooded Mergansers and a few Mallards lazed in the Visitor's Center pond, a Red-tailed Hawk flew east to west just to the north. As we walked through the south parking lot, a couple Purple Finch were actively moving from tree to tree. A mixed flock of Chickadees, Kinglets, Brown Creeper, and a number of Golden-crowned Sparrows were high up in the Cottonwood trees, a bit unusual, sparrows typically forage on the ground. Perhaps they were enjoying the sun as much as we were.
In the play area a Spotted Towhee turned over the leaf litter looking for breakfast, while a Douglas Squirrel sat erect and rolled his meal in both paws, like a kid eating corn on the cobb. A Mourning Dove shared the orchard with Robins and more Sparrows. The frosted grass in and surrounding the pond west of the entrance road glistened in the sunlight, a dozen or so Northern Pintail an a couple Mallards wove their way between the tall clumps. A pair of Hutton's Vireo hung out in the trees along the road. On the service /maintenance road a Hairy Woodpecker was heard, a Downy Woodpecker was seen in the Cottonwood trees, several Kinglets and another pair of Hutton's Vireos were found.
Three immature Bald Eagles perched separately, but in the same tall Cottonwood, on the south end of the flooded field west of the service road, observing the activity below. The ponds held dozens of American Coots, Northern Shovelers, Northern Pintail, Mallards, American Wigeon and a single Ring-necked Duck. Red-winged Blackbirds were scattered throughout the Cattails, American Robins dotted the dry areas. A Great Blue Heron guarded the west side of the field, a few early Tree Swallows swooped over the ponds.
A Pied-billed Grebe sat in the center of the pond as we walked the boardwalk on the west side of the loop trail, Song Sparrows and Marsh Wrens were in the reeds along the waters edge. Tree Swallows again flew overhead. A side trip out to the service road again gave us a nice view of a male Eurasian Wigeon hanging with it's American cousins. When a nearby female Wigeon flew off, it followed close behind her. Spotted Towhees and Golden-crowned and Song Sparrows worked the leaf litter along the road. In the Maple Grove, near the picnic tables a White-throated Sparrow mixed with another flock of Golden-crowned Sparrows.
From the Twin Barns viewing platform we relocated the male Eurasian Wigeon, and searched unsuccessfully for a female Eurasian counterpart. A few Canada Geese were gathered in the middle surrounded by the other Wigeon, Pintail, Shovelers, Green-winged Teal and Mallards. A nice surprise of 10 Wilson' Snipe roosted in three clusters at the north end of the wet field. The trees along the slough east of the platform were occupied by several Yellow-rumped Warblers.
Out on the gravel dike, looking north across the surge plain to the tree line along the Nisqually River, Anders found a pair of Racoons in a bare snag. The one highest in the snag waved it's long ringed tail back and forth, whether to entice or annoy it's unresponsive partner was unclear. A few more Bald Eagles perched in the taller trees. Across the exposed mud were distant ducks, and Dunlin interspersed with Greater Yellowlegs. Closer in were two Northern Flickers, one an intergrade of the Red-shafted and Yellow-shafted sub-species. At the base of the Willows along the south side were more Golden-crowned Sparrows, another White-throated Sparrow, a few Towhees and a Orange-crowned Warbler. Once clear of the Willows the cold wind picked up significantly. The freshwater side held mostly ducks and Coots, the saltwater side, clusters of Gulls, primarily Short-billed and Ring-billed. The Dunlin got up in the air and began to mumurate, at first distant, then closer in, ! sometimes in two flocks, then merging into one and splitting again, turning in unison, dark above and flashing bright white underneath. It never ceases to impress.
It began to cloud up as we headed out the McAllister Creek boardwalk. A young Bald Eagle sat on a log near the walkway , then on the railing, seemingly undisturbed by nearby humans. The creek was occupied by Bufflehead, a few Mallards, Common Goldeneye, Surf Scoters, Red-breasted Mergansers, a few Horned Grebes and an occasional Harbor Seal. Great Blue Herons, several Greater Yellowlegs and a Spotted Sandpiper patrolled the shoreline. Small flocks of Least Sandpipers allowed us brief inspection before moving again. From the Puget Sound viewing platform at the end we saw more Bufflehead, Surf Scoters, Red-breasted Mergansers, and a flock of Brant (geese). Brandt's Cormorant were on the channel marker, a few Double-crested Cormorants scattered along the creek as we returned.
Back on the dike along the Willows we again found the flock of sparrows, this time including a White-crowned Sparrow. A Northern Harrier hunter the flooded field. At the Nisqually River overlook was a Common Goldeneye, a couple Mallards and several Common Mergansers. A Coyote appeared across and downriver at the first Bend, we watched it for several minutes but it's attention was on something other than us. Turning south along the east side of the loop trail we were rewarded with a close up pair of Hooded Mergansers, and along the Riparian spur both Pacific and Bewick's Wrens. Back at the Visitor Center deck for our tally , five Ring-necked Ducks and a Red-tailed Hawk came to see us off. The Checklist follows.
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US Feb 25, 2026 8:02 AM - 4:05 PM Protocol: Traveling 4.112 mile(s) Checklist Comments: Mammals: Black-tailed Deer, Coyote , Harbor Seal, Raccoon, Long-tailed Weasel, Eastern Gray Squirrel, Douglas Squirrel. 65 species (+6 other taxa)
