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Hi Folks,
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On the first day of precipitation in a while, two dozen birders gathered at the Nisqually Refuge Visitors’ Centre for a morning’s/day’s birding, greeted by MALLARDS and WOOD DUCK. The Wednesday Walk is ably led by Refuge Volunteers each week at 8 a.m. Although some of the participants make a full day of it, birders are free to spend as much time as they wish and most of us make a pleasant morning of it.
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There was a 12.7-foot High Tide at 8 a.m., ebbing to a +4.0-foot low water at 1:55 p.m., so the consensus of the birders was to forsake the ‘usual’ route through the Heritage Orchard first thing in the morning, and make our way directly out to the north dike and estuary boardwalk to see what shorebirds might be in the area.
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Our ‘direct’ route. puttering along the western portion of the boardwalk loop, gave looks at DOWNY WOODPECKERS, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, and a family of BROWN CREEPERS.
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A sign that Autumn is truly here (besides the rain) is the presence of GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS and SOOTY FOX SPARROWS, many of which will remain with us through the Winter. We were fussed at by several BEWICK’S WRENS, as we sorted through the mixed-species flocks, finding several YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS; only the MYRTLE variety were seen well. COMMON YELLOWTHROATS AND BLACK-THROATED GREY WARBLERS comprised the other Parulids seen. The water in the pond is very low, so there were few water birds, but we did have a WILSON’S SNIPE drop in for a visit. At the cross-over to the Twin Barns, an immature VIRGINIA RAIL put on a show for several minutes before reverting to its usual skulky behaviour and disappearing into the canary grass.
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We made a cursory stop at the Twin Barns overlook, hoping to see a Bittern or Green Heron in the adjacent slough, but without success. On a side note, the MOTUS Tower at the Twin Barns is active now, and has picked up the RFID signals of three south-bound SWAINSON’S THRUSH, banded near Whistler, BC. This is the only MOTUS tower in Puget Sound. Detections at this receiver can be followed at <a href="https://motus.org/data/receiverDeploymentDetections?id=8691">https://motus.org/data/receiverDeploymentDetections?id=8691</a>
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Birding along the north dike provided views of several thousand waterfowl, mostly NORTHERN PINTAIL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and AMERICAN WIGEON, with a smattering of MALLARDS and GADWALL. The beginnings of a good day for raptors were evident with views of COOPER’S HAWK, NORTHERN HARRIER, AMERICAN KESTREL and a PEREGRINE. Anders arrived a little late with a photo of a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK seen back at the parking area. Only a dozen or so BALD EAGLES were hunting the estuary, but we expect that numbers will build through the winter season.
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The BOBOLINK seen Monday morning was not found in the cattail marsh, although we had good numbers of SAVANNAH SPARROWS and AMERICAN PIPITS on our approach to the Estuary Boardwalk, and some found LINCOLN’S SPARROW. The tide was ebbing rapidly as we set out on the one-mile-long boards. WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS comprised the bulk of the shorebirds seen, along with a pair of PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, and a vocalizing BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. We saw groups of "Peeps" further out, but could only presume they were more of the same.
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Most of the gulls were RING-BILLED, with a few immature CALIFORNIA and a single SHORT-BILLED GULL. A birder not with our group reported that she saw a lingering CASPIAN TERN, but we missed it. We had at least five SPOTTED SANDPIPERS along McAllister Creek, and heard STELLER’S JAY and RAVEN from the timber west of the Creek.
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By the time we got to the observation deck at the north end of the boardwalk, the low tide resulted in a lot of mud showing in the estuary, and HARBOR SEALS were hauled-out on the salt marsh grasses. Scoping into the Nisqually Reach gave us views of COMMON LOON and HORNED GREBE, as well as our first RED-BREASTED MERGANSER of the season.
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On our way back, we were treated to an amazing chase: a BLACK MERLIN pursued a tiercel AMERICAN KESTREL over the cattail marsh for several minutes, coming close to catching it a half-dozen times. Finally, the Merlin broke off toward the surge plain and the Kestrel escaped to the south. Our next good raptor sighting from the dike was when we observed our first-of-the-season RED-SHOULDERED HAWK perched in a snag in the surge plain.
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The rain showers ceased as we returned along the east side of the boardwalk loop, and we added HAIRY WOODPECKER, PACIFIC WREN and CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE to the day’s list. Having passed up the orchard this morning, we didn’t expect a lot of activity in the warming afternoon, but were happy to see a CALIFORNIA SCRUB JAY foraging among the ancient apple and pear trees.
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Besides the birds, we always enjoy the mammals seen during the walk, including the non-native EASTERN GREY SQUIRRELS and EASTERN COTTONTAILS, as well as our native COYOTE and COLUMBIAN BLACK-TAILED DEER. We noted good numbers of RED-LEGGED and PACIFIC CHORUS FROGS, and only one non-native BULLFROG, thanks to the removal efforts of the FWS. Fall is “Wooly Bear” season, with good numbers of the ISABELLA MOTH caterpillars.
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There’s always something good to be seen on the Wednesday Walk, and Birders of all abilities are welcome to join the group at 8 a.m. every week at the Refuge Visitors’ Center.
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You can see the eBird Checklist at <a href="https://ebird.org/pnw/checklist/S119668831">https://ebird.org/pnw/checklist/S119668831</a>
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Best,
<br>Jon. Anderson
<br>Olympia
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