<!doctype html>
<html>
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
</head>
<body>
<div class="default-style" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: helvetica,arial,sans-serif; color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt;">The Summer doldrums slipped in today. A significant drop off in the number of species could be blamed on the season or the absence of our usual incomparable leader. It could be both. The number of birders peaked at about 30, but dropped off steadily late morning. It was cool, overcast, and windy. We decide to reverse our usual route. After the orchard, we took the eastern half of the loop trail along the Nisqually River to the overlook, then to the twin barns, the dike and then to the McCallister Creek boardwalk and back to finish the western half of the loop and the flooded fields. Duck species and numbers have declined and many birds are quieter now than in spring. Barn, Cliff and Tree Swallow parents feeding young were found, as were Cedar Waxwings. Other than a single observation of a Yellow-headed Blackbird, no unexpected species were observed, but there was an unusually large congregation of Double-crested Cormorants and Great Blue Herons on McCallister Creek. They were seen catching Skulpin and Perch, and may have found something else tasty in the creek. The complete list of species is as follows:</span>
</div>
<div class="default-style" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: helvetica,arial,sans-serif; color: #333333;">
<span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt;"> </span>
</div>
<div class="default-style" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: helvetica,arial,sans-serif; color: #333333;">
<div>
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, Olympia US-WA 47.07225, -122.71205, Thurston, Washington, US
</div>
<div>
Jun 26, 2024 7:57 AM - 2:58 PM
</div>
<div>
Protocol: Traveling
</div>
<div>
5.01 mile(s)
</div>
<div>
Checklist Comments: Mostly cool, overcast, and windy. Non-avian fauna seen includes, Long-tailed Weasel, Rabbits, Gray Squirrel, Chipmunk, Garter Snake.
</div>
<div>
59 species (+3 other taxa)
</div> <span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt;"><br></span>
<div>
Canada Goose 31
</div>
<div>
Wood Duck 12
</div>
<div>
Gadwall 9
</div>
<div>
Mallard 5
</div>
<div>
Hooded Merganser 9
</div>
<div>
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 4
</div>
<div>
Band-tailed Pigeon 17
</div>
<div>
Mourning Dove 4
</div>
<div>
Anna's Hummingbird 3
</div>
<div>
Rufous Hummingbird 2
</div>
<div>
Virginia Rail 1
</div>
<div>
Killdeer 6
</div>
<div>
Ring-billed Gull 30
</div>
<div>
California Gull 60
</div>
<div>
Glaucous-winged Gull 1
</div>
<div>
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 3
</div>
<div>
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 6
</div>
<div>
Larus sp. 75
</div>
<div>
Caspian Tern 35
</div>
<div>
Brandt's Cormorant 9
</div>
<div>
Double-crested Cormorant 100
</div>
<div>
Great Blue Heron 125
</div>
<div>
Bald Eagle 40
</div>
<div>
Red-tailed Hawk 1
</div>
<div>
Red-breasted Sapsucker 2
</div>
<div>
Downy Woodpecker 4
</div>
<div>
Northern Flicker 2
</div>
<div>
American Kestrel 1
</div>
<div>
Western Wood-Pewee 10
</div>
<div>
Willow Flycatcher 8
</div>
<div>
Western Flycatcher 2
</div>
<div>
Warbling Vireo 4
</div>
<div>
Steller's Jay 1
</div>
<div>
American Crow 4
</div>
<div>
Black-capped Chickadee 15
</div>
<div>
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 6
</div>
<div>
Tree Swallow 50
</div>
<div>
Purple Martin 3
</div>
<div>
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 10
</div>
<div>
Barn Swallow 35
</div>
<div>
Cliff Swallow 35
</div>
<div>
Bushtit 2
</div>
<div>
Brown Creeper 5
</div>
<div>
Marsh Wren 12
</div>
<div>
Bewick's Wren 5
</div>
<div>
European Starling 150
</div>
<div>
Swainson's Thrush 43
</div>
<div>
American Robin 10
</div>
<div>
Cedar Waxwing 25
</div>
<div>
Purple Finch 7
</div>
<div>
American Goldfinch 18
</div>
<div>
Savannah Sparrow 4
</div>
<div>
Song Sparrow 40
</div>
<div>
Spotted Towhee 2
</div>
<div>
Yellow-headed Blackbird 1 Black bird with yellow head, white patches on wings.
</div>
<div>
Red-winged Blackbird 40
</div>
<div>
Brown-headed Cowbird 15
</div>
<div>
Common Yellowthroat 25
</div>
<div>
Yellow Warbler 30
</div>
<div>
Wilson's Warbler 2
</div>
<div>
Western Tanager 1
</div>
<div>
Black-headed Grosbeak 2
</div> <span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt;"><br>View this checklist online at <a href="https://ebird.org/checklist/S183948222">https://ebird.org/checklist/S183948222</a></span>
</div>
</body>
</html>