March 13 - Back to Nisqually NWR

It was 30° and overcast when we got up, and I went out to Nisqually after seeing Marty off to work.  The Refuge volunteers lead a bird walk every Wednesday, meeting at the Visitors’ Center at 8 a.m., and I try to get out there when I'm in town.  The walk is structured so that participants can leave any time, and there are breaks where the morning group slowly melts away until a half-dozen “intrepid” (crazy?) birders complete the entire 5-to-6 mile walk.  It’s all level ground, so not strenuous.

Two dozen birders followed the ‘usual’ route through the Heritage orchard, along the service road and boardwalk to the Twin Barns, then out the north dike to the estuary boardwalk.

Today, besides the birds, the Wednesday walkers were treated to quite a number of mammalian wildlife, including deer,

Columbian Black-tailed Deer

coyote,

This song dog paid little attention to the birders

raccoon,

So shy . . .

and mink among others.

American Mink Neovison vison (I liked the old name: Mustela vision)

After crossing the log, he rubbed his scent glands all over the willows

Sometimes, there were bird-mammal interactions . . .

Great Blue Heron captures a Vole (Microtus sp.)

Re-arranges . . .

Positions . . .

Aaannd - - - Swallows!

as well as bird-fish interactions.  The birds always seem to come out the better in these exchanges.

Double-crested Cormorant caught a Starry Flounder

We watched, rather than photographed, a Peregrine make a serious attempt at catching a Green-winged Teal, but she missed, and the teal got away having only lost a big tuft of feathers.  Sometimes, you just have to revel in the event, instead of attempting to document it.

Elizabeth reveling in the moment

But, there are always birds to be seen.

Mew Gull Larus canus

Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca

Canada Goose Branta canadensis

Male Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon

Curious pose for a Song Sparrow

Below, Volunteer leader Shep Thorp checks out one of the two Bald Eagle nests on the west bank of McAllister Creek. One nest is visible through scopes from the south end of the estuary boardwalk, and the other from near the north end.

Also, from the end of the boardwalk, you can see the Luhr Beach WDFW facility

The walk usually passes by the Nisqually River overlook on the return to the starting point.  Here, a Glaucous-winged Gull rested on a cottonwood drift log.

Although both Barn and Great Horned Owls have been seen in recent weeks, we did not see either species today.  I was intrigued by a male Mallard - as told by his yellow, rather than orange and black bill - that seemed to either have retained immature plumage, or might have a hormone issue and showed ‘female’ feathering?

Starting to get some color in his head . . .

Most Mallard drakes are in full alternate plumage this time of year

Back at the beginning, we found that the Visitors’ Center pond held several surprises among the usual suspects.

A pair of Wilson’s Snipe lounged in the afternoon sun,

Good place for a "Snipe Hunt"

as did a large Red-eared Slider.

Not native to Washington, but always fun to see

Nisqually NWR eBird Checklist is Here

December 11 - Tumwater Historical Park

I took a turn down into Tumwater Historical Park, where all of the small birds were keeping to shelter in the 45° F steady rain and 15-knot south winds.  Even the ducks seemed to be in ‘dampened spirits’.

Rainy Day Mallards

There was a flock of Canada Geese grazing on the lawn & getting gravel.

Canada Goose

Waterfowl, of course, have no teeth to grind their food, so eat gravel, which works in the gizzard to ‘masticate’ the grass and seeds they eat.  A bird’s digestive tract is somewhat more complicated than, say, ours.

Mallard Drake

Food is taken in with the bill, and swallowed.  A small bit of saliva and digestive enzymes are added as the food moves from the mouth into the esophagus.  From the esophagus food moves to the crop, an expandable storage compartment located at the base of the bird’s neck, where it can remain for up to 12 hours. The food trickles from the crop into the bird’s stomach (proventriculus or gizzard) where digestive enzymes are added to the mix and physical grinding of the food occurs.

From the gizzard, food passes into the small intestine, where nutrients are absorbed.  The residue then passes through the cæcum, a blind sack along the lower intestinal tract, where bacteria help break down undigested food.  From the cæcum, food moves to the large intestine, which absorbs water and dries out indigestible foods.  This remaining residue passes through the cloaca where the bird’s urine (the white in bird droppings) mixes with the waste.  Both exit at the vent, the external opening of the cloaca. 

Crows were also on the lawn, picking up the flooded-out nightcrawlers.

Tumwater Lawn Crow

At the edge of the goose flock, I picked out a pair of Greater White-fronted Geese

White-fronted Geese on left, Snow Goose on right

And an immature Snow Goose

Immature Snow Goose

The Canadas were obviously long-time visitors to the park, and showed little concern with my approach, but the Specklebellies and the Snow are winter visitors, and not quite as certain about having people so close to them.

Dubious Specklebelly

A little flighty . . .

 . . . and keeping its distance

It was stormy enough that after a half-hour I figured it was time for a hot chocolate back home.

Tumwater Park eBird checklist Here