Overcast skies changed our plans from a "view" hike today to a South Sound ramble amid the birds (and beasts) of the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. We arrived at 10:45 AM (on a Wednesday) to get the last parking spot in the main lot (!), noticing three school buses and a number of small groups milling about. It's clearly school field trip season around here.
The weather was pleasant, and most school groups we saw were passing us on the way back to the buses (lunch), so it was a bit calmer and more enjoyable than anticipated. I "cheated", using the Merlin app to generate sonograms and identify the birds we were surrounded by but couldn't find. Birdsong was nearly constant in the marsh area and on through the meadows, fading away only once we reached the raised estuary boardwalk.
The estuary walk provide wide, impressive views, especially at low tide. We passed a few groups of bird spotters with serious cameras (we see you there, Nisqually Walkers!), from who we could confirm a few identities (cedar waxwing, check, cormorant, check). On the way back, we paused to watch a group of herons that had flown across McAllister Creek to feed on what looked like small surf perch hanging out in foot-deep water on our side of the channel. They were joined by two feeding seals, which seemed to make them a bit nervous. A bird-watcher reported that, moments earlier, one of the seals had taken down a cormorant, which caused a bit of ruckus in the water, so that tracks.
Nisqually is a place you never tire of, especially when you need to reset, to push back horizons, to simply soak in the REALLY great outdoors. Can't promise you'll see seal vs cormorant, but then again, you never know.
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