Arrived at Nisqually Wildlife Refuge around 1:30 this afternoon, parking was already limited, but I was able to find a space. Even with the buildings closed, I did walk up onto the deck to get a nice view of the water and also grabbed a few of their brochures.

I did both the “Brown Farm Dike Trail” and the “Twin Barns Loop Trail” adding up to right around 5 miles round trips. There were a lot of families, bird watches and photographers along the way, but everyone spaced out well so it didn’t feel crowded, and almost everyone worse masks. 

It was a beautiful clear day with a stunning view of Rainier. The animals seem very comfortable around people, especially the bids, which often let people walk up very close to them.  I was able to spot a hawk today, and heard others say they saw 2 eagles. 

Lots of people were enjoying the amazing refuge.  Most were masked.  The trails are fairly wide.  The parking lot was nearly full.  Porta potties are available.

It's always a delight to watch the birds in the intertidal zone.  The sounds of the tide rising and bubbling up in clam holes was really cool.

I went early in the day so the parking lot was pretty empty. Weather was great. The boardwalk was wet, but I had no problem walking without slipping. Very few people. The snow geese were right next to the trail. The fence/gate is up on the boardwalk due to hunting so you cannot get to the end right now. The kids with their families were having a blast. I highly recommend this trail for small children.

On our way home from the Hawks Prairie Ponds we went to Nisqually where we spent 2 hours enjoying the many birds and the beautiful day! When we arrived at 1:30, the parking lots were almost full! A kestrel, male hooded merganser, 3 Northern shrike, 4 snow geese, many cackling geese, pintails, widgeons and a kestrel were some of the birds seen. We were impressed that most people were wearing masks! 

For those looking for some meaningful outdoor exercise, this is the perfect spot. I spend at least a couple mornings a week here as the hiking season begins to wind down (for me). You could easily walk five or more miles on the boardwalk trails and exploring near the Nisqually River area. If you are a birder, this place is quite alive in this fall season. 

The eagles are often seen fishing off of the estuary boardwalk, as are kingfishers, cormorants and great blue heron. There is a resident great-horned owl and dozens of cedar waxwings plucking the fall berries. Little ones are safe on the boardwalk and can see the native chorus frogs along the brush. It's not surprising to see several species of ducks in the murky ponds, songbirds in the trees and maybe even a weasel along your route. 

Yesterday I watched this heron stalk a snake in the grass, capture him and patiently maneuver it down his throat, swallowing it whole. It is quite a sight to see. A few more photos on my blog linked below on the full trip report. 

https://insearchofthevery.com/2020/10/09/and-the-snake-becomes-the-heron/

The parking lots tend to fill up quickly on the weekends. Bring a bottle of water, your hand sanitizer and your curiosity.