I lead a combination photography and naturalist walk at the refuge. It was a bit chilly when we arrived, so layering was the way to go. I was also glad to have a pair of hand warmers in my jacket pockets.

As we walked on the boardwalk to the west of the visitor's center, we saw many merganser ducks. We also saw a downy woodpecker and a few trees away on the other side of the boardwalk, we saw a hairy woodpecker (who was really going to town pecking the wood and moss on the tree).

Further on the boardwalk, past the barn and going towards the mud flats, we saw several great blue herons, northern pintails and northern shovelers.

In the forested area, we didn't see the usual great horned owl, but we did see a beautiful barn owl who was sleeping in the hollow of a big tree. This tree is located behind the visitor center as you walk on the boardwalk that goes to the right of the center.

The boardwalk itself was dry, as were the dirt paths. There was just one small pile of snow left in the parking lot.

After enjoying Hawks Prairie Ponds on this beautiful day, we drove to Nisqually  and walked the Twin Barns Loop with a side trip to the Twin Barns Observation Platform. We saw mallards, northern shovelers, buffleheads and a sleeping heron on a snag along the Western side of the loop and a pair of hooded mergansers on our walk along the Eastern side of the Twin Barns Loop. A variety of duck and geese were seen in the distance from the observation platform, but no near sightings. The sleeping heron was fun to watch as it would wake up for a very short time to check its surroundings and preen a little before tucking its head back in to rest some more!

First off you can avoid the $3 fee ( every little bit helps ) by using certain passes:  "...An Interagency Annual Pass (old Golden Eagle), Senior Pass (old Golden Age), or Access Pass, Federal Duck Stamp, or an Annual Refuge Pass will admit the pass holder and 3 additional adults (over age 16). Children 16 and under enter free. Each of these passes are available for purchase at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Administration Office and Visitor Center. All proceeds from entrance fees and passes go back into Nisqually NWR programs."  -from their official website.

This is a place for all ages and skill levels as its all flat. With that in mind, there are some parts that are gravel.  not all of this are boardwalks.  Also we came across one section of boardwalk that was closed.  but it did not look like a large section.   We saw many different species of ducks ( some that where white and black ).  A couple Heron.  One that caught a frog and was eating it.  Also we caught site of some doe's.  We saw an eagle on the driver over ;)   We swore we saw a bird of some sort  resting on top of the dead tree or post.  By the time we all took pics they showed nothing hahaha.

    We walked around maybe 70% of the area.  The one we did not get to was what seemed to be the main attraction.  where you walk out onto a mile long boardwalk and at the end have a 360 D. view  and special treats when the tide is out. 

    We will be back with more people around spring when there is more wild life !

Happy wild life watching :)

I had originally intended to head out to Dosewallips State Park this morning, but plans for a last minute guest materialized, so I headed to Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge for high tide instead. This wasn't the most beautiful morning for a walk, but it was still nice to get outside! The boardwalk was a little slick in places, nothing too bad. I intended to walk the entire boardwalk to the seasonal gate, but was so uncomfortable hearing gunshots close by that I turned back before then. The final 700ft of boardwalk is closed until sometime next month - apparently to keep people safe from the hunters.   

The wildlife were out today! I saw herons, Canadian geese, ducks, sea gulls, a seal just off the boardwalk, and a coyote near the twin barns. The coyote and I both went in opposite directions when we saw each other (according to a man also taking pictures the coyote and I had crossed paths earlier and neither of us noticed it), but people with children should be aware that this little guy is hanging out in the area.  

As an FYI, the Visitor's Center was finally open again after being closed due to the government shut down! Hurray! 

Great hike with kids ages 10 and 5. The only disappointment was that the last 750 feet of boardwalk was closed due to hunting. We didn't see any signs until we came to the chain link fence block.