We returned to Nisquaaly to check on the baby hummingbirds and to view the beavers who have been coming out in the pond near the visitor's center after 7:00 PM for the past few evenings. One recent evening there were at least 7 and there were some babies (kits). This evening we saw one beaver " up close and personal" and three others in the distance. We saw no babies. Sadly the 2 baby hummingbirds are no longer in the nest! A lady who was at the nest area when we were told us she had heard a predator had gotten them. We saw very few birds until after 5:00. We then saw 2 female wood ducks with their young. One group of babies appeared to be newborns and the other juveniles. We saw 2 female mallards with their young and one had newborns and the other juveniles.

The Nisqually Wildlife Refuge has undergone a huge change since I last visited 10 years ago. In 2009 the state undertook the largest tideland reclamation project in northwest history. In 1910 the Brown family put in 4 miles of dikes to convert tidelands into farm land. When the dikes were removed in 2009, 762 acres of prime tidelands were reestablished. An amazing 1 mile boardwalk affords a great view of the reestablished wetlands. This must be one of the most expensive one mile segments of trail in the world. To see the tidal contrast, I visited at low tide and then came back 5 hours later to see the area in the process of being flooded with seawater. It's a pretty cool contrast. RT 4.8 mi with no elevation gain. Check out the link below if you want to learn more about the restoration project.

Nice hike along well maintained paths and a mile long boardwalk. We were there for a couple of hours enjoying the wildlife and the walking then returned that evening to see if there were any additional wildlife that we did not get to see. Worth the trip down.

We went for a short outing today in search of the rufous hummingbird nest and we were not disappointed! It is located along the Twin Barns Loop Trail, only a few feet from the boardwalk and at eye level. It was very cool to watch the mother feeding her 2 babies! I must confess that we spent almost 2 hours viewing the feedings! The nest is small and looks like a lichen "bump" on the branch. The nest is smaller than the pictures make it look! There were not many other birds seen or heard. Two ladies commented as we showed them the nest that it was good to see something other than ants and butterflies! We heard many bullfrogs, saw a female mallard with her babies, a frog, and a few cedar waxwings.

Bald Eagles galore! This isn't as much of a hike as it is just a wooden walkway through the wildlife refuge. There is, however, TONS of wildlife to see. Dozens of different types of birds, including Bald Eagles, squirrels, frogs, crabs. If you head out early AM or around dusk, you may see more than we saw at mid-day as there are also otters, mink and more! The refuge also has fantastic views of Rainier.