Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge 6-1-2018

[Bill Anderson]

My son Daren participated in the weekend's Special Olympics state track meet at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma. We left home Friday morning in order to avoid the afternoon's horrific rush hour traffic. After checking into the motel at Dupont and eating lunch, we toured the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Billy_Frank_Jr_Nisqually/

Barn swallows were flying around the pond in front of the gift shop and refuge office.

We did the short Twin Barn Loop so Daren would not be get too tired for the track meet on Saturday and Sunday. Lots of birds were singing in the wooded portions of the trail, but I only got photos of cedar waxwings,

a western wood-pewee(?),

and a Swainson's thrush.

 

[Bill Anderson]

A large pond covered over with water lilies held two turtles,

a rather large frog,

and a mother duck clearing a path through the lilies for her ducklings.

 

[Bill Anderson]

A flicker was taking a dust bath on a section of a gravel road.

The refuge was originally a farm. This rather interesting stump may have been one of the trees that was felled to clear the land.

I wonder what made these patterns.

It looks like an ancient watch tower guarding the boardwalk.

 

[John999R]

Nice photos Bill. The Cedar Waxwing is striking, I don't recall ever seeing one down here, but I haven't really looked either. Now I will pay attention since a bird reference I have indicates they range here. I wonder if I put out chopped apples or raisins that would attract them as the book suggests?

 

[Bill Anderson]

I have never seen waxwings at my seed feeders. There is a plant up here that produces a berry they love.