WA State Parks: Day 5 of 5

A confession, I didn't actually go to another State Park today.  However, I went to a National Wildlife Refuge - which is close enough, the only difference is that it is federally-protected land rather than state-protected land so it counts.  The place is called Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge - and is SW of Seattle, close to Olympia.  I had been there before, but a long time ago - indeed the "Billy Frank Jr." wasn't part of the name when I last went there (he isn't anyone famous as far as I know - a Nisqually tribe member and activist apparently), and the trails were different because I would definitely have remembered the big-ass boardwalk that goes out into the estuary.  And it was good to go for a hike somewhere that wasn't forest or coastline.  A very flat approximately 4-mile out-and-back hike, I went there quite early because (1) I wanted to avoid the crowds (which I only partially succeeded with - even at 8.30am, there were lots of people there, but by the time I got back to the car around 10.30am the parking lot was full), (2) I wanted to get back home by lunch (and online for Mario Kart at our regular time!), and (3) because I wanted to time the visit for high tide when supposedly the birdlife is more prevalent and active.  This is a serious place for bird-watching, and the majority of people already there when I arrived were "twitchers" - you could tell who they were by the fact they were over-dressed and lugging around these ridiculously huge binoculars and loads of cameras and camera gear.  Glad I timed my visit for when I did because lots of young and loud families were showing up by the time I was leaving - undoubtedly ruining the atmosphere.  And yes, plenty of birds to be seen - lots of swallows, lots of herons, lots of waterfowl, and lots of birdsong even in just the land adjoining the estuary.  It's a nice place for an easy and pretty walk - and if there weren't so many people there (many of whom wore masks, which was quite disconcerting when I wasn't wearing one), then it would be very relaxing and I would take more time there to enjoy the wildlife.