Subject: Re: Ross' Goose
Date: Jan 17 16:03:49 1995
From: Michael Smith - whimbrel at u.washington.edu



I squeezed in a little birding this afternoon between noon and 3, zipped
down to see the Ross' Gull. It was easily found foraging with about 30
Canada Geese in grassy fields at the intersection of S. 200th St. and Frager
Rd., just west of the Green River (T22N R4E S2). I first visited the
Kent Ponds and found very little.

An easy route from Seattle is this: I-5 south to exit 152 (Orilla Rd.),
go southeast on Orilla road a couple miles, watch for S. 200th St., and
bear left (east) on 200th St. 200th is less than a mile long, and ends
at the Green River. Watch for it in this area. It was never more than
30 feet from the road while I watched it.

I have a question concerning the legality of birding the Kent Ponds. I
know people are going out there consistently; is it really safe to ignore
the 'No trespassing' signs? I didn't see anyone else out there, but the
signs (Violators will be prosecuted) posted everywhere did make nervous
(I was definitely twitching!).

A Cooper's Hawk and a large flock of sparrows (White-crowned,
Golden-crowned, Song and Lincoln's), were at the former pea-patch on
Russell Rd.

____________________________
Mike Smith
Univ. of Washington, Seattle
whimbrel at u.washington.edu