Gene Hunn, Seattle, hunn at u.washington.edu.
>
>Went birding in the Kent Ponds area Sunday morning, Sept. 28 under cloudy
skies. The "new" Kent Ponds will be quite productive when they're done this
spring. Meanwhile the whole area is fenced and posted. But from the bike
trail under the powerlines along the south edge one can see fairly well into
the southeasternmost ponds with a scope. These are most closely approached
from 226th St. by parking in the lot of one or another warehouse, of which
there are new ones every month it seems.
>
>The southeasternmost ponds are shallow with extensive mud flats in the
middle of each. Had the following waders and shorebirds this morning:
>
>Great Blue Heron, GREAT EGRET, Green Heron, Killdeer, Semipalmated Plover
(1), Lesser Yellowlegs (2), Western Sandpiper (10), Least Sandpiper (1),
Pectoral Sandpiper (10), RUFF (1 juv. reeve), Short-billed Dowitcher (35),
Long-billed Dowitcher (15) [estimated; most were too far away for certain
identifications]. Late migrants included Common Yellowthroat (5) and
Violet-green Swallow (2). Goodly numbers of American Pipits (30+) moving
along also. Two N. Harriers and an American Kestrel in addition to the
Red-tails.
>
>The Ruff was way across on the northwest corner of the western of the two
ponds near where the Great Egret was feeding. Just close enough to be sure.
The double-oval tail patch noted in flight; run and peck feeding up on the
grassy shore loosely associated with dowitchers and Pectoral Sandpipers.
>
>Gene Hunn.
>