Hello Tweets,

My mother and I also birded the Kent Ponds today for an hour in the
morning, with highlights that included a single adult NORTHERN SHRIKE, 1
BARN SWALLOW, 1 CLIFF SWALLOW, and 1 C.YELLOWTHROAT(heard only), which were
all observed along the south paved trail. Very few swallows were present
during our visit, unlike previous weeks, but one WESTERN GREBE was present
on the north end of the west pond, which my mother and I have personally
both seen in past records at this site, but only a few times, with all
records being from November-May. I do not believe it to be very unusual for
this bird to be encountered on the "ponds", but also not a regular visitor.

Patrick

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> From: S. Downes <sdownes at u.washington.edu>
> To: tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
> Subject: Kent Ponds
> Date: Sunday, April 11, 1999 6:02 PM
>
> Tweets,
> The following are a few highlights from 2+ hours birding around the Kent
> Ponds this morning.
> 1 Green Heron fly over.
> 1 BARN SWALLOW cruising over the ponds
> 1 Spotted Sandpiper
> 1 Greater Yellowlegs
> A pair of western grebes on the ponds. I checked my records and have not
> seen Western Grebes on the Kent Ponds before. Is this unusual or am I
just
> there at the wrong times, I must admit I only bird the ponds 10-12 times
a
> year.
> A Red-tail that was doing a very odd display. The bird would glide in
> sinusodial occilations, with most of the downward gliding being with its
> wings folded. So the hawk would fold its wings drop 15-20 feet, glide
back
> up and fold the wings again and drop the 15-20 feet again. This went on
> for about 5 minutes or so.
> Speaking of Savanna sparrows, they were out in force singing
> from the fence railing, estimated 15-20.
> Total species count for the ponds area was 44 species. This was all from
> outside the fence as the gates are not open on Sunday.
>
> Scott Downes
> sdownes at u.washington.edu
> Seattle WA
>
> "Birds don't read bird books. (That's why they are seen doing things they
> are not supposed to do)." -Mary Wood
>