Hi Tweets,

There's a Ross' Goose in the Green River valley, near
the Kent/Auburn city limits. I first learned of this bird about
two weeks ago when Roger Orness called and told me about it. It's
very near where I work so I looked for it the next day without
luck, but Roger e-mailed me Tuesday after seeing it again. Again
I looked for it during lunchtime yesterday, but didn't find it.
The third time being the charm (in my case anyways - Roger having
much better luck) I saw the bird today around 2 PM. It's feeding
with a flock of 35 Canada Geese.
If you're interested in looking for it take the S. 277th
Street exit off Hwy 167 (the valley freeway) and go left/East if
southbound, and right/East if northbound. Follow S. 277th across
two sets of railroad tracks to the intersection with Auburn Way
North/S. 83rd Ave. The Valley Drive-in will be opposite you,
diagonally, on the right. Straight ahead is the new extension of
S. 277th under construction. There is a barricade in the middle
of the road saying "Local Access Only" which you drive around.
The construction is not too daunting and may be inactive during
weekends, but in any case if you drive down the road to the
first lefthand street which is a deadend, you can drive along
here scanning the fields, while being totally out of the way
of the construct. I saw the bird in the field immediately
to the right after making the left on the deadend road. The
grass is quite lush so it's possible the goose could be a
little hard to see; the presence of the larger, harder to miss
Canadas should be your clue to really look thoroughly. I
didn't see the geese the first two times I was there, so if
they're not there, the Ross' Goose probably isn't either.
There are a lot of ducks in the fields on the West side
of the road to look at even if the Ross' Goose isn't around.
Wigeon, Pintail, Gadwall, GW Teal and Mallards are all feed-
ing daily in the area, and there are a number of Mew and
Glaucous-winged Gulls as well.
If you want to make a day of it try birding around the
dairy across Auburn Way North. This is Smith Dairy III, which is
not the same as the bigger Smith Bros Dairy along W. Valley Hwy.
Smith Dairy III often has a Merlin in the trees nearby which
feeds on the abundant flocks of blckbirds, starlings, etc. The
field here is also good for gulls and Whiter River Feed, just to
the West along the railroad tracks, has good sparrow flocks in
the blackberry patches. Other good spots include the West Valley
Smith Dairy, the M Street farm pond West of Emerald Downs horse
racing track and Clay Street marsh, just North of West Main, in
downtown Auburn. The heron rookery at West Valley Hwy and Hwy
18/Peasley Canyon Rd (SW corner of intersection) should have
some activity going on as well. If you go Saturday you could
even include a trip to the Kent Ponds which will be open from
8 to 12, although it sounds like you might have to bird it in
the rain Saturday.

Jim Flynn
Renton, WA