Hi Tweets:
I'm a recent subscriber to this list and am coming out of lurker status to
answer
Jim Brewster who wrote on 1/9/99:

> I drove by the Kent Ponds just a few minutes ago, about 2:15 pm. All
entrance
> gates were closed. It is that way each time I go by. What are the
hours/days
> of operation?

The winter hours at the Kent Ponds which is just south of S. 212th and east
of the Green River on Russell Road are as follows:
W-F 10:00AM-4:00PM
Sat. 8:00AM-12:00PM(Noon)
Sun. Closed

You don't need to enter the wildlife area to access the most productive
viewing. If it's closed, observe from the gates. From the most northerly
gate on Russell Road, I observed a coyote making his rounds about 4 days
ago. With bins I saw several raptors. I have a cheap scope ($30.) that my
husband picked up at the Tasco outlet store down in Kent. (I can hear all
of you wincing, but hey, I'm a newbie, and don't know any better.) The
scope is 15X magnification and is wonderful. I just don't try to use the
zoom, which doesn't work. With the scope, you can zero in on the
peregrine, or whatever. Now drive to the south end of the wildlife area.
Just south of the fence is a trail which runs east and west. Walk along
that and observe all kinds of bird species, which change almost daily. My
recent observations included a shrike, eurasion wigeons, peregrine falcon,
green-wing teals, marsh wrens, bushtits, several kinds of raptors. These
are probably quite common sights to some observers, but I'm still learning
and think it's great.
>From the trail look due west across the Green River and notice some cement
blocks alongside that road (Frager Road) which keeps 4X's out of the side
roads. Back behind some of those cement blocks to the west of the Green
River is a terrific swamp which remains quite warm in winter. It has
ducks, and Virginia Rails, and other birds making noises that I can't ID
yet.
Back on Russell Road, where you looked across the Green River, drive south
about one mile. This is Russell Woods. Side road, trail etc...
Productive for many birds including white throated sparrow, according to
reports. So don't worry about not being able to access the wildlife area
during the short winter hours. There is plenty to see in the areas outside
the gates.

Carol Schulz
Newbie from DesMoines
linusq at worldnet.att.net