Hi Tweets,

Just hit the bird trail one last time on a weekday....I'm starting a new
assignment tomorrow. I began on the west end of the Lake Fenwick Trail
which starts at the apartment complex at Reith and Kent-DesMoines Roads.

There are two ponds at the start of the trail. The first one is the most
interesting.

Here I spied four GREEN HERONS of various maturity plumages. At first I
thought I had sighted an American Bittern untill I noticed one next to a
fully adult heron. Maybe this was a family group or two families. I was
treated to view the herons engage in an "exercise routine".

Wing stretch......Right wing streeeeeeetchhhhh. Tuck it back in. Left
wing streeeeeeeetchhhhh. Tuck it back in.
Neck stretch......Up! Up! as high as you can stretch it UP! Pretend
you're a Bittern! Stretch! Eyes to the sky! Hold it there!
Bills right! Bills left. Stretch!
After a few cycles of stretching the herons went on a grooming frenzy.
Scratching, and preening, scratching and preening......Then they flew off.

I also spied a male NORTHERN FLICKER hanging out on a branch not far from
two of the herons.

Farther along the boardwalk that skirts the edge of the apartment grounds
is another pond. This is where I spotted the incredible fully adult
plumaged GREAT BLUE HERON. This was one of the most spectacular examples
of a GBH I've seen in a long time. Mallard mom's eight babies are doing
fine.....Ducklings sure grow fast! Guess there are no predators in that
pond......I was surprised to see all eight.

Into the woods I heard many different birds. One SPOTTED TOWHEE buisily
collected dried grass as he hopped along the trail ahead of me.
Deeper into the woods I began hearing soft buzzing noises. OH NO!
Mosquitos!

Time to go home and look for the Off!.

Lydia In Kent, WA



Lydia Gaebe In Kent, WA/lydia at wizards.net
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"Moonlight Quiet" appearing on Oasis Sampler Vol. 10