To those who wonder where the varied thrushes are hiding, they are all in
and around Orting, Washington, southwest of Puyallup. I was birding there
with my niece, Cyndi, and we saw about 15 at one location and 30 at another.
We also saw 4 bald eagles (2 mature and 2 immature), a harrier in a
residential area far from any fields, and a female common merganser in a
manmade pond fraternizing with mallard.
To get to the Varied Thrushes: Take highway 161 off of highway 167 and
follow it through the town of Orting (get a sandwich at the nearby Orting
Food Center. Yummy). It is a very curvy road. Follow it out past the fish
hatchery. Just before you get to a train trestle, take a right on 177th
E/Old Alford road. Wherever you see piles of leaves on the side of the road
(especially on the right side), look close for the Thrushes. This is where
we saw 30 or so. It's a long road but worth it and keep your eyes open for
eagles and hawks.
Return to 162 the same way and turn right. Follow 162 until you cross a
bridge over the Carbon River. Turn right on S. Pioneer Way. This will lead
you uphill with a river valley on your left. When you get to the top, look
again at the leaf litter beside the road. There will hopefully be thrushes
there.
Any questions, call me at 253 946-7899.
Rahne Kirkham
Federal Way, Washington
rahne at mindspring.com
"Joy is the serious business of Heaven"
C.S.Lewis