Subject: GRNRA (Kent Ponds) & DesMoines, Apr 30
Date: May 1 10:26:26 2000
From: Lynn & Carol Schulz - linusq at worldnet.att.net


Had a very good day yesterday in some local areas. Do things just keep
getting better in May around here? Wow, I wonder if they can...
I started off the morning about 8AM by sitting in my driveway in DesMoines
and observing birds nearby. There have been lots of Audubon's Yellow-rumped
Warblers everywhere lately, and a flock of these flew around the maples and
birches. A Western Tanager touched down briefly in a tree, the first I have
seen in our neighborhood. I could hear an Orange-crowned Warbler.
Down at the DesMoines Marina 3 Black Brant flew by. 4 GBH's were up in
their nests. This Heronry is a short way up DesMoines Creek (1 block) and
is right next to apt. houses. The Herons don't seem to be concerned about
all the commotion below in the park.
I live near DesMoines Creek Park and the buy-out area south of the airport
about 1 1/4 miles up from from Puget Sound). This is greenbelts w/ trails.
In the meadows and woods about 10AM, I saw and heard Rufous Hummingbird,
Or-crnd. Warbler, Purple Finch, Gold Finch, Red-tailed Hawk, Ruby-crowned
Kinglet calling and singing, Bushtits, more Yel-rumps, Pileated Woodpecker,
and best of all, a Wilson's Warbler, the first I've seen in my neighborhood.
On Saturday, I had helped w/ a planting project down at GRNRA (Kent
Ponds). There had been about 40 of us planting sedges and stuff in the
wetlands. The water level has been lowered. There were about 100 peeps
right amongst us (within 10 ft of us and totally unconcerned)! So I headed
down there in the afternoon on Sunday to see them again and ID them. Temp
was cloudy but warm (60's).
Parked at the Advo building on the south side of Kent Ponds and went up the
south tower. The gate was open. If the gate to the tower had been closed,
I would have set up my scope at the fence on the south side of the pond.
Some highlights of what I saw:
Osprey, Gold Finches, Savannah Sparrows, Brown-headed Cowbird, Common
Snipe - 2, Western Sandpipers - 100, Least Sandpipers - several, Dowitcher
species - 1 (probably Short-billed, but I'm still learning these, Harrier -
3, Greater Yellowlegs - 1.
Roger Orness dropped by and said there were 3 Western Kingbirds over on
Frager Road near S 212th. This is just north of GRNRA. I didn't see them
when I went over, but Roger said they came back later after I left. They
were hawking insects from trees along a fence line in the field behind a
farm w/ a white barn.
All in all it was a great day of birding (and learning). And now May is
here! Yes!
Carol Schulz
DesMoines
linusq at worldnet.att.net