Hi Tweeters,
Birded somewhat casually today with Carol Schulz and (later) Michael
Dossett. Carol and I started in the Kent valley near River View Homes at a
small wetland which has good potential. Highlight here included:
3 Wood Ducks
4 Viginia Rails
1 Willow Flycatcher
1 MacGillivray's Warbler

Next, we headed up to the Montlake Fill (Union Bay Natural Area), arriving
there at noon. In the next 2 hours we observed:
2 Green Herons (adult and juvenile, main pond)
8 Least Sandpipers (5 ad., 3 juv., main pond and small "puddle" near the
central parking lot)
6 Long-billed Dowitchers (main pond)
1 SOLITARY SANDPIPER (with Leasts in the small puddle)

We were then joined by Michael Dossett, and headed went back down to
Auburn, where I had received a report of Spotted Owls. Though we were very
skeptical about the report, we arrived at the spot, hooted a little while,
and eventually found a family of 4 Barred Owls, confirming that there was no
Spotted Owl here. All of them were calling simultaneously; the 2 young (still
being fed by adults) were giving their wheeze, the adult female performing
her "squeal" or "whine," and the adult male barking his classic hoot. Also at
this location was an Anna's Hummingbird.

We then headed for Dumas Bay just slightly after a very high tide.
Unfortunately, it was too high and no matter how long we waited, it was not
going to dump out. But, we did manage to find a few birds here:
1 SORA
2 Virginia Rails
3 Least Sandpipers
1 Spotted Sandpiper
1 SEA OTTER (Yes, Sea Otter... not River Otter, but Sea Otter. Presumably the
same animal which was captured in McAllister Creek a couple months ago, and
was seen near Dumas Bay about a month ago. The otter was extremely playful
and tame, and very large.)

Good birding.

Charlie Wright, 12
Birdking88 at aol.com
Sumner, WA