This morning I led the ELWAS 4th Monday field trip to Tradition and Round
Lakes to try and find the Tufted Duck. This area is on a plateau just east of
Issaquah. At the Newport Hills P&R where we met, we saw a RED-TAILED HAWK. We
drove to the Tradition Lake trailhead and walked the power line to the view
area on the north side of Tradition Lake. There we saw 10-15 BUFFLEHEAD, a
pair of LESSER SCAUP, about 6-8 NORTHERN SHOVELER, a GREAT BLUE HERON, and
two BELTED KINGFISHER, but no Tufted Duck. We walked thru the woods toward
the south side of the lake. We heard what sounded like an Osprey, but I
dismissed it as way too early. However, when we got to an area at the SE end
where we could see the lake, an OSPREY did come over the lake. It circled
twice and then headed west. It was a beautiful bird and an Osprey, without a
doubt to any of us.

We continued on to Round Lake where the few people that got there before me
spotted what they thought was the Tufted Duck. Unfortunately, with a good
view thru the scope it was classic RING-NECKED DUCK. We also heard and got
good looks at a COMMON RAVEN in the top of a tall fir tree. We only had a
total of 21 species for the trip, but it was a beautiful, sunny day to be out
birding.

Hugh Jennings
Bellevue, WA
hughbirder at aol.com