Hi Everyone:
What a great afternoon for birding with a Boy Scout troop. We took a 1/2
mile loop at the Black River Riparian Forest (Black River Slough) which is a
Renton City park next to Tukwila this afternoon. Many of the over 50 Great
Blue Heron nests had adults in them, and we studied one that also had two
young birds w/ an adult in the nest. The young birds were about 1/2 the
size of the adult. Herons were also flying into and out of the nests.
Several ducks were in the area for the boys and their parents to see
including Green-winged Teal, and Ring-necked Duck. There were frogs and
snakes to see. The small birds were up and singing. We walked the short
distance along Springbrook Creek, under the bridge, and then looped back to
the right into Waterworks Gardens, which is a series of sewer ponds in a
park-like setting. Marsh Wrens were up singing where you could see them, a
Bushtit pair was flying near their bag nest, and the Red-winged Blackbirds
were putting on a show. At a pond with irises and cattails, in the area
closest to the grotto in Waterworks Gardens, I played a Virginia Rail tape
because I had seen a Virginia Rail there a few days ago. The rail didn't
answer, but a Sora did. Then I played a little bit of a Sora tape. The
bird kinda went nuts, flying back and forth, and
landing on the path and walking very close where we could all see it. (I
only played the tape a small amount, honest. I had disturbed it enough.)
Well it was a great show for everyone, especially when I told them that
these birds are usually only seen in E WA. We saw the Sora about 3:40pm and
it called a lot. The boys, their parents, and I had a great time at Black
River Riparian Forest and the park across the street.
DIRECTIONS:
Take I-405 from Southcenter in Tukwila (you will actually be traveling east)
to the first exit. Get off and turn left (north) onto W Valley/Interuban
Ave. Go under I-405, and take a right (east) on Grady Way. You will be
paralleling I-405 near Tukwila. Go to the light at Oaksdale, and turn left
(north). Travel north on Oaksdale approx 2/3 mile to an intersection w/
Monster Road near the water treatment plant. Park at the pullout on your
right. There is a sign for Black River Riparian Forest. Walk the muddy
path straight ahead. In just about 100 feet, pause as you get in the big
clearing, and look off to the right. You will already be able to see the
huge cottonwoods where the Great Blue Herons nest. In another 200 feet, you
get to the water and there is a nice wide (but slightly muddy trail). You
turn right, to continue the walk and see the heron colony, but you also can
walk to the left toward the dam, and maybe see some other waterfowl. As you
walk to the right, past the huge trees w/ the herons, you will eventually
reach Springbrook Creek. Follow the creek, and go under the bridge. Past
the bridge, take a sharp right turn onto a paved trail, and you will be at
the start of Waterworks Park. The Sora was at the far end of the biggest
pond. You eventually come out to where you parked on Monster Rd, and
Oaksdale. The whole loop is about 1/2 mile long. There are no bathroom
facilities.
Yours, Carol Schulz
DesMoines
linusq at att.net