Subject: Tweeters Field Trip Sat Oct 19
Date: Oct 16 16:26:30 2002
From: Lynn & Carol Schulz - linusq at worldnet.att.net


Hi Tweeters:
There have been a lot of changes down in the Kent Valley. Two new mitigated
areas have opened up near Green River Natural Resources Area (Kent Ponds),
and they can be very productive. I'd like to show them to you. It's been
several years since I last offered a field trip down there to Tweeters
members. After a pretty great birding day down there last Sunday (I wrote
about the census we did down there on Tweets. See GRNRA Census..Oct 14,
02), I figure it's time to do a trip there
this Saturday.
GRNRA is a large 300+ acre area managed for water-control and wildlife in
the heart of the Kent Valley industrial area. It consists of fields, woods,
and ponds. There are 3 viewing stands in the area. Many of you know that
there is no longer any mud down at GRNRA (Kent Ponds) because they now keep
the water level high. But just to the north of GRNRA is what we now call
Boeing Ponds. It's on 59th Ave, turning north from S 212 th St. There is
lots of mud and some large ponds. Last Sun afternoon we saw many waterfowl
species there, a Rufous-morph Redtailed Hawk, two Dowitchers, a Western
Sandpiper, and 2 American Pipits (which were foraging just below us). It
can be a great place to view several species of raptors in the winter.
Just across the Green River from the SW corner of GRNRA (over the foot
bridge) is a marsh. We call it Riverview Marsh. It too can be very
productive, and by November Canvasback Ducks can often be seen there. This
wetland also supports several Virginia Rails. I'd like to show people all 3
areas.
These Tweeters field trips can be pretty casual. After an introduction to
the area, I hand out sketch maps w/ the latest area updates on them. I tell
folks about my schedule for visiting the 3 areas. People can follow me into
the ponds interior (the area that is ordinarily closed to the public), or
they can bird on their own. Many folks do parts of the trip w/ the main
group, and then go exploring on their own. In the end, we might have
smaller groups birding in all three areas. Here is the info about the trip:

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FIELD TRIP - GRNRA (KENT PONDS) & VICINITY (Near Kent, WA)
Leader: Carol Schulz
Date & Time: Sat. Oct 19, 2002 8:30am - mid afternoon
Meet: At the GRNRA main parking lot. Bring lunch, water, warm clothes,
sturdy shoes or boots. We will be walking up to 1 1/2 miles on dirt trails.
Bring bins and a scope if you have one.
Please call or e-mail Carol Schulz, linusq at att.net, 206-824-7618 to sign up.
I prefer e-mail.
DIRECTIONS: Take I-5 to Orillia Road exit 152. This is near SeaTac
airport. Turn east on Orillia Rd down into the Kent Valley. When you reach
the bottom of the hill continue east on Orillia as it becomes S 212th St.
Go approx 1 mile across the valley, until you cross the bridge. Cross the
bridge slowly, and just on the other side of the bridge, take a hard right
onto Russell Rd. Drive south on Russell Rd (the Green River & VanDoren
Landing Park w/ restrooms will be on the right). The big main parking lot
will be on your left about 3/4 mile south on Russell Road.
If you take I-167 (the Valley Freeway), exit at S 212th St which is north of
Kent. Travel west across the valley to the other side. Do a U-turn at the
light at 42nd Ave and come back approx 1 mile on 212th to the bridge.
Follow directions above.
Yours, Carol Schulz
DesMoines
linusq at att.net