Hey Tweeters,

Carol Schulz and I checked a few areas this afternoon in Pierce and King
County. First off we had a close encounter with a (very large!) immature
Peregrine Falcon harassing the many pigeons in fields near Orting. It was
good at putting the birds in a state of shock, but had some learning to do
on the actual capture part. At one point a pursued pigeon dropped out of
the sky right in front of us and flopped under a nearby parked car. The
falcon quickly lost interest. In the same fields there are many American
Pipits right now.

We then did the Foothills trail which I wrote about on Friday, this time
starting at South Prairie and walking to the southwest about 2 miles. There
were some sizable migrant flocks in the shrubbery here again. Good numbers
of Turkey Vultures were steadily moving south in flocks.

Later we birded some shorebird spots in south King County. A few waterfowl
are just beginning to arrive.

American Wigeon (5)-Boeing north ponds; (10)-Kent Ponds.
Cinnamon Teal (1 female)-Kent Ponds from grassy knoll area.
Northern Pintail (2)-Boeing north ponds; (3)-Kent Ponds.
Ring-necked Duck (3)-Kent Ponds.
American Bittern (1)-Kent Ponds from grassy knoll.
GREAT EGRET (1)-Kent Ponds from the south viewing platform.
Green Heron (1)-Kent Ponds.
Turkey Vulture (49)-migrating along ridges near South Prairie during our
stay.
Osprey (1)-Kent Ponds.
Northern Harrier (1 first year)-South Prairie; (1 female type)-west meadow
of Kent Ponds.
Merlin (2 female suckleyi)-Foothills trail; (1 male suckleyi)-Boeing north
ponds.
Peregrine Falcon (1)-Orting.
Virginia Rail (2)-Kent Ponds.
Greater Yellowlegs (3)-Boeing north ponds.
Lesser Yellowlegs (2)-Boeing north ponds.
Western Sandpiper (10)-Thomas pond.
Least Sandpiper (12)-Thomas pond.
Short-billed Dowitcher (2)-flying over Kent Ponds, calling.
Wilson's Snipe (2)-South Prairie.
Barn Owl (1)-Russell Road.
Vaux's Swift (150)-South Prairie.
Red-breasted Sapsucker (1)-Foothills trail.
Olive-sided Flycatcher (1)-Foothills trail.
Willow Flycatcher (1)-Alderton; (4)-Foothills trail.
Pacific-slope Flycatcher (3)-Foothills trail.
Warbling Vireo (4)-Foothills trail.
Violet-green Swallow (still numerous)
Cliff Swallow (1)-Foothills trail; (10)-Kent Ponds.
Swainson's Thrush (8)-Foothills trail.
American Pipit (120)-Orting; (80)-Boeing ponds vicinity.
Orange-crowned Warbler (3)-Alderton; (15)-Foothills trail.
Yellow Warbler (5)-Foothills trail.
Black-throated Gray Warbler (30+)-Foothills trail.
Common Yellowthroat (widespread)
Western Tanager (2)-Alderton; (3)-Foothills trail.
Savannah Sparrow (numerous flocks)
Fox Sparrow (2)-Russell Road along Green River.
Lincoln's Sparrow (2)-Alderton; (8)-Foothills trail; (2)-Kent Ponds.
Purple Finch (2)-Alderton.

Fred Boesche and I ventured up to Sequim and Port Townsend yesterday, but
again weren't able to find the Reeve or the Buff-breasted Sandpiper.
Yesterday was a rather slow day.

Cheers and good birding,
--
Charlie Wright
Sumner, WA
charlie at birdwright.com