Hey all,

Several others and I conducted the monthly census of Kent Ponds (Green River
Natural Resource Area) today from 8:00am to 12:00pm. It was one of our best
censuses in quite a while with 68 species, though nothing too rare. Some of
the better ones:

Greater White-fronted Goose (7 ad.)-near Smith Bros. Dairy, later near
Emerald Downs; (4 ad, 3 juv)-Kent Ponds.
Horned Grebe (1 molting ad.)-Kent Ponds, main lagoon.
Great Egret (1)-Kent Ponds, main lagoon.
American Bittern (1)-Kent Ponds near grassy knoll.
Merlin (3)-Kent Ponds.
Barn Owl (2)-Russell Road.
Pectoral Sandpiper (2)-Kent Ponds, flying over.
Rufous Hummingbird (1 fem.)-Kent Ponds.
Bank Swallow (1)-Kent Ponds.
Cliff Swallow (1)-Kent Ponds.
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (1)-Kent Ponds.
Yellow Warbler (3)-Kent Ponds.
Yellow-rumped Warbler (6 Myrtle, 4 Audubon's)-Kent Ponds.

The Great Egret is the second for the census, the bittern possibly the
first, and the Bank Swallow one of very few, particularly scarce in fall.
The White-fronts and Horned Grebe were my first of the season. Waterfowl
are returning.

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