Greetings
I took another trip up to the Cedar River area today with Fred Boesche, from
9:30am to sunset. No definite Slaty-backed was seen today, but a lot of
gulls out there remain unchecked. The Great Black-backed was around, it was
first spotted by Cameron Cox at a bit before 2:00pm at the rivermouth, then
flushed by firecrackers over to Coulon Park where it was last seen at 3:15
or so when we lost track of it. The main flock of gulls started spewing out
of the Cedar Hills landfill to the southeast at about 3:30, and had not
stopped coming at 5:00 when Cameron and I left. They roosted far out on the
lake tonight rather than on the Boeing facilities, perhaps because of the
calm water.

Greater White-fronted Goose (18)
Canvasback (7)
Red-necked Grebe (2)
Peregrine Falcon (1): Perched amongst the gulls at Cedar River.
Mew Gull (20)
Ring-billed Gull (15)
California Gull (1ad)
Herring Gull (80+)
Thayer's Gull (25): Incl. 5-1W.
Western Gull (14)
Glaucous-winged Gull (~10,000): Around 60% "pure."
Gl-winged x Herring Gull (~15)
Glaucous Gull (2-1W)
Great Black-backed Gull (1): Showed signs of a recent visit to the dump.
Varied Thrush (1)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (5-Aud.)

Gene Coulon Park: Take I-405 to exit 5. Drop down the hill on Park Drive
to the light at the bottom of the hill. Turn right on Lk WA Blvd, go
approx. one block, and turn left into Coulon Park. Stay left to view the
island and bay; park near the tennis court/big toy and walk out onto Duck
Island which has a decent view of the lake. Sometimes passerines in the
trees of the park. Back in the car, proceed right to the north end of the
park. Near Kidd Valley Burger you can view a log boom all along the
shoreline which is often stacked with gulls.

The Cedar River enters the south end of Lake Washington between Renton
Airfield and Gene Coulon Park. From Coulon, go back out to Park Ave and
turn right (south). Continue about 1/3 mile to 6th St., turning right on
6th and continuing to Cedar River. Turn right at the river and go out
alongside it to the lake. Once you get out to the end there is a boathouse
behind a gate, which is Cascade Canoe & Kayak. The gate is now open during
regular park hours, but they seem to occasionally close it during adverse
weather. There is superb viewing from here, scoping from the wonderful deck
all around the Kayak Center.

Cheers
Charlie Wright
Sumner