Hi Tweeters,
I would like directions to the Everett sewage ponds...sounds like this birding spot is close to where I live. Would one of the recent reportees kindly email directions to me or let me know where I can find them? Where does one get the permit?
Thanks very much.
Judy--
Judy Rowe Taylor
Mukilteo, WA
mailto: judyrowetaylor at comcast.net


-------------- Original message --------------

> Maurie, tweets,
>
> Inspired by Maurie's report of so many Bonaparte's at the Everett sewage
> ponds I went yesterday, got my permit, and hiked around the big pond. I
> estimate 2500 BONAPARTE'S GULLs, almost like it was in the good old days. No
> Little Gulls, and lots of variation amongst the Bonies, particularly adult
> versus juvenile, though one immature FRANKLIN'S GULL amongst them. Also one
> apparently "pure" female AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, remnant of the introduced
> population there of years past, and an immature tundra PEREGRINE and a
> MERLIN, plus two EARED GREBES, ETC.
>
> Gene Hunn.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Maurie Kirschner"
> To:
> Sent: Monday, September 20, 2004 9:21 PM
> Subject: everett area 9/20/04
>
>
> > Hi Tweeters,
> >
> > I finally made it up to the Everett area to check out the treatment ponds,
> > Spencer Island, and the waterfront area. I had to convince my husband
> that
> > going to treatment ponds would be fun...hehe.
> >
> > After getting our permit we headed out to the pond trail. We were greated
> > by the amuzing ruckus made by 100's (1000's?) of Bonapart Gulls. We
> watched
> > them while occasionally dodging all the hyper-active Barn Swallows. There
> > were American Widgeons, Coots, Mallards, and Northern Shovelers mixed in
> > with the gulls. There were a few Mew Gulls and a few Lesser Yellowlegs
> > that we kept startling off the edge of the pond. They would fly onto the
> > cement wall just off the shore and give us pathetic harrassed looks. We
> did
> > the same to one Least Sandpiper as well. While watching all of this I
> > finally noticed that in amongst all the Bonaparts there were nearly
> > identical birds but with bright red-orange legs and a little more marking
> on
> > the head. After a bunch of looking and relooking in my book I deduced
> these
> > to be Little Gulls.
> > There were quite a few small birds that wouldn't hold still long enough
> for
> > me to ID them. And then there were the birds I hardly need to see to know
> > what they are such as Crows, Starlings, Red-winged Blackbirds, and
> Canadian
> > Geese.
> >
> > We then moved on to Spencer Island were we only hiked the Southern Part.
> We
> > were treated to two Osprey...one making quite a bit of noise. There were
> > Robins "chupping" at us as we disturbed them. Black-capped Chicakdees
> > chickadeeing. We heard ducks off in the distance but could not see them.
> I
> > was actually amazed at the height of the brambles and brush which make
> > seeing into the marsh mostly impossible on the lower part of the south end
> > of the island. We had to turn around and walk back the same way since the
> > foot bridge is out on the east side. We wandered down towards the barn
> when
> > we got back to the entrance, but couldn't go very far due to the trail
> being
> > flooded. But while standing there I looked up into a snag and was treated
> > to a very dark colored Merlin, (possibly the pacific black subspecies?)
> >
> > We visited the Everett water front next. We were getting hungry so we
> didn't
> > spend a lot of time. However we did see quite a few Great Blue Herons,
> Ring
> > Billed Gulls, one Western Grebe, one Red-breasted Merganser, and one
> Belted
> > King Fisher as a lovely finale.
> >
> > Happy Birding,
> >
> > Maurie Kirschner
> > Seattle WA
> > maurieckirschnerATcomcast.net
>