Hi Judy and all,

I'll just add to Jeff's post by saying that there are currently no loop
hikes open on Spencer Island. This was posted on signs after you cross the
bridge into the park. Hunting does not start until October 1st, if I recall
correctly.

When we went, we noticed a sign posted where you pass under the freeway that
said the road ahead was closed. We asked about this at the treatment center
and were told that the sign is a year old and it is no longer true...
something about the county taking a while to remove signs. However, there
are dump trucks going up and down the road still, so just keep an eye out
for them.

I felt it was worth going in and getting the free pass to walk around the
ponds. It was nice to have the time to linger and watch the antics of the
gulls up close. Maybe you'll have better luck with all the little birds
that play hide and seek in the brush!

Happy Birding,

Maurie Kirschner
Seattle, WA
maurieckirschnerATcomcast.net

-------Original Message-------

From: kokobean2 at hotmail.com
Date: 09/23/04 10:15:53
To: judyrowetaylor at comcast.net; tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: RE: RFI directions Everett sewage ponds

Judy, Tweeters
To get to the Everett Sewage Ponds(Smith Island) as well as Spencer Island,
go north on Broadway in Everett. This can be accessed from I-5 at the
Pacific Ave exit near downtown Everett. Go west 5 or 6 blocks, then right
(north) onto Broadway. After about 2 miles the road becomes route 529 as it
crosses over the Snohomish river heading towards Marysville. The first right
should say "marina" and "Langus River Park". A left at a stop sign will take
you east past the marina, then south towards Langus River Park. As you are
going south the road will bend east again over I-5, stay straight towards
the park. After you pass the park(on your right) the road will turn east
(left) under I-5. Immediately on your right will be the offices of the
Sewage Treatment Plant. You only need a pass if you are planning to actually
go out around the ponds, much of which can be easily seen from the road.
Just past the office, also on the right side, is a recently paved small !
parking lot. From there you can walk about 1/4 mile to Spencer Island. A
short walk to the right will take you to a dike that crosses the ponds. To
the right(south) is a loop path of about a mile and a half. But a bridge was
washed out last winter and you may not be able to go all the way around. To
the left (north) is a larger 4 mile loop. This a hunting area but even
during hunting season it is pretty safe. You can find the hunters in the
blinds by their pretty poor Mallard calls. This an excellent area for
birding, I was one of the people doing the Xmas Bird Count this past year.
It is an excellent place for ducks although it still may be a little early,
raptors (RT Hawk, Peregrine, and Harrier) and Pileated Woodpecker. For
information, including directions, to ALL the hotspots in Snohomish County,
check out "Birding in Snohomish County" by Phil Zalesky. It is available at
the Pilchuck Audubon in Everett at www.pilchucka! udubon.org or Birds
Unlimited at 4821 Evergreen Way. Goo d luck.
Jeff Cohen
Everett, WA


>From: judyrowetaylor at comcast.net
>Reply-To: judyrowetaylor at comcast.net
>To: TWEETERS at u.washington.edu
>CC: enhunn323 at comcast.net
>Subject: RFI directions Everett sewage ponds
>Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2004 14:19:40 +0000
>
>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
> >



Don?t just search. Find. Check out the new MSN Search!