The Baikal Teal did make an appearance today at the Kent Ponds
(Green River Natural Area) sometime around 1 PM. Persistence pays
off. This was my fifth attempt to find it. Below are some of the
notes I recorded when I got home. Since I get Tweeters in digest
mode I apologize if this has already been posted.

It stays with the Green-winged Teal many of whom are tucked into the
willows on the banks of the pond. When first located today (by
Michael
Hobbs) it was partially in the open but mostly behind other ducks
with just
part of its head visible. Some of the ducks in front of it moved
giving at least
a complete head view. Later they were flushed but it was relocated
(tucked in
even further) about ten minutes later by Alan Knue. We watched it
here for
about half an hour and it eventually swam out into full view for a
couple
minutes. Conspicuous field marks are the white supercilium (I think
Michael
actually picked the bird out based on this alone as it was almost
all that was
visible initially), the black crown, cream face with green and black
pattern (the
black vertical line from the eye across the cheek is quite thin),
dark bill, white
vertical flank stripe, gray flanks, light buffy chest, white
streaked scapulars,
and black undertail coverts. The white rump/flank patch was not
particularly
noticeable today. The bird was on the left (west) bank of the
central pond
area. This is the north south oriented water visible from the
powerline trail
halfway between the grassy knoll and the southeast tower. This area
is not
visible from the knoll or the tower. There were at least six
observers.

Jim Elder
2472 Lorentz Pl N
Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 283-0330
delderson at archerserve.com