Hi Tweets:
On Sat, Nov 26 our group did a local Rainier Audubon field trip in Renton
and Tukwila, and was similarly unsuccessful at finding Slaty-backed Gull.
But we had a good trip with plenty of birds, and quite a few other gull
species. Amy Schillinger led our group. After birding at Black River
Riparian Forest where we saw ducks, and a number of Myrtle Yel-rumped
Warblers; and at Longacres Ponds (off of Oaksdale south of Grady Way) where
we saw a GREEN HERON and two GREATER WHT-FRONTED GEESE we arrived in cool
(39 degrees), breezy conditions at Cedar River Park. It was 11:00am. Along
the river we got to observe very-close Common and Barrow's Goldeneyes. Out
at the mouth of the river, there were quite a few gull species, but no
Slaty-back Gull. We saw the nice adult WESTERN GULL, a few HERRING GULLS, a
number of RING-BILLED GULLS, and a few MEW GULLS. Of course there were a
lot of GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS, and some hybrid "OLYMPIC GULLS". There were
ducks including Greater and Lesser Scaup in the by by the Boeing Plant.
>From the kayak center dock we observed the winter flock of GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, now increased to 21 in number. They were close to the
shore as we looked toward Coulon to the east. This flock seems to come back
every winter. Grace and Ollie Oliver arrived, and Grace immediately found a
SPOTTED SANDPIPER, foraging on a nearby weedy ramp. Yel-rumped Warblers
were
by the dock.
At the mouth of the river, I didn't spend a whole lot of time looking for
Thayer's Gull, and was unsuccessful, except for two possible juveniles. I
guess if I want Thayer's adults I'll have to to to Matt Bartels' favorite
gull spot to study them (see his Stefan's past msgs to Tweeters below).
There was one
puzzling 2nd winter? gull w/ very-black long primaries that I'll probably
try
to study again, possibly this afternoon. Hybrid Herring Gull?... Ah,
juvenile gulls, how they aggravate birders!
The field trip ended in Renton at Noon. Afterwards, two of us went to
Ivar's in the north end of Coulon Park to warm up. After the clam-chowder
warmup, we looked at gulls on the log booms. Mostly there were MEW GULLS,
a few RING-BILLED and GL-W GULLS, and there were 2 CALIFORNIA GULLS. Large
salmon were roiling the shallow water in this area.
Our 3-hour field trip saw and heard 47 species. We added an additional
species (California Gull), later after the field trip.
I'll try to get back down to Coulon later this afternoon. The "river of
gulls" flies back to the lake in the afternoon, probably from Cedar Hills
landfill, and I hope to get a glimpse of that elusive (aren't they always?)
Slaty-backed Gull.
Yours, Carol Schulz
DesMoines
----- Original Message -----
From: "Matt Bartels" <mattxyz at earthlink.net>
To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Sunday, October 23, 2005 7:45 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] Thayer's Gulls return to King Co.


> Stefan's note about a Thayer's in Renton prompts me to mention my favorite
> Thayer's Gull site in King Co.
> Today I visited the Tukwila site along the Duwamish River and indeed did
> find a large flock of Thayer's back in their annual spot. Most of the
> Thayer's there were adults, but a couple 1st winters were mixed in. If
> you are looking for a place to see over a hundred Thayers at once, here
> are the directions:
>
> Directions: Coming south on I-5, take exit 156 ["Tukwila Interurban Ave"].
> Turn right at the light onto Interurban Ave [northbound]. In about 2/10 of
> a mile, turn right onto Gateway Rd. Follow this road about 1/10 of a mile,
> then park in one of the non-reserved parking spots around a building
> prominently marked 13075. Walk to the Duwamish River, just beyond the
> buildings. The gulls bathe along the river here. They mostly roost on the
> metal rooftop of the Yellow Transport company sheds just south of here. It
> is possible to walk the paved trail along this area to get closer views of
> the rooftop gulls if none are immediately present on the river.
>
> Matt Bartels
> Seattle, WA
>
>>A quick stop this afternoon at Gene Coulon Park in Renton yielded a single
>>Herring Gull and a single Thayer's Gull. I guess this means that they are
>>back for the winter. The park at the mouth of the Cedar River had another
>>Herring and a Western Gull. Mew Gulls were in both parks.
>>
>>Stefan Schlick
>>Bellevue, WA