Subject: [Tweeters] American Redstart
Date: Nov 27 16:55:53 2005
From: Charlie Wright - c.wright7 at comcast.net


Ryan Shaw and I birded today from Luhr Beach north through the Kent Valley,
and ending at the Cedar River mouth. The day started out very briskly at
the Luhr Beach visitors center, where we immediately picked up a Snowy Owl
sitting prominently on a large stump and looking all around. We scanned the
entire area but could see no other owls out there. Hundreds of gulls were
being attracted by a number of large and out-of-place looking tuna on the
shoreline there, now where did those come from?

The first stop in the Kent Valley was M Street NW near the Emerald Downs
racetrack (Auburn area). A huge number of Zonotrichias were in the
blackberries, the two common species. At the right-angle corner where M St
NW turns into 29th St NW, we checked the small grove of birch trees.
Scattered in a flock of Bushtits were several Yellow-rumped and
Orange-crowned Warblers. Then a real surprise popped out, an AMERICAN
REDSTART. The bird gave us great views and called frequently.

We then checked 285th Street, which had the usual flock of waterfowl
including 3 or 4 Eurasian Wigeons. At 287th Street we both heard a Swamp
Sparrow several times near the corner. Kent Ponds was fairly slow, but
produced a Northern Shrike and 3 harriers. As we rounded the curve around
Boeing Ponds on 59th Place, I noticed the SAY'S PHOEBE flycatching in the
open area. This bird is coming up on its first anniversary since it was
found at the site, but it isn't always there. Another harrier was here,
and we flushed a late Green Heron.

Last on our route was Cedar River/Gene Coulon Park around 1PM where we hoped
for some gull action. There were plenty of gulls around, including 15 or so
Herring, 8 Thayer's, and a few Californias. At least one bird "looked like"
a Gl-winged x Herring. We wanted to be there for the landfill gulls to
arrive, but the promise of traffic pushed us south early.

Cheers
Charlie Wright
Bonney Lake, Washington