I enjoyed the nice weather today by hiking around the Kent Ponds area.

I started at the Boeing Pond, not much action. Canada Geese and Green-winged Teals were sunning themselves. An interesting shorebird was flying in circles making repeated cries. It had a medium sized, straight beak and curved wings but I couldn't get a good look.

Next I walked to the Kent Ponds. A Harrier was sitting in a field quite close to an observation tower. Two Cooper's Hawks were chasing Rock Doves. I counted a flock of about 220 Cackling Geese....I think they were because of their smaller size and funny sounding cries, to me like Canada's after taking Helium. They excited many of the other birds.

Going west I crossed the foot bridge going over the Green River. and continued to the hidden pond up against the West hill. There was a lot of activity here, Northern Pintails were present among the Mallards and Green-winged Teals. Mixed in were shorebirds, Dowitchers I think, because of their dumpy bodies and long bills. It looks like nice muck for wading. On my way out of here I saw a bird I hadn't seen for a while, a Bittern standing straight up, classic pose.

Going back across the foot bridge, a River Otter passed under me, underwater, hugging the bank. Then I went to the south tower of the Kent Ponds and east to catch the 150 bus. It was a great walk all in all.

-Mark Vernon
Renton, WA


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