Hello Tweets,

This afternoon we spent just a few hours relocating 2 specialties that have been reported recently in the Kent-Auburn area. We began at the south end of a private lake in Federal Way near the Weyerhaeuser complex,where we got great views of the adult male TUFTED DUCK between 1pm-1:45pm. The Tufted Duck kept very close to a scattered flock of Ring-necked Ducks with other waterfowl species noted nearby too including the previously reported male REDHEAD and several Ruddy Ducks. Other birds of not encountered at this location included a calling Hutton's Vireo and a single Varied Thrush.

Next,upon arriving near the bridge that crosses Mill Creek along "M" Street we easily located the BLACK PHOEBE at 2:15pm perched in one of two small alder trees along the creek. The bird soon flew to the lone large Ash tree along the creek,as it called constantly. The bird kept quite busy flying around on both sides of the main road,but keeping close to the creek. We were soon joined by a 2 Seattle area birders who also watched the bird for a few minutes before we all left the scene as a threatening cloud moved overhead. Within this time we all noticed the bird with apparent nesting material in it's bill,which it soon carried underneath the bridge. The bird then flew underneath the bridge then into a bramble patch,where it remained until we finally left at 2:35pm. It is possible the bird could be building a "mock" nest underneath the bridge,which some birds have been known to do. Anyhow,it was great to see the Black Phoebe again at this convenient location and hopefully other birders will continue to see it. A single distant White-crowned Sparrow was also heard singing at this location.

We have posted a few photos of the Tufted Duck and the Black Phoebe onto our website,which can be accessed from the following link: http://www.pbase.com/godwit/recent_photos/

In addition we have placed a single photo onto our website of an apparent partial albino Black-capped Chickadee photographed at our front yard birdbath yesterday,which was an interesting sighting. The bird showed extensive white areas on the back and wings,as well as on the crown and the tail was nearly all white,especially visible in flight(when the outermost feathers were while centered by darker feathers). This one somewhat blurry photo can be viewed at the following link: http://www.pbase.com/godwit/yardbirds/

In a large flooded pond area along "M" Street 4 Greater Yellowlegs were briefly noted before they flew off to the south. A single Dunlin was also present at this location,as well as good numbers of Green-winged Teal,Am.Wigeon,Northern Shovelers and a few Northern Pintails all noted along the muddy margins.

Our last stop of the day was made at the Green River Natural Resource Area(aka the "Kent Ponds"),where a few additional highlights were noted before we headed home. A walk along the southern paved trail to the SW observation tower was made,which contributed all of the following sightings:

1 pair of CINNAMON TEAL
9 Ring-necked Ducks
4 Lesser Scaup
1 pair of Common Mergansers
2 Northern Harriers
1 Cooper's Hawk
5 species of swallows(including a single NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW,2 CLIFF SWALLOWS and 3 Barn Swallows)surrounded by good numbers of both Tree and Violet-green Swallows.
1 Savannah Sparrow

Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
Fircrest,WA
godwit513 at msn.com