Hi Linda and Tweets:
This is Carol Schulz. When looking for some good birding and you are near Enumclaw, try the Foothills Trail between S Prairie and Orting. It is especially good for birding in late summer and fall. It is located in Pierce County, southwest of Enumclaw and Buckley, about 6 or 7 miles from Enumclaw. There is a very interesting birding area along that trail, near Crocker. A website for the trail is at http://www.piercecountytrails.org/trailhead.htm Look for more detailed DIRECTIONS at the bottom of this msg.
It was in that area that Charlie and I saw a Northern Waterthrush right next to the trail in a ditch on Aug 25, 2004 across the Carbon River from an RV Park. He and I usually walk about 1 1/2 miles along the trail.
Last year Charlie Wright wrote about the Foothills Trail.
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Solitary Sandpipers Pierce County, 8-13-05 by Charlie Wright
Hello All
I did some birding today (13 August 2005) on the Foothills Trail, covering
about 5 miles from the South Prairie parking lot to Crocker. At the fairly
new "REI wetlands" were FIVE Solitary Sandpipers. These ponds have excellent
mud right now, unlike most spots I know of in the area. This is the most
Solitary Sandpipers I've seen in w WA in the fall. Other interesting
observations are below.

FOOTHILLS TRAIL (12:00PM-4:00PM):
Pied-billed Grebe (1)-REI wetland
Turkey Vulture (10)
Sharp-shinned Hawk (4)
Cooper's Hawk (1)
American Kestrel (1)
Virginia Rail (1)
Solitary Sandpiper (5)
Spotted Sandpiper (7)
Vaux's Swift (55)
Pileated Woodpecker (1)
Western Wood-Pewee (18)
Cassin's Vireo (2)
Red-eyed Vireo (9)-singing today; a few days ago they were silent.
Violet-green Swallow (275)
Barn Swallow (195)
Bushtit (75)
Swainson's Thrush (4)-low.
Yellow Warbler (8)
Black-throated Gray Warbler (14)
Wilson's Warbler (7)
Western Tanager (5)
Black-headed Grosbeak (1)-low.

Also 13 species of butterflies, and nearly that many dragonflies. Among the
dragonflies were 4 Black Saddlebags at the REI wetlands, an unusual
occurance on the westside, and perhaps representing breeding at this site.

Charlie Wright
Bonney Lake, Washington
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More info from Carol:
Charlie often whistles like a Pygmy Owl to find the birds along the trail. You might want to bring an owl tape, or whistle like one if you are able. I hope these directions are correct. Maybe Charlie can tell us all if I made some mistakes.
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DIRECTIONS:
There is a very-good website w/ maps, directions, and explanations
about the Foothills Trail. Click on www.piercecountytrails.org For
more info and to get the big picture, click on "maps". You also
can click on the little diamonds along the trail for more details.
There is a diamond on the map between Orting and S Prairie. It is
called the Crocker trailhead. Crocker is an old town near where S
Prairie Creek comes into the Carbon River. In the past, we have parked north of
the Carbon River on a side road called S Pioneer Rd, near the Crocker trailhead. It is about 2 mi
from Orting, and 5 mi from S Prairie. Then we walked north toward S
Prairie along the newly-paved trail next to S Prairie Creek. In about 1
mile you will see the creek and across the creek is an RV Park. This
is where we saw the N WATERTHRUSH in a ditch w/ water to the right of the trail . Then we walked about 1/2 mi farther and there is a
fairly-new mitigation site called the REI Wetland to the left of the trail w/ mud, snags, and
little ponds. It has developed into a very-good birding spot.
DIRECTIONS FROM ENUMCLAW:
Take hwy 410 SW from Enumclaw to Buckley. In Buckley take hwy 165 toward Carbonado. Go about 2 miles and turn west (right) on hwy 162 toward South Prairie. Go about 6 miles to the Crocker area. Just before the bridge over the Carbon River, pull off at Pioneer Road on the left and park along the edges. There are also other trailheads listed on the website map, where you can find restrooms. Pioneer Road parallels the trail and is fairly close to the trail, if you chose to drive closer to the REI wetland.
DIRECTIONS FROM SEATTLE AND TACOMA:
Take I-167 to Sumner, exit onto I-410 and travel a more than 1 mile to hwy 162. Turn south (right) on 162 and go through Orting. Stay on hwy 162 about 3 miles past past Orting to 177th and the Crocker area. Cross the Carbon River bridge and turn right on Pioneer Rd. Park along the edges.
These area maps are also in the Thomas Guide, King and Pierce Counties, pg 866 and on other pages.
The Foothills Trail system has recently been enlarged. It seems to be a migration corridor. Watch for Pygmy Owls along here in fall and winter.
Yours, Carol Schulz
DesMoines
linusq at att.net

----- Original Message -----
From: LINDA PHILLIPS
To: Tweeters
Sent: Saturday, July 29, 2006 9:23 AM
Subject: [Tweeters] Birding in Enumclaw


Hi Tweeters,
On August 5th I am going to Enumclaw for a Wedding, afterwards 4 PM till dusk I will be free to do some birding. Do any of you have a favorite place you would recommend?
Linda Phillips
linda_phillips1252 at msn.com
Kenmore, WA