Today (10/29/06)I started at the Boeing Ponds on 59th Street in Kent, hit a few of the saltwater parks, and then ended at the same Boeing Ponds.

In the early morning rain, there was a nice assortment of ducks on the pond. A GREEN HERON flushed and quickly disappeared again. A young PEREGRINE FALCON flew in and over the pond. It had a full crop, and appeared to have been eating well. Northeast of these ponds, in the field adjacent to 190th, CACKLING GEESE continued to assemble. One small flock after another came in. There was also one GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE at this location.

I stopped at the intersection of 204th and Frager Road in Kent. This has been a productive location in the past, and today was no exception. A NORTHERN SHRIKE flushed from a low perch along the trail. It chose a higher perch in the top of a tree and within a minute or two, was climbing in order to chase a few AMERICAN PIPITS that were passing by. Five WILSON'S SNIPES flushed from the field. A flock of mostly CACKLING GEESE was making a lot of noise in the field to the south. Charlie Wright had told me that there may be a BRANT in the area, so I took a closer look at this flock. And there it was. I assume it was the same bird that Charlie had spoken of.

Next I moved on to Seahurst Park north of Burien, where I found a CLARK'S GREBE. This bird appeared close to shore in the company of a WESTERN GREBE. I was looking for BLACK SCOTERS, and was lucky enough to see a dozen of them at the Des Moines Marina and 8 more at Dumas Park, where I bumped in Carol Schultz. Also at Dumas was a small group of GREATER SCAUP and a few BUFFLEHEADS.

It was a good day.


Marv Breece
Seattle, WA
mbreece at earthlink.net