Hi Tweets:
My sisters and I visited sites at the Tacoma Narrows on Sat, Sept 2. Titlow
Beach Park is just south of the Narrows Bridge(s) on the Tacoma side, and
has 3 habitat areas: fresh-water ponds, woods, and saltwater beach. It is a
nice large urban park accessed from 6th Ave & Jackson St in Tacoma. The
largest pond at Titlow Park has a lot of mud. We arrived at 8am, and only
Killdeer and gulls were feeding at the mud. Later there was a Greater
Yellowlegs there. We watched an active Racoon across the pond. 3 Hooded
Mergansers were on the water. At the second pond birds became very active
as the sunshine hit the trees. A male Pileated Woodpecker put on a show in
the trees along w/ Cedar Waxwings and other birds. In the woods we heard
several species, but no migrant warblers. At the beach overlook we viewed
the narrows, the Narrows bridges to the north which are under construction,
and the pilings just off shore from Titlow Beach. There are still some
PURPLE MARTINS active at a nestbox on the pilings. This seems kind of late
in the season. There are two nestlings, an adult male, a female, and a
grown juvenile, all active and calling. Birds in the area included Pigeon
Guillemot - 1, Osprey - 1, and one Mew Gull. The gulls were mainly
Glaucous-winged. Earlier we heard an adult Caspian Tern, and a begging juv
Tern
After a snack break, we drove across the Narrows Bridge, exited at the first
exit west of the bridge, and drove left (southwest). We followed signs to
Narrows Bridge Viewing Park. It is a lovely stretch of woods and beach just
to the south of the bridges. You can drive down to w/in 1/2 block of the
beach. We walked north along the beach toward the bridge. An adult Bald
Eagle was perched high in a fir up to the left. The tide was coming in. It
was getting quite warm (about 85 degrees) but remained cool at the water.
Out in the middle of the water under the bridge there were 3 Pigeon
Guillemots. Just south of the bridges we saw 2 MARBLED MURRELETS in the
center of the narrows. These two did not seem concerned about boats passing
near them.
After we left the park, we drove up to the back side of the construction
area that is on the west end of the bridge. There is a trail behind the
construction area that leads walkers down to a walkway out along the south
side of the old bridge. You can look down off the walkway to the
construction below, and walk all the way across if you want. It is a great
sight. Bring your camera.
Warning: Highway 16 can get congested at the bridge going into town in the
morning, and coming out of Tacoma in the afternoon during rush hour.
Yours, Carol Schulz
DesMoines, WA
linusq at att.net