Hi Tweeters,

I've been here and there lately including West
Seattle, Carnation Marsh and Kent Valley

Thursday I was able to leave work early ostensibly to
go home and rest due to my cold, which I did after
visiting W Sea. The Bald Eagles were at the nest up
the hill from Salty's Restaurant. At the Duwamish
Head I first saw 55 Surfbirds roosting walking one way
past them, the reverse pass I counted 67! The Black
Turnstone count didn't waver though at about 18-20
birds. Along the way saw both Goldeneyes, lots of
Horned Grebes and about 6 Red-necked Grebes. The area
past the lighthouse had a single Black Scoter, I saw
White-winged and Surf around as well. About 25 Brant
(geese) were out on the water and several lovely
Harlequin ducks were around.

Yesterday I did a quick run of my CBC route (Fall City
to Tiger Mountain) for next Saturday ELWAS CBC.
Didn't see anything out of the ordinary but can say my
route shouldn't suffer for lack of Spotted Towhee's,
they were thick. Then I headed directly to Carnation
Marsh in hopes of maybe seeing just one of the three
Swamp Sparrows reported by Ryan Merrill at this
location fairly recently. My little nemesis/jinx bird
is still status quo, not to be seen...but I did see a
lot of nice birds nonetheless. A mixed flock had a
very cooperative Hutton's Vireo, along with about 3
Purple Finches. An adult Sharp-shinned Hawk chased
around a flock of about 50 Pine Siskens to no avail.
When I first arrived two American Kestrels were
chasing each other around and soon left the area while
calling back and forth. A noisy Pileated Woodpecker
was invisible but when I left and was driving up
towards Snoqualmie Falls I saw a Pileated silhouetted
against the sky in a snag. Back at the marsh as the
day was darkening a Bald Eagle flew in, followed
shortly by Red-tailed Hawk with prey which was then
followed by an adult Coopers Hawk which I sort of
expected to harrass the Red-tailed but it didn't. The
Virginia Rails were starting their end of day calling
as I was leaving. I wonder why they do that? Maybe
saying goodnight or maybe they roost together in the
winter and have to locate each other. Lovely sunset
driving home on Hwy 18.

Last weekend my Kent Valley excursions were cut short
by bad weather but will mention a few of those birds
today. I did a time crunched whirlwind tour through
the Kent Valley today after my mom told me the Smith
Brothers fields were flooded and loaded with birds.
Today there was something on the order of 3-400 Dunlin
there and a Ring-billed Gull was trying to nab one of
them. A lot of dabbling ducks and one Trumpeter Swan.
Last weekend I saw about 18 Trumpeter Swans here.
Not far from here at Thomas Ponds last weekend I
flushed up an American Bittern. This is the second
time I have seen one in the fairly recent past, so
this one must be wintering here. Today a Marsh Wren
was singing its little heart out at Thomas Ponds (a
reminder winter isn't forever). At Boeing ponds today
saw a Green Heron. First one I have seen in a long
time. The biggest highlight today though was Frager
Rd. north of 212th. Those flooded fields were loaded
and I do mean loaded with waterfowl. Guestimate of
2-3,000 ducks and about 600 or so Cackling Geese.
Probable undercount but when there are so many... All
the ducks I saw were dabblers including Mallard,
Gadwall, American Wigeon, Eurasian Wigeon (3 at
least), Green-winged Teal, and Northern Pintail along
with some American Coots. I was hoping to see some
divers, it seems like we are overdue for Redhead or
something even more interesting.

Last Saturday I had a brief glimpse of the elusive
Red-Shoulered Hawk near the King County Animal
Shelter. It was perched on a low pine and when I
zipped into the nearest pullin of course it dropped
down low and not to be relocated.

Cheers and good birding,


Kathy
Roosting in Kent, near Lake Meridian
(chukarbird at yahoo dot com)


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