Tweets;

The Red-shouldered Hawk is still at the Green River Natural Resources Area
(AKA "Kent Ponds"). I stopped there yesterday (Thursday, 02/08) at about
3:30 pm on the way home from the weekly bird walk at Nisqually, parking at
the small lot on S. 65th street, south of the animal shelter, which gives
entry to the greenway. When I got there the bird was perched in the row of
trees at the north end of the ponds and behind the animal shelter. Almost
immediately it flew to a tree directly across the pond from the greenway,
and "posed" for about 20 minutes. The plummage on the head is really
beginning to show some red tones in the right light, and the feathers on the
back of the head were standing out, giving the head a real "punk" look. This
general location seems to be its favorite afternoon hangout, as this is the
second time I have seen it there between early and late afternoon. After the
RSH flew away I also saw the usual mix of Am. Coots, Green-winged Teal, N.
Pintail and Ring-necked Ducks on the pond. Of note were three pair of Ruddy
Ducks, halfway between non-breeding and breeding plummage, and a pair of
Horned Grebes still in full winter plummage.


Bob Stallcop
Maple Valley Heights, Washington
bstallcop at seanet.com
(425)922-2300