Hi Folks:
I went birding yesterday morning, Sun, July 1 and had some good birds (and
birding questions). Jack Greene from Cache Valley, Utah is in town visiting
his son. He is an advanced birder, and is excellent at birding by ear. He
called Sat, and told me about a new (to me) birding site east of Kent, WA
called Clark Lake. It is a newly-created green area with small pond and
varied habitats. It is probably over 100 acres. As I was driving east from
Kent, I accessed it from the main entrance on S 240th St (James St), and
approx. 124th. The birding there was great as I arrived about 6:50. It is
active for dog walkers, even that early in the morning. Jack told me later
to access it from S 256th and about 124th. He said that side has varied
habitat, good birds, and no people! This park is north and west from Lake
Meridian. It is west of Soos Creek Park.
At 7am, I met Jack and his son, and birding friends Jeff Cohen, and Bob
Stallcop. We birded Soos Creek which is a 6-mile long park east of Kent.
Its elev. is about 350 ft I think. We walked south on the Soos Creek Trail
from the Maintenance Barn, located on 148th Ave SE. To reach it take 240th
(James) down into the S-curves at Soos Creek, and turn south on 148th Ave
about 4 blocks. The barn, maintenance shed, and chainlink fence are on the
left. There is a trailhead sanican. We walked south on the trail, and saw
and heard lots of breeding birds. We could hear the Great Blue Herons
squawking at their heronry which is south of the barn. Jack was telling us
all the birds he was hearing, and he was right! even though they sound
different here from those birds in the mountain west where he is from. He
is just great!
Eventually, Jack and his son Ben had to leave when we were at S 256th. Here
there were many woodpeckers, and other birds were visible in the morning
light, on this clear, warm day. Jeff, Bob, and I continued south on the
trail toward Lake Meridian. About 2 blocks south of S 256th St. there is a
wetland, and bridge over the river. Down at this foot bridge, we started
hearing a vireo. It is either a Red-eyed Vireo, or a Cassin's Vireo. I
have been trying to see these birds along Soos Creek, but have been unable
to view them. The call has some pauses, and the chances are the bird could
be a Cassin's. We have been hearing this bird by the creek for about a
month.
Just to the south of the creek, the trail goes uphill a bit, and there were
flycatchers, and many other birds active, singing, calling, and flying.
Wow, what a great place. We walked south to Lake Meridian, and drove north
to get my car. From there we continued north on 148th Ave SE, and turned
west on 208th. We parked at Gary Grant Park, which is at the north end of
Soos Creek. There is a play area, parking area, and bathroom there.
A new section of trail goes north from Gary Grant. Mike Ullman of Maple
Leaf first wrote about this new part of Soos Creek trail on Feb 18, '07. He
called his posting, Report from Pump Station No. 12. Thanks Mike! Almost
immediately north of the play area, along the trail, two HUTTON'S VIREO'S
came out to the trail. They had some big grasshoppers, I think. They were
singing, and doing their scold calls. We thought they might have a nearby
nest. We continued to walk north on the trail, and eventually came to the
very-busy 192nd St, which I think is also called Lk Young's Way or something
like that. At that point, you can walk to the right (watch for traffic),
and view an enormous swamp w/ many dead snags out to the north. We did not
walk to the right. There is a crosswalk light there which is still new, and
hasn't been activated yet. We were hearing more of the "unknown" vireos at
this point, just to the south of the busy highway. They still sound like
possible CASSIN'S VIREO'S??? to me. (But I may be wrong.) We crossed the
street at the crosswalk, where the trail continues for a short distance to
the north. At that point, you can walk down to the right off of the trail,
and view birds at Pump Stn No 12. This is an automated pump building, the
birds can be active here. The trail is not open going farther north, but
the paving seems to be done. We continued on the paved part a short
distance (as many locals do). A female COOPER'S HAWK called kek, kek, kek
and swooped in over our heads. A young very recently-fledged COOPER'S HAWK
was giving its loud call of peee, peee, and it was moving around down in the
dense bushes to the right. Even though it was calling from very close to
the trail, we never could get a glimpse of it.
Jeff, Bob and I parted company at noon, and I headed home (west) on S 208th.
Down in the Kent Valley, S 208th becomes S 212th. As I passed the 212th
construction pond west of the Green River, I could see there were shorebirds
down in the rapidly-drying up ponds. It took me a while to double back,
because they are now blocking off that area from the south. It's best to
access it from S 212th as you are heading east I think. Kathy Andrich was
there, and we viewed a few WESTERN SANDPIPERS, LEAST SANDPIPERS, KILLDEER,
SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, and about 4 GREATER YELLOWLEGS. So migration has
arrived in the Kent Valley. How great! It was a good day of viewing active
breeding birds, and seeing the first local migrating shorebirds.
Yours, Carol Schulz
Des Moines, WA
linusq at att.net