Hi Tweets:
Sorry this report is late. Jeff Cohen led an excellent trip for Rainier Audubon on
Sun, Apr 27. Eight of us met at 7am in Issaquah. Just before the group met, Roger
Orness & I went to Tibbett's Field P&R which is just to the east of hwy 900. There
we observed one OSPREY near the large Osprey nest in the middle of the ballfields.
There were bleachers near the little wetland with sunflower seeds on the ground, left
from a game the day before. Here we observed Wht-crned Sparrows, one Golden-crowned
Sparrow, and a male PURPLE FINCH foraging on the ground. Amer. Goldfinches and
Purple Finches were singing. They were singing at many of our areas during the day.
We traveled to Carnation marsh and observed many bird species including Pine Siskins
feeding in a ditch almost at our feet. It appeared that they were eating grass in
the flowing water. From there we drove into the town of Carnation, and took a right
onto Blanche St. We turned right again onto Stossel Ave and went into a lovely park
w/ huge evergreens. It's called Valley Memorial Park. Here we saw one VARIED
THRUSH, and 12 EVENING GROSBEAKS which flew into a maple tree near the church there.
The maple trees w/ catkins attracted birds almost everywhere we went.
We continued north through Carnation and turned left on Carnation Farms Rd. Just
after crossing the Snoqualmie River, we took a hard right onto a gated gravel road.
This is Chinook Bend Wildlife Area. We walked on the road next to the river about 2
blocks, and saw a pair of WESTERN BLUEBIRDS at a bluebird box. The Bluebirds were
bringing grass into the box.
We then traveled to Carnation Farms which is now a Nestle training Center, and parked
at a large pullout overlooking the beautiful valley. Jeff heard a NASHVILLE WARBLER.
With his good eyes, he managed to eventually get us all to see warblers rapidly
flying about in a thick maple tree below the overlook. There was a NASHVILLE
WARBLER, 2 WARBLING VIREOS, and 4 OR-CROWNED WARBLERS in the tree. Wow, thanks,
Jeff!
We then drove over to a rough-looking bldg on the corner, and drove in behind it.
There is an overlook (and a sanican). We could see birds and waterfowl at Sikes
Lake, and swallows flew nearby. We then drove down to the bridge near Sikes Lake.
In the field by the lake there were 3 YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS. Across the valley we
turned left on 100th St and drove about a mile. We saw a female AMERICAN KESTREL
perched in a tree near a large barn with a blue metal roof.
We then drove back to the main hwy north of Carnation and drove north to the
Stillwater Refuge. At the refuge we heard and saw a SORA. (Today, Jeff went back up
there and saw two SORAS.) This is in the cattail marsh, about a block north (take
the trail to the right) of the parking lot.
>From there we drove to Snoqualmie Falls, arriving about 3:15pm. We got to see both
the male and female PEREGRINE FALCONS, flying and at the nest, and saw 2 or 3 of the
downy young birds. The best viewing is down at a lower part of the trail behind the
chainlink fence. It is just a little below the lower covered viewing platform, and
there is a great view over to the nest. Look for the yellow lichen on the cliff face
on the other side of the river, and some whitewash below and to the left of the
yellow.
Many thanks to Jeff Cohen for showing us some new areas and great birds.
Yours, Carol Schulz
Des Moines, WA
linusq at att.net