I have several requests to post about birding while using public transportation. It is one of my hobbies! It can be a fun challenge, and lets you see some things up close and personal that you might not see driving. Then again some people look at me like I am crazy when I tell them about some of my trips!!!
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Today I am writing about birding in Edmonds. I had today off, and that can help if you are birding by bus. I took the 301 route going north out of Seattle, I caught it in the Bus Tunnel at 7 am. This is a peak rush hour express bus. I went all the way to the Aurora Village transit Center. This is a quick route going north on I-5 with limited stops. From here I transferred to the Snohomish County bus route 131 to Edmonds. I buy a Metro Pass, and it is good in King, Pierce, Snohomish Counties and also Sound Transit and Everett Transit.
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Edmonds is perfect to visit by bus. The 131 route goes down to the waterfront. From here it is easy to walk over to the Edmonds Marsh, where I started today. The marsh was very active with shorebirds, mostly Least Sandpipers and Killdeers. Purple Martins were perched on Telephone Poles. I then walked along the waterfront. First I walked south along the marina to as far as the dog park. I counted over 80 Heermann's Gulls out on the jetty. Then I walked back north to the fishing pier. Here I saw a mixed group of Gulls and Rhinoceros Auklets engaged in a feeding frenzy. Continuing north beyond the Ferry Terminal I found a large flock of California Gulls. When the tide is low I like to go as far as Shell Creek where there is always a congregation of Gulls and other interesting birds. Today it was a high tide.
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I ended my trip by going over to the "Taste of Edmonds", now going on. I ate jambalaya and had a nice glass of wine. Returning to Seattle was not quite as fast because the 301 route does not run in the middle of the day. Instead I had to take the 358 which is kind of an overcrowded slogfest going south on 99!!! These trips are always an adventure.
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Mark Vernon
Renton, WA
mailto ma_vern at yahoo.com
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