Hi Tweets:
I took a cruise to Commencement Bay from Des Moines on Thurs, July 3. Paid a lot of
money and it was billed as a cruise to see the Tall Ships Parade of Sail. I was
upset because we went in the afternoon, and totally missed the parade and most of the
tall ships. The only thing of interest to me was 2 pair of MARBLED MURRELETS. The
first pair was about 500 feet off of Brown's Point, at the north end of Commencemt
Bay. The second pair was seen a short time later more in the middle of the channel,
off of Dash Pt Pier.

Here in Des Moines on July 4, I went a short way into our local Des Moines Creek Park
woods. Not too productive in mid-day, but I did hear 3 different HUTTON'S VIREOS
singing for a short time. A WW PEWEE was calling from a dead snag.

Yesterday, Sun, July 6 I headed down to the Green River Valley in Auburn and Kent.
Here are a few notes about the birds, and a very aggressive coyote!

My first stop was at M St, in the big field in front of Emerald Downs. I stopped at
the second pullout into the field, and noticed the flooded-field pond was damp mud,
but there was no water in it. To confirm that, I walked out on the gravel path to
where it
turns left and went a short distance farther in the attempt to find water. No water
in any of the fields. I was wearing dark clothing, and even dark gloves, as I am
allergic to the rubber cladding on my Nikon Monarch bins. So I wasn't very visible.
It was 9:50AM.
As I started back on the path, and turned toward my car on M St, I saw a COYOTE on
the path near the car. At first it didn't notice me. Then it stared at me, and
finally headed toward me. Then it veered a short distance off the path, and
continued toward me in the field. It started barking. It continued walking toward
me, barking the whole way. I stayed still, not know quite what to do. It appeared
to be a female, sleek and healthy looking.
The coyote stopped about 30 ft from me, straight out in the field, staring at me and
barking the whole time. Then it walked a short distance farther, going toward Em.
Downs race track. It continued barking and acting very aggressive. I finally
figured out it was trying to herd me out (I'm a little slow). So I left. The animal
stayed there, paced a bit and continued its barking until I got in the car. I
watched from the car, and it finally stopped vocalizing, and walked to the south
kinda behind a bush-tree that is out there. I feel bad that I was probably very-near
her den.
Today I downloaded some info from Russell Link's WDFW website about Living
w/ Wildlife. There is some great information on the Coyote page about their breeding
cycle and what to do if one is aggressive. Here is the link to it.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/coyotes.htm And you cab click on mammals to learn
about other
animals.
I drove farther on M St, took the sharp right turn onto 29th St, and drove over to
the little bridge. The road is closed off the during horse racing season. I walked
up to
the railroad tracks by Interurban Trail, and stood there a bit. A juv or 1st summer
GREEN HERON flew up to the top of a fir tree. It was kind of teetering up there. A
crow came in to harrass it, and it flew to the north. As I drove back on M St, I
stopped when I heard some bird song. I saw a male LAZULI BUNTING perched up on the
top of the south barn. It was on top of a small pole at the south end of the barn,
and it was singing.
Later, at 12:30 at the Old Fishing Hole on Meeker St in Kent, I walked down to the
pond when I heard a chattering BULLOCK'S ORIOLE. It was a juvenile, and it was being
fed by an adult male Oriole about every 4 minutes. Its chattering would change as
the adult came in. The birds were very low and close to a family that was fishing.
It was great to see the Orioles that close.
Across Meeker St by the bridge that goes over the Green River, there is a small
gravel parking lot. There is a footbridge there over the river for golfers and
hikers. It is on Frager Road, across Meeker from the Fishing Hole. I had not birded
there before, but wanted to stop there, as we had received a late report that a
person had seen a female AMERICAN REDSTART in that area in the cottonwood trees by
the river. (I talked to him this morning on the phone. He had seen it on June 10,
and we did not receive the news until the end of June.) Back then the Green River
Trail on the east side of the river was open, and he was biking along there next to
the golf course. The bird was seen flashing in the cottonwoods, and then it flew
across the river to Frager Rd and the very-big cottonwoods over there. The Green
River Trail on the east side at the golf courseis
now closed for construction until Oct 15, as they repair the levee. But you
can drive about a mile north on Frager Rd to a barrier, and then walk north. It is
the alternative trail for bikers, walkers, (and birders).
I had not been on Frager in that area for years. Wow, the trees are really huge now!
I drove a mile north past a nursery to a barrier. I didn't see a female American
Redstart. I could hear a WARBLING VIREO
singing in the cottonwoods. A SWAINSON'S THRUSH was singing. I
walked about 1/2 mile north on Frager along the river. Along this stretch I heard 3
different RED-EYED VIREOS. Down near the new 228th St bridge, I saw a female
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE fly into the cottonwoods by me. I could hear a chattering juv
Oriole in the big cottonwoods across the river in Russell Woods Park.
Next I drove to Kent Ponds, and entered the Power Line Trail by the South Tower. An
OSPREY was perched on a power tower, and flew to the north with a small fish. From
the South Tower I heard the fitz-bew of a WILLOW FLYCATCHER, the only one I heard all
day. In the water below, there were 2 adult PIED-BILLED GREBES, with a stripey baby.
There were also 2 AMERICAN COOTS, and 4 quite-small, light colored juveniles, only
about 3 inches long. A male WOOD DUCK in dark eclipse plumage was huddling in the
water plants over by the island. I did not hear a Chat.
I then headed to Boeing Ponds. As I got out of the car over on the north side by
62nd Ave at the barrier, I looked down thru the bushes into the ditch. A 1st summer
GREEN HERON was standing motionless in the water. It remained there, and was still
there when
I walked out later.
The day was cloudy, but very comfortable in the mid-60's. It was a very-interesting
day of birding.
Yours, Carol Schulz
Des Moines, WA
linusq at att.net