Hi Tweets:
RAS leader Steve Johnson led a field trip in the Auburn area of South King County on
Sat, June 21. He, his wife, and I met briefly at M St before the trip. After
meeting the main group, we visited Academy Drive which goes down the hill behind the
Adventist Academy from up on the Muckleshoot Plateau, then the area near the Meat Mkt
on
Green Valley Rd, Green Valley Rd to Flaming Geyser State Park, and returned
to Auburn. After the trip, I stopped again at M St. M St is between I-167 and
Emerald Downs. There is a large field there with a large pond. It is owned by the
Muckleshoots, and they did not plow it this year. There is a lot of tall grass.
Here are some highlights from yesterday.

M St: Male NORTHERN HARRIER flew through around 7:30am. 5 unidentified dark
shorebirds flew west out of the pond in the morning. Larger than Killdeer. Gave an
odd call. I hate myself for not being able to see their bills. No white anywhere on
the birds. LAZULI BUNTING heard from car window as we drove out to meet the field
trip group.

ACADEMY DRIVE: As usual a great 1/2 mile walk as you traverse about 200 feet down in
elevation toward Green Valley where the Green River is east of Auburn. 4 flycatcher
species including good view of calling OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER. 2 or 3 WESTERN
TANAGERs singing very briefly. Quite a few other species as we walked down the
trail.

FLAMING GEYSER: A WILLOW FLYCATCHER making a nest by the wetland. It was very close
to our vantage point on the road. 2 AMERICAN DIPPERS. An adult and a juvenile flew
very close to us (we did not play any recordings) and the adult fed the juv. This
was a short walk up river from the main park. 1 CASSIN'S VIREO (heard singing) in
last area of park along the creek, and near the Green River.

M ST: After the trip I returned to M St. I heard one LAZULI BUNTING near the second
pullout. When I walked out from the pullout into the side of the field to view the
pond, the Laz became quiet. A little later, and farther north about 1 block along M
St, I heard the Lazuli again. I used the car as a blind, and viewed one LAZULI
BUNTING perched on a bush/tree on M St by the Muckleshoot Barn. I could hear another
Laz singing over by the barn. These birds are pretty shy along there, and I found I
had to remain in the car in order to see and hear them. The time was about 2:15pm
when the birds were singing. This M St area with the pond is between I-167 (Valley
Freeway) and Emerald Downs. Where M St takes a sharp right-angle turn to the east
the road becomes 29th St (in Auburn). Access M St by turning toward Emerald Downs on
15th St NW. Travel past the freeway onramp and turn left onto M St. You will turn
about a block from I-167. M St angles down and parallels I-167.

Yours, Carol Schulz
Des Moines, WA
linusq at att.net