Subject: [Tweeters] Kent & Auburn, 6-22-08
Date: Jun 23 14:05:01 2008
From: Lynn & Carol Schulz - linusq at worldnet.att.net


Hi Tweets:
We did the Kent Ponds (Green River Natural Resources Area) monthly census on Sun
morning, June 22. Afterwards, a couple of us visited M St in Auburn. The weather in
the morning was cool, cloudy, and breezy. Finally about 11:30 it started warming up
and reached 60 degrees by noon. Despite that, many birds were vocal. Here are some
highlights (and lowlights).
Green River Natural Resources Area (GRNRA) Census. 7 volunteers showed up to count
birds from 8am to noon.:

GRNRA HIGHLIGHTS:

WOOD DUCK - 5 broods. # of juvs anywhere from 3 to 6 young per brood.
PIED-BILLED GREBE - 1 family group of 2 adults, and 2 very-small, striped juveniles.
Viewed from the grassy knoll. I am not sure of total numbers of Pied-billed Grebes
in other areas.
AMERICAN BITTERN - 1
GREEN HERON - 2
OSPREY - 2 These two adults could also be seen over at their cell tower nest by the
power station, viewed from the south tower.
RED-TAILED HAWK - several, both adult and juvenile
PEREGRINE FALCON - pale juvenile on a SE power tower. This is pretty special at this
time of year.
VIRGINIA RAIL - several heard. One calling its breeding call, kidik, kidik, very
loudly from near the grassy knoll.
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER - 1 (I also have one of these calling in Des Moines Creek
Park which is over the hill to the west of Kent Ponds.)
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE - 1 at least
WILLOW FLYCATCHER - many. Calling "Fitz-bew"
TREE SWALLOW - several broods in the nest boxes along the power line trail.
VG SWALLOW - numerous
BARN SWALLOW - moderate numbers
CLIFF SWALLOW - only 1
MARSH WREN - numerous
CEDAR WAXWING - numerous & quite distracting
YELLOW WARBLER - quite a few
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT - numerous
WILSON'S WARBLER - not sure of numbers. At least one.
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT - 1 - it's BAACK... Calling softly from the island.
WESTERN TANAGER - 1 calling and singing in tall cottonwoods in middle of area. Very
unusual for summer.
SAVANNAH SPARROW - numerous. At least one juvenile seen among all the adults.
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD - quite a few
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE - 2 females
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH - numerous

LOWLIGHTS -
No Cooper's Hawks seen on our count or near the nest where a pair were active last
month. Have these birds fledged yet? It seems early for that.
No Northern Harriers seen. We had a successful nest of them last year near the south
tower.
No Lazuli Buntings seen or heard. I was especially distressed about that. Last week
Kathy Andrich saw one by the main west entrance. Maybe it's late in June to continue
seeing them?

M ST:
Afterwards, in the early afternoon, Roger Orness and I went over to M St in front of
Emerald Downs in Auburn. We saw 1 GREATER YELLOWLEGS on the far shore of the pond,
and 3 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS. There were no Lazuli Buntings singing or visible. Whatta
Bummer.

For what it's worth: If anyone wants to volunteer to help us w/ the GRNRA monthly
census, contact Roger Orness, r.orness at comcast.net It's fun and I understand it
helps the City of Kent with its project requirements.

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