Hi Tweets:
Kathy Andrich wrote some interesting msgs about the Kent Valley, and said the Common
Yellowthroats were back in force in the valley. Also I was feeling warbler-deprived
especially after reading all the recent Tweeters msgs. So I headed to the valley
this morning, and just in case I rolled the windows down a little. It was cloudy,
but not cold, and there were occasional patches of sunshine.
Just as I got to the top of the hill on Military Rd, and headed down to the Kent
Valley, I heard an Or-crnd. Warbler. Wow. I dropped down to the valley, and went to
204th St, which is just north of 212th St, and accessed from 212th and Frager Rd. I
parked at the NW corner of the big field on 204th, and immediately heard my first of
several Common Yellowthroats down there. The field has a lot of seasonal puddles,
and there were 11 Greater Yellowlegs in the field. There were about 65 Grn-winged
Teal, some N Shovelers, and a few Mallards. I drove toward Frager Rd which is by the
Green River and heard several Savannah Sparrows, and a couple more Com.
Yellowthroats. I viewed a beautiful Myrtle Yellow-rumped Warbler. Moderate numbers
of VG Swallows flew by the horse farm and river. There was one Barn Swallow.
I headed south, and stopped at the Kent Ponds grassy knoll. There were some
waterfowl, and two adult Bald Eagles on a power tower along the bike path.
Then I headed down to M St off of NW 15th St at Emerald Downs. No shorebirds there
except for 2 Killdeer. There were a lot of waterfowl including Canada Geese,
Cackling Geese, GW Teal, N Shovelers, a moderate number of American Wigeon, and a few
N Pintails. A few Barn Swallows were flying along w/ the numerous VG Swallows.
My next stop was Lake Fenwick west of Kent on the hillside off of Reith Road. I
could not see a Bald Eagle nest in the big cottonwood, but have recently seen eagles
in the area. I suspect they are going to nest somewhere near the cottonwood on the
ridge. I drove back into the frisbee course area (across the road away from the
lake) to listen for birds, and look for possible returning Wood Ducks. There were 3
Wood Ducks, and 3 Ring-necked Ducks in the pond in back of the frisbee course. The
Wood Ducks gave high pitched whistles and squeals. Many birds were singing and
calling in the large trees at the parking lot including a Hutton's Vireo singing,
some Brown Creepers doing short songs, and a Pileated Woodpecker calling. There was
one silent Ruby-crowned Kinglet. I could hear Pine Siskins, and I heard those at
every stop. Anerican Goldfinches were singing at most places.
My last stop was up on the hill off of Military Rd at Grandview Dog Park. It is
located at 228th and Military Rd. Birds tend to visit the park during migration,
because it is on a long bluff that runs north-south. It is west of Kent Ponds but up
on the hill. As I got out of the car I could immediately hear three Or-crowned
Warblers singing. These were the skulkiest birds ever. I think whenever I heard
them, they must have been back in the woods, and maybe up about 10 feet. Never down
in the green bushes where you'd expect them. I went back to the truck, and a
Pileated Woodpecker flew. Finally, I climbed back into the truck and looked out the
front window. There was an Orange-crowned Warbler, my FOS sighting right in front on
me! I think it saw me get in the vehicle. It finally was where it should have been,
that is one foot above the grass, in the green bushes bordering the grass.
It was a great day of birding again, in south King County.
Yours, Carol Schulz
Des Moines, WA
linusq at att.net