Subject: [Tweeters] Valley/Kent Birding and Am Coot breeding notes
Date: Aug 1 14:58:14 2009
From: Kathy Andrich - chukarbird at yahoo.com



Hi Tweeters,

Most notable bird first--a Solitary Sandpiper in a drying mitigation pond on Kent's East Hill. The pond is at the intersection of 116th and SE 259th Pl. 272nd from I-5 will eventually become 116th after crossing the valley floor (E) and up the Wickstrom Memorial bridge. The pond is not far after crossing Kent Kangley on 116th. The dry weather is making some interesting "new" shorebird habitat.

I was mostly on a Coot search today because we have certainly had a banner year for breeding in the Green River Valley. The most reliable place to find them each year breeding is a pond near the Southcenter area Costco. When you enter the parking lot for the Southcenter Costco go to the far corner where there is a sign that says that it is the evacuation meeting spot for the employees. Up the rise with wide stair steps is the Green River Trail, going left the pond is less than 1/4 mile down the trail on the left. I had not checked this pond this year and my timing was perfect. 5 downy young coots were perched on the beaver lodge. I took some time to study them in the scope. Breeding Pied-billed Grebes and a Green Heron were here.

At Tukwila Pond, best accessed by parking behind Half Price Books/Toys R Us held well over a dozen young coots mostly older than the ones I saw at Costco pond. Two Green Herons here.

Boeing Ponds at corner of 59th Pl S and 62nd Ave S had both downy young coots and many older this years coots. Also 3 male Ruddy Ducks, one still in bright breeding plumage. Saw Coyote signs, blackberry filled scat and the producer of such here. It didn't see me at first so it was nice to be able to observe him/her for awhile before I was spied.

At the grassy knoll of Green River Natural Area (near King County Animal Shelter) I saw my first returning Northern Pintail of the "fall". No coots today but a few weeks ago (7-18-09) at the census both teams saw young coots of the year.

About a week or so prior to the census I had rechecked the pond at 212th and Riverview Blvd S and found that at least one of the coot chicks survived to become nearly adult sized and gray.

Ye Olde Fishing Hole off of Frager S of Meeker had no coots but is showing mud, worth rechecking. So is the Green River in general it is very low and I have found Yellowlegs in the past utilizing spots of mud along the river.

The new and old Thomas pond area was pretty dead today (on Frontage Rd off of 272nd-ish). There are at least 3 young Osprey in the nest you can see to the north of the new Thomas ponds. I was called in as a suspicious vehicle at the old Thomas Ponds so I got to meet a nice cop, just doing his job.

(ala Gary Bletsch..)
Suspiciously yours,

Kathy
Roosting in Kent, near Lake Meridian
(chukarbird at yahoo dot com)
Any driving directions contained within this message are given as a courtesy, beware, author is directionally challenged and will not vouch for them.