This is a bit late.
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Last Friday, February 13th, I went to walk along the Ruston Way trail. This is a really easy walk to get to by bus. Just take the Pierce Transit Route # 13 from downtown Tacoma down to what is called Old Town near the waterfront. Just cross the street to get to the paved trail.
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I actually went a different way. I started in downtown Tacoma and walked all the way down Schuster Way, following the sidewalk. I wouldn't exactly recommend this part, but it had interesting geological features and overgrown landscapes.
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The Ruston Way trail is fascinating for more than just birds. There are many industrial ruins, firebricks, heaps of slag, pyramidal shaped concrete structures and pilings. I have an old interest in that subject.
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I found the Black Turnstones near the Dickman Mill site. They were on pilings and wave splashed rocks. Like at Alki and the Duwamish Head, I heard them before I saw them.
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Other birds I encountered were; Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser, Pigeon Guillemot, Surf Scoter, Brandt's Cormorant and both Common and Barrow's Goldeneyes.
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I made for a long walk by exiting through Puget Park. I followed the trail along Puget Creek all the way up to the Proctor District. I had a coffee and caught a return bus for downtown Tacoma.
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Mark Vernon
Renton, WA
mailto ma_vern at yahoo.com