Subject bird was the highlight of a whirlwind tour of Kent birding sites Monday.? Found in the icy, flooded field along South 204th St. between Orillia and Russell Roads with GW Teal, pintails, a few shovelers,?Mallards, and a rather out-of-place Common Goldeneye hen.? Note that the road is still closed, and the residents are unappreciative of birders stopping there.? There is plenty of room to park at the turnaround where Russell Rd meets 204th, though it seems like a long walk when a cold wind is blowing.? Eye-level Golden-crowned Kinglets in the young fir hedge there at least warmed the soul.
The teal looks like a good "purebred," with strong white horizontal stripe on the side and no hint of the GWTE's vertical stripe.? Seems probable that it's the same bird that was there LAST January.
Jeff Bryant
Seattle