Yesterday around 5:30 pm I visited Juanita Bay Park. A birder there
told me she'd seen Rails with chicks as well as fledgling Bullock's
Orioles being fed. I was able to see and photograph them all.
Location: western boardwalk. Rails were seen primarily off the east
side of the boardwalk, between 20 and 80 feet south of the last bend
(before it turns to face to the east). If they're there, you'll hear
their scratchy/chirpy vocaliztions. I found a fledgling Oriole just
off the left side of the same bend, and got a photo of the parent
after it fed the baby and flew up about 50 feet into the trees. The
fledgling Orioles are also very vocal (typical "feed me" noises).

Photos here:
<http://dartfrogmedia.com/birds/juanitaBayPark/090706/index.html>http://dartfrogmedia.com/birds/juanitaBayPark/090706/index.html



Also of interest were two large female turtles (Red-Eared Sliders) on
the hill about 250 feet west of the restrooms, laying eggs in holes
they had perhaps scooped out of mole hills. I was surprised to see
them laying eggs so far from the water, and I took some video of an
egg being layed. The turtles were oblivious to bystanders (including
a small dog) -- I suspect "childbirth" is as all-absorbing for
turtles as it is for humans.


Marc Hoffman
Kirkland, WA
http://www.dartfrogmedia.com
mailto: tweeters at dartfrogmedia dot com