Hey all,

I've made a couple of trips out to Coulon Beach Park and the mouth of the Cedar River in the last week, and the winter birds are rolling in.

At Coulon yesterday (after and before it poured!) I had a Mew and California Gull on the beach along with the Ring-Billed and Glaucous-Winged Gulls everywhere. In Lake Washington were Mallard, Gadwall, Northern Shoveler, Ring-Necked Duck, Coots and all of those what-the-duck-is-that's (hybrids) that love Coulon so much. Not seen today, but seen earlier in the week at Coulon were Buffleheads, and Greater White-Fronted Geese (two seen from the bridge to Bird Island on Wednesday).

At the mouth of the Cedar River, I strolled from the southernmost parking spot to the kayak center, giving all of the Yellow Rumped Warblers a careful look. We've had a Palm Warbler down there a couple of times in the last 3-4 years, so I thought it would be worth keeping an eye out. There were dozens of YR Warblers seen on the way, but I found no other warblers mixed in. Down at the kayak center: Great Blue Heron, Kingfisher, GW Gulls, and an Eared Grebe.

Also in the last few weeks, I've come across the local Western Scrub Jays 3-4 times in and around downtown Renton. Twice near St. Anthony's School, once at Liberty Park, and I actually caught a pair of them coming down Benson past City Hall.

-Tim Brennan
Renton

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