Hi Tweeters:
Steve Johnson led a Rainier Audubon field trip today, Oct 24. The weather was
beautiful and the birds came out. We left I-5 in Fife at exit 137, the Poodle Dog
restaurant exit. We drove north on 54th Ave (toward Commencement Bay), and turned
right onto 12th St in the Fife Flats. We drove about 150 ft. and took a left into a
parking area behind a warehouse. There is a new big muddy pond and field back there,
and we had great views of Canada Geese, 2 Cacking Geese, and 1 Wht-fronted Goose, and
ducks including N. Shovelers. 2 crows chased a Sharp-shinned Hawk right in front of
us, and some folks saw Band-tailed Pigeons.
We then drove north on 54th to hwy 509. We turned right onto 509 and drove north on
509 about 3 miles to the pullouts near the Crow's Nest and Tyee Marina, where birders
were watching for the Blk-tailed Gull. We missed the gull, but continued up the
hill, and turned left on Le-Lou-Wa and drove to Brown's Pt Lighthouse Park. The sun
was out, and there was no wind. We saw 3 MARBLED MURRELETS there, about 10am. The
Savannah
Sparrow stood up on the beach rocks giving good views. We continued along hwy 509
and turned down the hill on Markham Drive to Dash Point Pier. We had good views of a
some Rhino Auklets there.
A fellow with us got a call on his cell from a friend who told us that the Blk-tailed
Gull was seen from 10:00 until 11:00 when they left. We drove back to the Blk-t Gull
turnout but still failed to see it hidden in the group of gulls. The rest of the
trip was
great on a beautiful day. We saw 50 species, and thanked Steve J for a wonderful
trip.
Yours, Carol Schulz
Des Moines, WA
linusq at att.net