Hi everyone,



Sikes Lake near Carnation Farm/Camp Korey this afternoon had hundreds of Cackling and Canada Geese.? Ducks were very few and far between, but on the lake mixed in with the geese was a single Trumpeter Swan.? This is several weeks later than my personal latest record for this species in the valley, and it's rare in my experience?to see a single bird as well.? The bird appeared to be in good health and was not banded.



Given the paucity of shorebird habitat in King County, I've been keeping an eye on the field to the NW of Sikes Lake, across from the horse ranch and bordering the lake.? This field has been lying fallow for a number of years but was plowed last year.? It has had standing water and mud near the cross-valley road (100th) by the horse ranch for much of the winter?and today had several Mallards and a lone Killdeer feeding in it.? If we get enough rain?to keep some standing water in this muddy field for another couple of weeks, it looks like a good stopover location for migrating shorebirds...we'll see.



I've also checked nearby Chinook Bend several times over the last few days for Western Bluebirds, but the birds reported there recently?apparently were 'one-day wonders'.?



John Tubbs

Snoqualmie, WA

johntubbs at comcast.net

www.tubbsphoto.com