Subject: [Tweeters] Three Forks Migrant Mixed Flock + Green Herons
Date: Sep 6 13:43:38 2010
From: johntubbs at comcast.net - johntubbs at comcast.net





Hi everyone,



Yesterday morning and this morning, Three Forks Natural Area had a nice movement of migrants .?



Yesterday, right by the gravel parking area near Centennial Fields, a group of warblers plus a couple of Black-capped Chickadees for good measure, was feeding low in the riparian vegetation by the slough.? This group included a number of Orange-crowned Warblers, several Black-throated Grays, a Yellow, and a Nashville (this year was a banner year for Nashvilles at Three Forks ).? Today, in the willow thicket directly across the dog run field from the welcome sign, I had a mixed flock of at least 20 birds working through the vegetation.? This flock included Orange-crowned, one Yellow, and numerous Black-throated Gray Warblers plus the nice addition of at least two Warbling Vireos, and was visible from close range for a good ten minutes.



Additionally, the last two mornings I have been entertained by two juvenile Green Herons who are active?quite ? close to the parking area on both sides of the access path.? I have started to do (perhaps I should say attempt to do) bird sketches from life, which I think may qualify anyone who attempts this as a masochist given the poor (active, moving) subjects that birds are.? It has, however,?provided a fresh appreciation for how little I really know about birds, despite being reasonably?proficient at ID'ing them.? What I've found in this regard is that once?I get the 'jizz' of a species down, I tend not to notice plumage or other anatomy details outside of key field marks anymore.? Drawing birds forces you to really look - and really see - them, and in the process you are also rewarded with seeing behavior that you might never see if your focus is totally on identification.? So the last two mornings, I have taken my sketching kit and a portable chair to Three Forks and plunked down by the slough to draw.? Since herons tend to stay still at least slightly longer than passerines, I specifically looked for the two Green Heron 'kids' that I knew were there.? It was amazing how active the birds were within a very short distance of the pathway dike, and the dogwalkers and dogs often didn't notice the heron (would not have at all if they hadn't seen me) and the herons - at least until they get older and wiser - didn't appear to mind the people and canines all that much.?



After walking around the dog run area and a bit on the trail, I headed back to the car intending to leave, but saw one of the herons right at the base of the pathway dike, so pulled out the sketchpad again.? As I was drawing, the bird made one quick step off its log, and a simultaneous stab with its bill, and came up with a pretty good-sized frog.? The bird dunked the frog multiple times, shook it slightly, and (presumably) squeezed with its bill.? Then with one quick orientation (head first down the gullet) and a big gulp, the frog was history.?



Despite the less-than-ideal weather, the migrants are out there waiting to be found.?



John Tubbs

Snoqualmie, WA

johntubbs at comcast.net