Hi Tweets:
After reading Grace's note below, I walked on 204th today in north Kent to see the grading and filling that is going on. I took my scope. There were 15-20 Least Sandpipers way down at the far SW part of the big pond to the north of 204th. The big pond is mostly mud, so the sandpipers were often in the weeds down there. There were a few Killdeer. Up near 204th there were approx. 3 Spotted Sandpipers. One of those was a teen-age Spottie over under the trees by the north dried-up pond. It knew how to bob its butt.
I talked to a construction person who is knowledgeable about the project down there. A new road that has been under construction for about a year comes south from South Center past the llama farm and ends at S 200th. Then the new filling and grading is all around 200th and Orillia Rd and comes all the way south to 204th over near Frager Rd. About half of the north ponds will remain, but the northeast pond is already plowed up. They will turn the northwest pond into an "enhanced wetland" w/ snags and all, and we all know that is the kiss of death for our seasonal ponds and wetlands that have any wildlife. Just take a look at the "enhanced wetland" south of 212th. What a mess that is w/ its reed grass and hardly any birds. There are snags but very-few birds perch on them. The pond is full of trees because it was "enhanced". There is no mud at all anymore for shorebirds.
The construction guy said the portions being plowed up north of 204th will probably become an extension of South Center businesses, such as mixed use retail, etc. The land is being developed by Segale Corp.
The construction will stop at 204th, and the big seasonal pond south of 204th will remain as it is. Right now it has Mallards, Canada Geese, many starlings and Barn Swallows, and a couple of Red-tailed Hawks. There is some water left in it, and with the ongoing rains, it might be worth visiting for awhile to see if any other shorebirds appear. A map of the 204th area can be seen on www.rainieraudubon.org, Good Birding Places, Kent Ponds or Boeing Ponds.
Grace is so right. We really need that last remaining habitat w/ its mud for the shorebirds, waterfowl, hawks, and falcons.
On another note, I saw a beautiful non-breeding male Western Tanager in my neighborhood, down by the Des Moines Creek woods yesterday. He's probably just passing through, since they have not been around here since spring migration.
Yours, Carol Schulz
Des Moines
carol.schulz50 at gmail



From: Grace & Ollie
Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2011 1:51 PM
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: [Tweeters] Kent flooded fields is changing


Tweets,

After reading Tim's report that there is a good bit of mud along the 204th St. fields in Kent; we decided to check the area out. Except for 2 Spotted Sandpipers we dipped on shorebirds this morning ~10:30am. But we were very surprised by the BIG change happening in this area. About half of the area North of 204th on the East side (Frager Rd. side) is being filled to bring up the dirt level. This is the 1st stage for development. Just to let folks know this is happening so you won't be in for a shock next time you go there. We were sadly disappointed in the loss of this habitat.

Grace Oliver

Redmond, WA