Hi Tweets:
Migration continues in N Kent along the Green River areas. On S 204th accessed from Orillia Rd or from Frager Rd going north from 212th, there is still enough water for waterfowl and shorebirds. I visited yesterday, Tue Apr 17 in the late morning. It was cool and overcast after showers the day before. There were 4 Greater Yellowlegs and 7 Dunlin in breed. plumage on the big 204th pond. The DUNL are new arrivals. There were approx. 90 Grn-winged Teal. A dark Peregrine Falcon flew in, got up all the birds, and perched in a dead tree SE of the big pond. I had not seen a Peregrine down there for 2 months. 3 Red-tailed Hawks were around, and 2 eagles, an adult and a juv.
I parked at the corner mailboxes on 204th. From there I walked 204th out to the Green River at Frager Rd. A Red-tailed Hawk at Frager Rd was very interesting. I hesitate to write about it cause I'm probably wrong. I think it was a HARLAN'S HAWK. Maybe. It was perched on top of an evergreen on Frager Rd about 1 block south of the horse farm. It was black w/ the classic white streaks on its breast. I have never seen a hawk like that around here. I had limited time, but wish that I had noticed if it had wings that did not reach the bottom of the tail, a Harlan's field mark, and if its eyes were light or dark to tell if it was adult or juv. I wish I could have seen it fly. The tail did not look red. Maybe this is a migrant up from Calif or something? I gotta go back, but if it's a migrant it may be gone by now.
As I walked east on 204th twd. the Green River, hundreds (up to 1000 or so) of Canada and Cack Geese (most were Canadas or intermed sizes) were flying north in big V's along the river corridor. When I got out to the river I walked around the barrier and headed north on the old trail next to the river. The locals are doing that now. Past the ditch/fish-channel next to 204th there is a big new area which contains 2 deep water retention ponds, some heavy brush and rocks, and a seasonal pond. Because there are so many ponds down there I'm going to call them "holes" for now. #1 Hole is closest to the river, and #2 is behind it to the west. These retention ponds are super deep, maybe 20 feet, w/ green grass growing up the sloping sides. I stayed on the trail next to the river, but could look down into #1 hole. There were 14 Canada Geese and one GREATER WHT-FRONTED GOOSE there. Also 8 No. Shovelers. Seems late for those. Swallows were swooping about, most V-g Swallows, a few Tree Swallows, and one Barn Swallow. At least one was brown w/ a bright white belly. Don't know if this was a female or juv, but it at least looked like nearby VG Swallows.
We call Frager Rd here "Frager Rd north". It can be a good migration corridor. If the rain showers keep up, the ponds and "holes" could continue to yield shorebirds and migrants. 204th has been good for Lesser Yellowlegs, and even Solitary Sandpiper in late Apr. (at least in the past). Migrants tend to linger a little longer if the weather has been rainy.
You can see maps for this area on www.rainieraudubon.org. Click on going birding?, and then on Boeing Ponds or Kent Ponds.
Yours, Carol Schulz
Des Moines
carol.schulz50 at gmail