Hi Tweets:
I birded this morning, Sun, Apr 29 in two areas in Kent. It was cloudy but mild. Here are some of the highlights.
As I drove south to Kent Ponds on Russell Road, at 8am I heard a YELLOW WARBLER singing in the willows by the river. In Kent Ponds' west meadow there were two female Amer. Kestrels that were quite active. One of them perched a couple of times on a new artificial snag near the middle tower.
Over by the animal shelter, the Great Blue Herons were quite noisy near the nests and some flew over into the evergreens to the north. They were perching in the evergreens by the Anixter parking lot. (Probably trying to get away from their chores.) I went inside Kent Ponds (with permission). 2 Ruddy Ducks were in the lagoon along w/ the usual dabblers and Ring-necked Ducks. An American Bittern flew across the inner road. There were 35 Yellow-rumped Warbs. I only saw one Myrtle among them. Common Yellowthroats and Amer. Goldfinches were singing in all areas.
Over at the grassy knoll on 64th a Virginia Rail called once, and a single Greater Yellowlegs flew about, calling.
I then headed over to S 204th at 12:30. At the corner mailboxes Joe Meredith and his mom, Judy were there. Joe lives in Seattle and mainly birds at the Fill. His mom is visiting from Bend. Both are very-good birders, and they had a bunch of birds staked out. A MERLIN was perched in the snag to the east. There were 11 Greater Yellowlegs, and about 25 Least Sandpipers on the main pond. There is lots of water in the pond. There was a CINNAMON TEAL on the pond. Many Yellow-rpd. Warbs were singing at the corner, maybe 40 or so. Then a NASHVILLE WARBLER flew over us, and into a largish willow bush about 25 feet away to the south from the corner. The bush is next to a ditch. The Nashville flew about on the bush and sang quite a bit. Wow, what beautiful color! I have never seen a Nashville in this area before. An Orange-crowned Warbler was in a smaller bush by the ditch.
Judy Meredith said she leads weekly birdwalks down in Bend. She and Joe had visited the middle tower at Kent Ponds earlier in the day. They saw two different flycatchers there. They thought one was a Hammonds, and the other could have been a Pac-slope Flycatcher. Neither of these breed at Kent Ponds, so they are migrants passing through.
I went home for a bit, and returned to the 204th corner w/ my sister at 4:30. There was now a pair of NORTHERN PINTAILS there. Seems late for those. The Nashville Warbler was still in the same 15-ft. tall bush, and sang occasionally. It was harder to see the Nashville in the late afternoon, because it stayed more inside the bush. The Gr. Yellowlegs, Least Sandpipers, and Cinnamon Teal were still on the main pond.
It was a great day of birding in the Kent Valley.
Yours, Carol Schulz
Des Moines
carol.schulz50 at gmail