Hullo Tweets,

Bird list first (taxillogical order), then some details.

American Crow
Cowbird
Eu. Starling
Bald Eagle
Osprey
Red-tailed Hawk
Song Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Black-headed Grosbeak
Cedar Waxwing
American Goldfinch
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow Warbler
MacGillivray's Warbler
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Barn Swallow
LAZULI BUNTING
Great Blue Heron
Rufous Hummingbird
Bewick's Wren
Marsh Wren
American Robin
Mallard
Duck sp.

There were at least 2 Lazuli Buntings, maybe as many as 5. Couldn't tell if
the 2 individuals were moving around a lot, which made it look like there
were more LAZB than actually present. Very pretty birds, distinct song.

I walked by a nest box that was hung at about knee level and saw a female
Tree Swallow peeking out of it, chattering away. There was a male TRES
sitting above her on the fence, preening and ignoring her.

A couple of Bald Eagles were soaring, one an adult, the other a sub-adult.
The adult flew at the sub-adult, which rolled over and exposed its talons.
A Red-tailed Hawk started harassing the two BAEAs and soon was joined by an
Osprey. No blows were exchanged.

Birding this time of year to me is both fabulous and frustrating. Fabulous
in that there are all kinds of passerines in singing mode; frustrating that
you can't see the dang things! I caught a glimpse of something yellow
flying by and landing in a shrub, and wasn't able to ID it because I was
looking elsewhere when it flashed by. You know that old baseball saying,
"hit 'em where they ain't"? I twisted that into, "I was looking where they
ain't" and missed a lot of birds.

It was my first visit to Kent Ponds, and I'm sure I'll go back. The drive
from Bremerton was easy and it was easy to find the place. If you've never
been, go! It's nice!

I got there around 1 pm and left once someone flipped the birdsong switch to
off, which was around 2:30 pm. Will have to arrive earlier sometime so as
to see more birds.

If anyone who birds there regularly has suggestions re where to enter the
area, I'd love to hear them. I ended up parking near and walking along the
power line trail, and a bit along the river. Where else is there to
go/enter?? Couldn't figure out how to access the observation tower that is
a ways off of the power line trail.

Many thanks to these birds for sitting still, out in the open, and allowing
themselves to be properly admired: American Goldfinch, Cedar Waxwing,
Rufous Hummingbird, Lazuli Bunting. You warblers, OTOH....

Mary

Mary E. Klein
Bremerton WA
Catbird54 at Comcast dot net