Hi Tweets:
My sister and I did a mid-day tour of the Tacoma Tideflats and the Hylebos Waterway area. First stop was Gog-le-Hi-Te along the Puyallup River. There was a gull w/ a very-black mantle and primaries on the top of the bldg across 11th St. I didn't see the color of it's legs. The bill was narrower and paler than a typical Western Gull. Gulls can be mysteries... We walked back on the gravel road. Two PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were on the mud at the back pond area.
We drove from there to hwy 509, exiting at Taylor Ave and driving north on the tideflats to get to the end of the Blair Waterway on Alexander St. There is a new business out at the end w/ fences which partially closes off some former viewing points, but we could still look out. Water was flat, and it seemed quite hot today. Not much birding action because it was almost low tide. From there we drove back to 11th and turned left onto 11th St and OVER THE BRIDGE! Surprise! The ELEVENTH ST BRIDGE over the Hylebos Waterway is open again after being closed for several years. Saved us quite a bit of time and driving to get to hwy 509 going north. Viewing the log booms from Dick Gilmur viewpoint, there were lots of California Gulls, some Ring-billed Gulls, and some Gl-winged Gulls. No Bonaparte's Gulls, and we didn't see the juv Franklin's Gull. A late OSPREY was flying over the Crow's Nest Marina.
Yours, Carol Schulz
Des Moines