Subject: [Tweeters] Black Terns - 2 today, King County
Date: May 30 17:08:16 2013
From: Carol & Lynn Schulz - carol.schulz50 at gmail.com


Hi Tweets:
Boeing Ponds: Pretty wierd, but I saw two Black Terns today. Early this morning I dropped down to Boeing Ponds and looked for the Black Tern from 7:15 to 8:00am. Cool, breezy weather, and it was a no show.

Juanita Bay: Due to a commitment to bird at Juanita Bay with my sister today, I headed north. We arrived at Juanita Bay about 10:30am, and viewed the perched Black Tern right below the west boardwalk viewing platform. It perched for about an hour, and then flew away for an hour. It came back, and perched on the same stick below the west boardwalk platform. It's beautiful. Thanks to Ryan Merrill for originally finding it! As we walked back along the west boardwalk we heard calling Red Crossbills in big fir trees by the lake. Are they breeding there? At the base of the middle boardwalk, we tried to see the Virginia Rail pair with their 3 very-active juv black ball babies that my sister saw there yesterday, but no luck today. Yesterday in rainy weather she was alone and viewed the rails from the start of the middle boardwalk. Today, in sunny weather there were lots more people, and we didn't see the rails. But we did see and hear lots of Wood Ducks and quite a few very-small wood ducks paddling w/ adults. A Pied-billed Grebe was perched on its nest about 100 feet out from the middle boardwalk. Baby Mallards following a parent were peeping like they were calling a dog. Wheet? wheet? wheet?

Boeing Ponds Again: I left the eastside, and headed back home this afternoon, stopping at Boeing Ponds again. Jim Brynteson and Greg Pluth were watching the flying Black Tern flying over the west pond when I walked over. Wow! It flew right along with all the swallows, and continued to fly for 45 minutes or until I left. Thanks to Jim for originally reporting this bird that is so rare for us in King County. I don't think we have ever seen one at Boeing Ponds before.

Wow, 2 Black Terns on the same day in King County. Thanks for the reports, everyone!
Yours, Carol Schulz
Des Moines