Hi Tweets:
After a fruitless search for Lazuli Buntings along the south bike trail at Kent Ponds, Debi K and I went inside Kent Ponds (w/ permission) to view the lagoon today, Wed, June 25. We found 5 white MUTE SWANS perched on the water and preening. They may be young birds as they did not have black knobs in the black border around the bill. These may be the same 5 swans that Sandy Daniels saw up on the Muckleshoot Plateau yesterday. We saw them today about 10:30am.
Early in the morning, I felt quite unworthy as I tried to figure out the species of some of the many baby birds we saw. 2 Bald Eagles, 2 Osprey, and several Red-tailed Hawks were in the area. One of the Ospreys caught a fish in the main lagoon.
Over at Boeing Ponds at 11am we had a great view of an adult Green Heron near the pullout from 54th Place. From that parking area we saw a LEAST SANDPIPER over on some dry mud. Walking in a little farther on the path from 54th we viewed 2 Killdeer, several Pied-billed Grebes w/ babies, and a few Amer. Coots w/ babies. In the distance a Bald Eagle was being harassed by crows.
We parked over near the 62nd Ave barriers, and heard a few Savannah Sparrows in the big grass field across the street. We did not have Sav. Sparrows anywhere else today. Am. Goldfinches, Common Yellowthroats, Cedar Waxwings, and even Willow Flycatchers were abundant at all stops. Yellow Warblers sang at all our stops. It was warm and sunny. A very-nice morning.
Yours, Carol Schulz
Des Moines