Hi Ho Tweets



Today, Eastside Audubon took a trip covering many of the spots along the
Sound in south King County. The day started out overcast and cold, but no
rain. Our first stop was at the Des Moines Marina with a temperature of 38F
and a 10-15 mph wind (it was really cold). We had a nice group of 6 BARROW?S
GOLDENEYE and 4 COMMON GOLDENEYE off the Marina pier. A few HORNED GREBEs, a
BUFFLEHEAD, a couple of HARLEQUIN DUCKs, some PIGEON GUILLEMOTs, several
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTs, a couple of MEW GULLs and GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLs.
Further out we had several RED-BREASTED MERGANSERs and a BRANDT?S CORMORANT.
In the trees behind the Marina there were two BALD EAGLEs, A good size flock
of AMERICAN WIGEON flew in to the mouth of the creek. There were some
DARK-EYED JUNCOs, AMERICAN CROWs, and some CANADA GEESE.



We took a brief break for hot drinks and to warm up a bit, then on to Salt
Water State Park with a few rain drops. We had pretty good action, the rain
stopped and we saw COMMON GOLDENEYE, BARROW?S GOLDENEYE, HARLEQUIN DUCK
(good numbers of all three), HORNED GREBE, SURF SCOTER, AMERICAN CROW,
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, AMERICAN ROBIN, SONG SPARROW, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE,
DARK-EYED JUNCO, SPOTTED TOWHEE, FOX SPARROW, a singing RUBY-CROWNED
KINGLET, NORTHERN FLICKER, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, and STELLER?S JAY. While
it had warmed to about 40F with the wind (although it had dropped in speed a
bit) it was still cold.



On to Redondo Beach where we saw ROCK PIGEON, COMMON LOON, HORNED GREBE,
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, BUFFLEHEAD, SURF SCOTER and an immature BALD EAGLE
on the beach.



Our next stop was at Dash Point State Park ? there we saw MEW GULL,
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, SURF SCOTER, AMERICAN CROW, NORTHERN FLICKER,
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER (a new bird for some), SONG SPARROW, DARKE-EYED JUNCO
and VARIED THRUSH. A ways further along we dropped down to Dash Point Park
in Pierce County and saw SURF SCOTER, PIGEON GUILLEMOT, HORNED GREBE,
BUFFLEHEAD, CANADA GOOSE, ROCK PIGEON, and DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT. It was
still windy and chilly.



We back-tracked and wound our way to the Weyerhaeuser Ponds (near the old
Corporate Headquarter) ? lots of ducks ? REDHEAD (16 ? always a pleasure to
see in King County), RING-NECKED DUCK (about 40), AMERICAN WIGEON (about
300), EURASIAN WIGEON, GADWALL, NORTHERN FLICKER, CACKLING GOOSE, AMERICAN
ROBIN, and BALD EAGLE.



At the 204th Street down by the wet fields by the horse farm we saw
MALLARD, AMERICAN WIGEON (about 150), EURASIAN WIGEON (2), GREEN-WINGED
TEAL, BLACKED-CAPPED CHICKADEE, NORTHERN PINTAIL, NOTHERN SHOVELER,
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, AMERICAN ROBIN, and along the Green River BUFFLEHEAD,
HOODED MERGANSER, and BELTED KINGFISHER.



The 212th St. ponds had RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, BUFFLEHED, RING-NECKED DUCK,
CANADA GOOSE, PIED-BILLED GREBE, HOODED MERGANSER (a nice male), SONG
SPARROW, MARSH WREN, and NORTHERN HARRIER (across the street over the
fields).



At the Kent Ponds (Green River Natural Area) there were CALIFORNIA SCRUB-JAY
(2), DOWNY WOODPECKER, BALD EAGLE, GREAT BLUE HERON, MALLARD, CANADA GOOSE,
MARSH WREN, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, EUROPEAN
STARLING, NORTHER FLICKER , BUFFLEHEAD, GADWALL, AMERICAN COOT, RING-NECKED
DUCK, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, AMERICAN CROW, NORTHERN SHOVELER, BUSHTIT, and
HOUSE FINCH.



As we left the Kent Ponds it started to rain ? we were glad that we had
avoided the rain. It was a good ? day trip, with 56 species seen despite
the cold, windy conditions.



Good Birding!



Brian H. Bell

Woodinville WA

Mail to bell asoc a t iso media dot com



Nancy Hubly