I walked into the kitchen this afternoon to start baking an apple cake,
when a bird joined the juncos and pine siskens eating seed on my deck rail.
A beautiful male Lazuli Bunting just coming into breeding plumage with a
turquoise head and delicately-colored, peach chest! I was completely
gobsmacked. The yardbird-gods have indeed rewarded me lately.

About ten days ago I had the most wonderful experience of seeing a
Nashville Warbler for the first time from my bedroom window despite
spending seasons scouring areas for one to no avail.

I also have a new Pine Siskin to welcome to the world. He can't fly as fast
as the others because he has no tail yet. <3

It's taken this covid-crisis to discover that Lake Kathleen's birding is
pretty good. I have been using google maps to locate more habitat and then
exploring by foot, and have added 184th Ave SE., to my circuit, which has
quickly become one of the best parts for warblers. Added to the lake
circuit with woods and wetland, is an underused and quiet small lakefront
with a park and a baseball diamond, several meadows, and the creek, and
lots of birdy spots all along the way around.


It seems innocuous, at first glance; an oval lake no more than half a mile
in length, on the edge of East Renton Highlands and Issaquah, with houses
around and a friendly semi-rural feel. I wasn't sure I would ever get a
Common Loon since the lake isn't very big, but one appeared one night two
weeks ago, and gave that mighty howl at sunset from 200 yards away.

Wooded tracts intersect with the lake in a few areas, and some are
northern-most fringes of a large swath of woodland that stretches up from
the Cedar River. Neighbours who see me with binoculars almost every day,
have given me permission to bird on their beautiful properties, habitat
that sees few people or vehicles seems to harbor more animal life, and
while I am still looking for a MacGillivray's, I don't doubt I will find
one here eventually.


It is a lovely walk and quite scenic. You can go around the lake and that's
an easy 2 miles, much of it on a small lane where it's easy to avoid others
by crossing over, or you can include 184th and add another 1.5 miles, but
get many more warblers. You can park in many spots and not walk at all but
still bird, there are few cars.


Some of the habitat is HOA and I am happy to pre-confer visitor status on
anyone who would like to bird it, just use my name in vain should anyone
approach you, and be respectful of humans and wildlife.

I have made a map for folks and list of instrux who would like to bird and
walk here. It is quite scenic. Bring carrots for the horses and goat. Email
me and I will send you the details.


Happy Spring birding!

Nadine Drisseq
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