Newcastle Beach to Renton Riverside Trail Field Trip (11/28/05) Highlights

We started at Newcastle Beach Park near the Park & Ride where we saw Horned and Western Grebes, Canada Goose, Bufflehead, Double-crested Cormorant, Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Flicker, 2 Bald Eagles and a Red-tailed Hawk.

We next went to Gene Coulon Park in Renton where there were numerous American Coot, Mew, Ring-billed and Glaucous-winged Gulls, and Common Mergansers. We heard a Belted Kingfisher rattling call before we saw it land on a post for viewing. We were surprised to find about 15-20 Greater White-fronted Geese sleeping on the beach, while in the small bay were Lesser Scaup, Gadwall, Green-winged Teal, Common Goldeneye. Ruby-crowned Kinglets were flitting about in the red-twig dogwood on the shoreline.

Our last stop was the Riverside Trail along the Cedar River in Renton. The mouth of the river attracted numerous waterfowl and gulls, Barrow's as well as Common Goldeneye and Greater Scaup were present. About 20 Double-crested Cormorants were lined up on a log in the water. A walk along the trees and brush further up the river turned up a Spotted Towhee, a large flock of Bushtits and the ever present European Starling. Going back to the Park & Ride we saw Rock Pigeons perched on power poles.  There were 4 birders and 33 species sighted.