Tukwila/Kent Ponds Field Trip (10/27/03) Highlights

We started at Tukwila Ponds where the waterfowl were numerous and we had 16 species. The most noteworthy were Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, many Northern Shoveler and American Wigeon, and Hooded Mergansers plus Belted Kingfisher.

At the Kent Ponds (officially the Green River Natural Resources Area), the highlight was a juvenile Northern Shrike that posed for good scope viewing. Just as we arrived at the south tower an American Bittern flew up, down the pond and into the high grass - never to be seen again.

We added Northern Pintail, Northern Harrier and two Red-tailed Hawks, Bewick’s and Marsh Wrens. Our last stop was the Boeing Ponds on 59th Avenue S.W., where we saw two new species - Horned Grebe and California Gull.

There were 12 birders and 31 species sighted.