This morning Marian and I headed to King County to see if I could add a bird or two to my county list. First stop was at the “M” street ponds near the Emerald Down’s race track in Auburn, where there is a good place to see flooded dairy fields and lots of dabbling ducks. It did not disappoint, walking carefully to avoid the dog poop I easily picked a Eurasian Wigeon from the flock of maybe 800 dabbling ducks, with lots of AMEI, GWTE, NOPI and a few NOSH. Few other birds were noted so off to the Kent Ponds area.
At the Kent Ponds, or on eBird the Kent Ponds GRNWR hotspot, I added California Scrub Jay heard calling shortly after parking across the street from the main parking lot because of construction in the lot. We met a young birder from near Bellevue there named Elliot, and later helped him find his lifer Northern Pintail and Lincoln’s Sparrow. Fun to remember when lifers were a near-daily experience.
Another stop at the Redondo Pier was more notable for warming up and iced tea with fries at Salty’s than the few birds seen.
A nice chilly overcast western WA day and now home for the afternoon. Hoping to figure out a guest or topic for TBBP soon.