Tag: Orting

A Couple Hours of Birding After Working this Morning

Male and Female Brown-headed Cowbirds with Red-winged and Brewer’s Blackbirds.

I like to take advantage of being done with precepting at the Puyallup based EPFM Residency when I finish at noon, and even better was finishing by 11AM today. I headed for the recent swan fields at Von Ogel’s Ford Rd, but as Bruce told me they just are not there this winter. Fortunately I saw my Pierce FOY Trumpeter Swan (5) alongside Hwy 162 getting there, and again (23) on the Orting Farm Loop soon after. Also on the loop was a full feeder just after turning off Calistoga onto the loop, were at least 2 Brown-headed Cowbirds were with lots of Red-winged and Brewer’s Blackbirds. The expected American Kestrel was also on a wire on the loop, but nothing else notable.

A stop at the barn on Levee Rd. yielded the roosting pair of Barn Owls, one flushed before I got the camera up, but the LEGO and CORE seen late last year by others did not show near the river and the bridge. A stop at 56th St Stormwater Ponds showed much “progress” on the big housing development where we used to get birds in the field, and the usual wintering Ruddy Ducks with other waterfowl.

A nice diversion on the way back to end yet another short day of light in the Pacific NW.


    • Taking a Break from Yard Work Yields Lazuli Bunting and Western Kingbird

    Today I had a short window between yard work and covering SDC so the PAs could go to their quarterly meeting, and when Bruce texted about not just the usual Lazuli Bunting but Western Kingbird in Orting, where to go was clear.  I had only an hour to bird after dashing down the hill to the Orting Valley and getting to the 178th Street hotspot, but it was enough. I checked the powerline and fenceline on the way down 178th but couldn’t find the WEKI.  Lazuli buntings were on station and singing all over the place in the field past the bend in the road, in the Scotch Broom as Bruce described.  I had at least 4 birds, two males singing and posing near the gravel trail, and another two singing farther away at the same time. I think there were a minimum of 6 birds singing, but reported 4 on eBird.

    I made it a quick stop in this area to have time for another look for the kingbird, and just before giving up on the way back I spotted the WEKI on the wire from the utility pole just in front of and to the left of the cell tower.  I managed a digiscope ID quality photo.  In the photo I can see the white outer tail feathers, and in the scope clearly saw the gray overall color with yellow belly.  These birds seem to frequently stop at this location in migration at this time of year.  last year Bruce and I had them in the same field 2 days earlier in May.

    Western Kingbird in Orting
    Western Kingbird in Orting

    Two good FOY Pierce County birds.  Thanks Bruce.