[Tweeters] Northern Waterthrush at Lake Ballinger Park and some far northeast King County gems

[Alan Knue via Tweeters]

Hello Tweeters,

I forget that not everyone is on WhatsApp or receive eBird alerts and I reported several good birds this weekend that may not have reached everyone. 

There’s a Northern Waterthrush at Lake Ballinger Park being seen in the shallow wetland located along the western edge of the park, which is along 74th Ave W just south of where it intersects with 75th Pl W on the Edmonds-Montlake Terrace boundary. The waterthrush is spending much of its time working the muddy edges of the northernmost section the wetland  closest to this intersection. Some patience is required but it regularly made its way back and forth and there are several good vantages spots where one can look through the trees.

Last Friday, Charles Enlow and I hiked Tonga Ridge to Fisher Lake and had a few surprises. First up, we had a female Pine Grosbeak about a mile and a quarter from the trailhead. While we were watching her and just as she flew off, a dark morph Swainson's Hawk soared over heading east. About a quarter of a mile from Fisher Lake we had a female American Three-toed Woodpecker. And perhaps the best was a young female Williamson's Sapsucker seen about a half a mile west from Sawyer Pass on our return trip in the afternoon. This is the far northeast corner of King County and the habitat is subalpine forest and meadows patches with abundant fruit (huckleberries and mountain ash) in the autumn. The trail to Sawyer Pass is not difficult and there are some nice views of the Cascades along the way. The trail to Fisher Lake is more challenging as it is poorly maintained and has several steep and eroding sections. But the lake has a picturesque setting and some very fine views of Glacier Peak at the unnamed pass before you head down to the lake. This is also one of the best locations for Canada Jay near Greater Seattle- we had at least 27 individuals in five family/social groups (identified by group size and composition of adults and juveniles) along the trail and another 2 on our drive out. I once had a supergroup here of between 30 and 40 individuals back in October 2005.

I hope everyone had a great long weekend out in the field.

Best, Alan

Alan J. Knue
Edmonds, WA



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