I got to Black River earlier than usual today but that didn’t help much. It was hard to find even a mallard, so I decided to try my luck over in the Waterworks Garden. But it was dead over there as well. Then, as I stood frowning at the large pond, two skinny ducks approached in the air. They turned out to be two green herons, an adult and a juvenile. They stayed quite awhile and put on a good show and were more than generous with me. I’ll start with the adult. In #1-4 you see it stalking, striking, holding a small fish, and then taking off.

Green Heron Junior seemed a little less familiar with the “drill”. He landed in a tree (#5-6) and later moved to another tree across the pond (#7). I was wondering if I would see the adult feed him something but that wasn’t necessary. He finally came down to the pond and started hunting for himself (#8-10). First he has a blue dragonfly, then he strikes and comes up with his own small fish. I think this guy is going to be a survivor!

News of the green herons’ good luck spread fast and a female belted kingfisher soon appeared. However, she didn’t have such good luck and soon left. While we are in the Waterworks, next is a busy Bewick’s wren. I don’t know if he had any luck but he did seem to be having a good time.

Now it’s back to Black River and a spotted sandpiper (#13-14). This time of year we occasionally see one or two hanging around the pond. This one seemed to be poking around in the preened duck feathers sticking to the log in the pond. At the other end of the pond, you see an adult pied-billed grebe who has just touched his head to the water in a dive. Earlier in the day, at the east end of the pond, I swear I saw a juvenile grebe make a dive. He didn’t come up in sight, so no picture, and I can’t prove it. It would be the first immature pied-billed grebe at Black River so far this year.

Next is the red-tailed hawk, #16. I don’t care what it looks like, it’s a red-tailed hawk. It gave a better red-tailed hawk cry than a red-tailed hawk could have. I grabbed my SX30 and scanned the skies in frustration for a hawk to appear overhead. Finally, we realized it was a red-tailed hawk in a Steller’s Jay costume in a nearby tree. Just when you think you are beginning to recognize bird calls, this happens.

As the clock was running on, I made the comment that this was shaping up to be my first-ever visit to Black River when I left with green heron photos, but no great blue heron photos. But then we came across the adult down in the west area of the pond (17-18). In the second of these, you might think he was bathing, but he is in the process of taking off. It’s interesting that he dropped his wings into the water before making his jump.

And finally, back in the east end of the pond, the usual yearling GBH made an appearance, making it again a two-blue-heron day. These two are going to be the winter caretakers, I’m sure.

Today, it was Black River and the Waterworks as usual on Tuesday. There were primarily mallards, gadwalls, and wood ducks hanging around the pond. A male wood duck in non-breeding plumage is seen first. Second, in a berry tree along Springbrook Creek is a robin. I usually avoid robin photos but things were dead and this was before I was to discover hot goings on in the Waterworks. The young heron was again in the back corner of the Black River pond (#3) and was there all afternoon.

In the large Waterworks pond there were two main events, one right after the other. First is a great blue heron who is marauding the pond for small goldfish. Bernie and I saw them in one of the upper ponds a few weeks ago. Apparently they have worked their way down through the inter-pond plumbing system to the large pond. I can’t tell if the heron is walking on the bottom or swimming. He was very busy and let me get fairly close. These are all with the SX30 camera.

A female belted kingfisher appeared at the pond while the heron was hunting. In fact, I think she was hunting the same thing as the heron. She hit the water several times but I couldn’t tell that she got anything. When I moved to set up the scope the heron hit the road and I was left with the kingfisher in #10-12. In #13, she is on her way to Black River.

And so to Black River where we caught up with the kingfisher (#14-16). In the last she is wrestling with a minnow (that lost). There was at least one other kingfisher, probably a juvenile, but I believe this one is probably the same one I saw in the Waterworks.

Today was Black River Tuesday, as usual, but first I need to give credit where due. Last week I emailed Leslie Betlach (Parks Planning and Natural Resources Director for Renton) that Black River’s beard was growing long. She passed the concern on to the Community Services Department and today I crossed paths with Jeff Nasset (one of the Lead Parks Maintenance Workers) who was surveying the site to plan for an upcoming work party. I have worked with Jeff a couple of times in the past and there is no one you would rather have involved than him. My thanks to both Leslie, Jeff, and others unknown to me for getting things started to spruce up Black River.

Since the “big” story last week was the pied-billed grebe nest under construction in the middle of the pond, I’ll start with them tonight. It’ll be short. They gave it up, possibly opting for a better site. Maybe it was just a dry run, or a wet run (since it is a floating nest), or maybe a wet dry-run.....you figure it out. The first photo shows that at least one of them is still hanging around that area. When I stopped to take this picture I irritated some guy nearby who wanted to talk privately on his cell phone. Tough! Black River is a nature preserve, not a phone booth.

There were again two herons at Black River and I expect they have adopted territory there and will be around for some time to come. The first seen in the photos (#2-3) is a yearling (one-year-old) whose crown is well on the way to turning white. He is habituating the east end of the pond. The next two are of an adult great blue heron who is usually in the central and west end of the pond.

Photos #6-7 are a first for me at Black River.....a river otter. I know others have infrequently seen them there, but not me. In my working days I once saw three at one time in Springbrook Creek about a mile to the south, but I have never seen one at Black River till today. I looked at him, he looked at me, he dove and that was the end of that. Next is one of the critters who is sometimes mistaken for a beaver or an otter.....a muskrat. I have been seeing them consistently at Black River for the last month or so. I also saw the raccoon swimming in the pond again, but no photo.

There were again three belted kingfishers at the Black River pond. I believe there is one adult and two juveniles. The photos (#9-10) are of juveniles, as evidenced by the reddish lower belt that fails to cross over the lower breast. In an adult female, it crosses completely over.

There were still many ducklings on the BR pond, but they are getting older.....those who have survived, such as the mallards in #11.

Now we cross the street (Oaksdale) to the Waterworks Garden, where there are again some quite small mallard ducklings. I came around a bend in the trail and there they were. I think the momma nearly had kittens to go with the ducklings. Nevertheless, she herded them away from the trail and into the nearby small pond as I passed on by.

The waxwings are once again dominating the Waterworks uplands. Today, a small group of them were bathing in the inflow to one of the small ponds on the hill. There I saw the juvenile cedar waxwing. You can tell that he is really new. This could be his first day out of the nest. Next are two mature waxwings, one soaking wet from the bath just below.

Staying in the Waterworks, we turn to the plant world. Both at Black River and the Waterworks, bird food is popping out all over, such as the Oregon Grape and the Queen Anne’s Lace seeds. (If it’s not QAL, it’s one of the look-alikes). If you remember the twin-berry from last week, the waxwings were interested in it today, but were not interested in being photographed in it.

To finish, some flowers I like......spirea (hackhack?) and small wild roses.

It was still apparent that the heron nests at Black River have failed this year, but at least they tried. I am confident they will make another try next year. The more I follow bird nests that I encounter, the more it seems that failed nests are the rule rather than the exception. It’s tough out there! But, we did have a couple of herons around......one adult and one yearling. They may turn out to be the caretakers for the coming winter, which, the way things are going, may commence in about two weeks.

Ducklings continue to overrun Black River. I had given up on wood ducklings this year, but the first thing I saw was both a mother mallard and a mother wood duck in close proximity (#1). Not too far from them was the adult great blue heron (#2). However, he didn’t seem to share my enthusiasm for wood ducklings and fled the scene as they passed by (#3). To finish off the herons (figuratively speaking, of course!), the next two are of the yearling heron at the other end of the pond (#4-5).

New blossoms are appearing every week at Black River and the Waterworks Garden. #6 shows Ocean Spray along the Black River pond trail. The spotted towhee (#7) was out in the meadow. Across the street at the Waterworks, the waxwings have returned, two being seen in #8-9. Overhead we saw an osprey as it headed toward Lake Washington.

Now it’s back to Black River and the stars of today’s show......a pair of pied-billed grebes building their floating nest in the middle of the pond. It seems late for this. You have seen my photos of the grebe babies at Stillwater who reached full-size several weeks ago. Nevertheless, here we are. The grebe photos (#11-18) are in chronological order over a period of 45 minutes. It’s a slow process and they have a ways to go. There is no guarantee they will complete it and no guarantee it will succeed. One of the potential problems is seen in the last two photos, a raccoon who is only about a hundred feet away from the grebe construction zone. However, there was a nest at the Seattle Arboretum pond a few years ago that was this exposed and it was successful. We’ll keep our fingers crossed.

Now, a note regarding the trail. For the first time in awhile I took my pruning shears to fight the blackberry demons at Black River. As usual, I speared myself and bled. Fortunately, I now take bandaids and that saved my life (figuratively speaking again). However, as I fished a paper towel out of my pants pocket, my scope lens cover came out, too. This I discovered hours later as I was loading to leave. Fortunately, I had a notion as to what happened and was able to find it. I hope I learned a lesson about something in this little fiasco.

A much more interesting trail tale concerns the beavers. I hope you remember that I commented several weeks ago as to how the beavers had downed a tree on the far side of Springbrook Creek which was tall enough to span the trail after falling all the way across the creek. We had to stoop to get by it. Today, the trail was completely open. The beavers had cut it into three sections and hauled off the top two. Some people complain about beavers but at least they clean up after themselves. They are much better workers than me, but they only take care of their own mess.

Ducklings continue to overrun Black River and the Waterworks Garden. But first, the heron story. Well, in four hours we neither saw nor heard any sign of a great blue heron. I am convinced this means the heron nests that we know were started have failed for some reason. Eagles? Probably not, but who knows. I personally have not seen an eagle around Black River since before the three known nests started up. And there are other reasons besides eagles for nests to fail. Sometimes I wonder how there can be so many birds of any species. So, we shall wait for next year. On a slightly positive note, I believe it is accurate to say that there is still an unbroken string of years in which the herons at least started nests at Black River. I have photographic documentation for both last year and this year. Well, that seems to be the story for 2011.

Just when you think the mallards do nothing but stand around on logs at the pond edge, here comes a slew of ducklings. The first four photos show mallard families at Black River and the Waterworks Garden. The total number of ducklings here and there?? Thirty? Forty? And it is one big food fest. #5 shows what’s on the menu. There’s no accounting for taste!

Sans herons, Black River is still rich in wildlife and beauty. #6-10 show some of the trailside birds, culminating with a male western tanager who is eating one of the berries that the robin is near. We haven’t seen a tanager there in a couple of months. Thanks to Bernie and Mary for finding this one.

And also out on the pond, the pied-billed grebe showman. How can you not love those little guys!

Leaving the bird world, there is a bee thing (hornet, wasp, bumble bee.....I don’t know) and the pale tiger swallowtail (I looked it up!). Both of these were near to the tanager. And to finish, two plants in the Waterworks Garden. The first one I know, a Calla Lily. The second one.....it’s a mystery.

This is from Black River and it consists mostly of herons, but it is a perplexing story. I was joined by Mary Roller and her daughter. (Mary, remind me of her name....I’m drawing a blank. Probably a side effect of the mosquito repellent).

The perplexing part isn’t Mary and her daughter, but rather, what is going on with the herons? We agree that we saw at least four great blue herons today. Possibly, one seen in the Waterworks Garden makes it five. You see them in the first nine photos hunting, panting from the heat (Texas herons would scoff), and just hanging around. There were at least two adults and at least two in some stage of transition to adult plumage. However, we didn’t hear sounds coming from the nest area, nor did we see any herons going to or from. As they say, you can’t prove a “negative”, but it has me nervous. If the nests have failed, it surprises me that these herons are hanging around still. If they have not failed, we should be hearing something and seeing flights in and out. So, we keep waiting.

The blue herons weren’t the only herons, today. As we approached the large pond in the Waterworks, I told Mary I would be looking for a green heron there. She asked “where”? I said “right there” as one took off right on cue and flew to the far side of the pond. It was a fledgling green heron, probably from a nest down near the pipe-fitters union pond. Just as with Woody Junior yesterday, all you need to see to know it is a fledgling is the friz on the top of his head. In #12, he seems to have a small fish.

Back at the Black River pond, ducklings are still swarming. There were at least three large groups, both mallards and gadwalls. Some of them are seen in #13-16. Next, two red-tails high above the Black River pond, as seen from the Waterworks Garden. Watch out ducklings!

Finally, some furry critters. I did get a brief look at a beaver, but no picture. Instead, a muskrat eating dinner in deep shadows and a mouse swimming across the pond in broad daylight. I guess it’s a mouse.....

I’m late because I was at another Renton Parks open meeting to review the status of the ongoing exercise to develop a long range plan for the city’s park system. I think I could say that with fewer words but I won’t try. It’s late! Using a somewhat complicated methodology, the consultants conducting the study have put Black River at the top of a preliminary capital projects list that numbers over fifty. Of course, with all the financial troubles that governments at all levels are having, nothing will happen very soon, but there is hope for better things to come at Black River.

Meanwhile, back at the actual Black River....there were herons on the scene. There were at least two, and maybe as many as four at pond level, mostly hunting (#1-3). One got lucky (#4-5). It is now safe to go to Black River again. A heron has finally got the Black River Serpent. By the way, the heron wasn’t the only one with a bill full of invertebrates. Quite a few robins also did, such as the one in #6.

On the down side, I saw no herons going to or from the nest area today, which troubles me. On the other hand, at one point I thought I heard heron chicks clucking. I wish I could say I’m sure.

Last week I joked that this week there would be wall-to-wall ducklings on the Black River pond. I was right. There were at least five groups of them. #7-10 show a sampling. Also on the Black River pond, one of two grebes (#11).

I’ve taken a lot of male Anna’s hummingbird shots at Black River this year but hardly any of females. Tonight there are two views (#12-13) of a female by the BR pond. Later, over in the Waterworks Garden, there was the male, as usual ((#14). Also in the Waterworks Garden was the gargantuan plant. The leaves are about three feet across. It grows at that location year after year and I never pass up a picture of it. I have no idea what it is.

Last, along the Springbrook Creek trail leading back to Black River, another big plant bit the dust. This is a seemingly healthy green tree that fell from the other side of the creek. Fortunately, it is easy to pass under it. I couldn’t see the base of it, but I have some cash that says the beavers are retaliating against human annoyance.

I made a comment last week to the effect that we were seeing very few ducklings on the Black River pond this year. I spoke too soon. Today the joint was crawling with them.

But first, the heron report. We heard no chicks clucking. I checked my picture files for this year and there are a few suggestive that incubation was underway in the period of May 1 to May 15. Visibility was poor this year for the few nests that there are. Even if incubation began as late as May 15, hatching will have occurred by now. However, the chicks might still be too small to hear. Maybe next week, certainly by the following week, we should be hearing something. I saw at least one adult heron at pond level today and saw one flight from the nest area. That tells me that there is at least one active nest in there, but I am assuming that at least three nests are active. Fortunately, eagles don’t seem to be a factor so far this year.

The first four photos show an adult heron by the pond. They are all the same bird. #5 shows a yearling heron down by the beaver den. He is often at Black River but we assume he is not a participant in the nesting.

The rest of today’s photos come from the pond, starting with the pied-billed grebe. We haven’t seen a grebe nest yet, but Black River produces pied-billed babies every year and we should see some soon, I would imagine.

Also at the pond, a somewhat unusual bird (for Black River), one of two spotted sandpipers. Much more unusual, perhaps even rare for this time of year in the northwest, a female bufflehead, all by herself.

Now for the ducklings.......we had mallards, gadwalls, and wood ducks. Bernie counted fifteen ducklings with the mother wood duck. I wonder if we won’t be able to see the water for the ducklings next week!

At Black River today, quite a change from the rain last week. This week....windy.....but a sunny blue sky.

First, the heron report. There were two herons at pond level at mid-afternoon. Also, there was at least one flight in and one out of the nest area. Today I was alone. I can’t watch all the time and there are areas I go where I wouldn’t be able to see, so there could easily have been more flights. I heard no chicks clucking yet but I am confident that a small colony of 3-5 nests continues. There were no eagles seen by me today.

Next is the insect department featuring an unknown dragonfly. This is followed by the fur department. Around 5:30 a beaver made a haul to the den at the mouth of Springbrook Creek. Eight minutes later he, or another, made a reverse trip to find another branch.

With the wind, it was not a good day for seeing small birds. There was one brave hummingbird at the top of the Waterworks Garden. This guy was really being tossed around.

In #5 you can see there were a lot of mallards around today. But it seems to me like we have seen very few mallard ducklings on the Black River pond this year. Perhaps they are still to come but it seems late. However, there was one today (#15). His mother was escorting him but he was all alone.

Around mid-afternoon there was a red-tailed hawk soaring high for a short time. Toward the end of the day another raptor circled a few times over the pond. At first I thought it was an osprey but it finally sunk in that it was a peregrine falcon. We don’t see those very often at Black River.

It was dark all morning at my house today but the chance for showers was only 40% so I did go to Black River this afternoon. It turns out the forecast region did not include Black River. There the chance was 100% and it lasted for 2 1/2 hours. It didn’t start till after I got there and the very first sight at the pond was the official heron greeter. Shortly, he jumped down to the pond for a drink. Looks like a big margarita to me.

By the time I got down to the main viewing area the rain was for real (#3). However, it didn’t discourage a beaver from hauling a small branch back to the den for munching. Though the gadwall seemed to be dodging rain drops, the mallard says “So what’s new”.

Encouraged by the delusional radar display on my alleged smart phone, I tried to wait it out under a tree at the pond edge. But as my windbreaker began to fail me, I decided to go back to the car and trade my scope for an umbrella. Just before getting to the meadow trail I saw that the “greeter” had company. However, it was a heron hedging his bets, floating by the other on a makeshift life raft.

So, I abandoned the scope. All the rest of the wildlife photos are taken with the Canon SX30. The two scenery shots are with the S95.

I next decided to hop over to the Waterworks Garden where I found the frog on the path who wouldn’t hop. I tried to make him and he wouldn’t. Not far from him I did stumble on the Waterworks male Anna’s hummingbird waiting out the rain among the wild roses. Around a couple of bends in the trail there was the Waterworks grotto. It was pretty soggy in there but I enjoyed the view. Close by there was the variegated hydrangea. I know what it is because I have one, or I did until my new yard guy whacked it down to nothing.

I did return to Black River where I found one heron still biding time. I persevered for awhile and the rain actually stopped, followed by brief sun. This was interesting because as if at a signal there were several flights into and out of the small heron colony. It was as if several adults were hunkered down, then went to the nests during the break to take over incubation duties.

After the short weather break, clouds rolled over again and I figured I was out of business.

Our small band of herons persists with their nesting activity at Black River.  The first one seen today was actually at the large pond in the Waterworks Garden across the street.  Later, over at Black River, a heron landed by the pond in the trees close to the colony.  He stayed only a few minutes, then took off to fly into the nest area.  This could have been the same bird as in the Waterworks but I think it was a different one.  We did see a few herons in the air, such as the one in #4 that is headed away from the colony, presumably to go hunting.  My surmise continues that we have 3, 4, maybe 5 active nests.

 

I am happy to say that herons are still not a novelty at Black River.  But, there was a novel appearance today.  Finally, a beaver again.  We see the evidence of them all around.  They downed a big tree into the pond a couple of weeks ago and we could see their progress as the fed on it and diced it up.  Tonight we saw one of the rascals as he appeared at the tree (#5) to collect another branch to add to the den (#6).  Notice the grebe taking note as he passes by with part of the branch showing.  Speaking of grebes, the next photo shows one seen on pond earlier.  There is surely at least one nest around.

 

Earlier in the day a female wood duck took a bath in the pond, then relaxed on the the snag.  It seems we have almost as many wood ducks as mallards right now.

 

The first photo taken today was further down the trail.  It is one I haven’t seen at Black River before.....a red-eyed vireo, I think, though you can’t see the red eye.

 

Late in the day the red-tailed hawk was above the pond.  We suspect there is probably again a hawk nest in the forest beyond the pond.  There was also an eagle over us today, but so far up as to pose no threat to anything.

 

The rest of the set are from the Waterworks Garden where about half the small ponds are muddy, but devoid of water.  In one area of shallow mucky water some mallard ducklings were feeding with momma watching nearby.

 

There has been a male Anna’s hummingbird close to where the ducklings were for years, but we have not seen him for months now.  Until today.  Maybe him.  Maybe not, but there one was.

 

And finally, a little spring.....the wild rose.

Farewell to Timi, my good friend.  He passed away yesterday at age 17.  The first photo is of Timi at around age 10.  I met Timi and Hana at Black River.  I have always gone nominally once a week.  Hana and Timi went almost everyday for a number of years.  They saw a lot more of Black River than most of us.  We would always walk a bit and I would play ball with Timi.  He had amazing reflexes.  However, a few years ago it became difficult, then impossible for Timi to walk, so their trips to Black River stopped.  I have frequently stopped by their house on my way to Black River to say hi and take Timi treats.  I will miss him.

 

But there is good news.  The herons continue to keep their foothold at Black River.  With nests completely obscured by leaves, we look for herons in the air and we saw them indeed.  The two seen in the photos are taking sticks to fortify nests.  It will still be 2-3 weeks before we hear the clucking of chicks.

 

The first bird encounters today were in the meadow.....the good ole, same ole male Anna’s hummingbird and a pair of common yellowthroats (only the male is seen).  Later, while I was waiting for a tree swallow to return to a box, a red-tailed hawk landed on another box about 120 feet away.  He was on alert, spied a target in the grass and pounced, but failed.

 

On the pond, the entertainment again today was a pied-billed grebe, splashing and displaying, then eyeing a passing mallard.

 

But it wasn’t all birds.  There was a little furry novelty, as well.  For years I rarely saw squirrels at Black River.  This year they have become common.  In the photo tonight you can see one of them has built a nest.  And finally, and probably least.....a juvenile mouse scurried across the trail in front of us, then crept back out to make friends.  When we continued, Bernie picked him up by the tail and put him into a “safe” area.

The leaves make it impossible to see if there are herons in nests now.  But, the best possible confirmation came today.  In the space of a half-hour I saw six in the air going to and from the nest area.  The two in the first two photos both came at the same time.  That is conclusive proof that there are at least two active nests.  Of course, I can’t be sure there wasn’t some redundancy in the sightings, but seeing six in the air in only half an hour is strongly suggestive that there may be more than the three nests photographed with herons two weeks ago.  All doubt is removed that there is a small active colony.  No eagles were seen today.  Keep fingers crossed!

 

Besides the herons in the air, there were two at pond level when I first arrived this late afternoon around 4:30.  The first is a yearling....no white crown.  He is seen just before taking off for the secluded area of the pond.  The other was an adult who got dinner.  Perhaps I should say appetizer.  I don’t know what it is but I do know that he won’t have to wing-wrestle me for it.

 

The beavers have done it again.  They downed another tree into the pond (#8).  I can guarantee you that it was not down yesterday when we were there.  The heron with the worm is seen at right standing on the trunk.  We used to say that the herons had moved their nests back away from the pond to gain more security from the eagles.  If so, it didn’t work.  However, my theory is that they actually moved farther away to avoid having their nest tree downed by the beavers!

 

So, what else on the pond?  Well, the speeding pied-billed grebe and the wood ducks.  Above the pond, the first belted kingfisher I’ve been able to snare in awhile.  And not long before I gave up on the beavers making an appearance, two geese landed on the pond and went crazy.

Migrating birds made their mark at Black River today.......five of them in the first six photos.  Of course there have been others recently, such as rufous hummers, but these are the five new ones today:  western tanager, western wood-pewee, olive-sided flycatcher, brown-headed cowbirds, and northern rough-winged swallows.  There were at least three tanagers but I got one try at only one of them.  We looked for them the rest of the day, but no luck.  Maybe next week.

 

Now the herons....make that heron, singular.  The one in #7-8 spent the afternoon at pond level, preening, sleeping, even finding something to strike at.  We saw none others.  The leaves are too much out to offer any view of nests.  My assumption is that there are still at least three active nests.  During incubation there isn’t a lot of activity.  And with only three nests (maybe) it’s not highly surprising to not see flying.  If they should go out the backside of the colony we would never know it.

 

Now for some old faithful's.  First, one of several bushtit nests.  This one was very busy today (#9-12).  And the male Anna’s was at his primary station in the meadow with only brief absences.

 

I’ll finish with the most dependable of all, the omnipresent mallards.  #16 shows three of them in a staggered takeoff.  I saw nothing to trigger it.  But, they left behind one lone duckling.  I assume it is not theirs or they wouldn’t have left.  This poor guy was hanging around near adults all afternoon.  I hope he has an unseen parent nearby to watch out for him. 

It doesn’t seem like today could possibly be “Black River Tuesday”.  The sun was out and the sky was blue.  And the spring migrant birds were......still nowhere around.  But, I had a little fun anyway.  First, though, the worst picture, but the most significant to some of us.  Yes, it’s an active heron nest.  Well, part of one.  You can see that the leaves have really socked things in.  Of the three or so nests we believe are active, this is the only visible one and that’s not saying much.  In the photo, you can the orange of a bill.  Just trust me, I briefly saw the head as the breeze moved things around.  I also saw one heron in the air over the pond as he went to the far corner of the pond to hunt (out of my sight).  I can’t prove it but I am confident that at least three nests are active.  There was an eagle around, just one, but not for long as the red-tail in #2 chased him away.

 

As expected, the ducklings are beginning to appear.  The mallards in #3 are in the Waterworks Garden.  Those in #4 are on the Black River pond.  In #5 there is a pair who aren’t yet meeting their obligations.

 

The “show” today on the pond was a pied-billed grebe.  For over an hour this guy was snoozing on the pond as seen in #6.  Then, a little after 6:00, he came to life, preening and displaying.  Earlier, at the other end of the pond.....the berserk goose.

 

There was not a lot of small bird activity but here is what I got – the tree swallow and male Anna’s in the meadow, and the song sparrow in the Waterworks.  This male Anna’s is the same one that has been carrying around the “bowtie” of vegetation.  It appears that it has finally dropped off.

 

And finally, in the non-bird department, there is the “molting” turtle.  I’m no turtle expert, but if he is not molting, it’s a pretty good imitation.  In the pollination department, we have the bee (hornet?) and the damsel fly.

 

And in the furry critter department, there are two beaver entries.  If you want to know when to expect to see beavers at Black River, these appeared about 6:45 tonight.

So, on to Black River, where the plot thickens.  The two active heron nests are still active (#1-2).  In fact, toward the end of the day, we (Bob, Bernie, and I) realized that there is at least one more active nest (#3).  It’s not impossible there could be another one or so beyond our sight.  The heron in #1 is surely incubating.  We believe the one in #2 is also, although she is standing in the photo.  #3 is uncertain.  We did see stick collection going on, of a sort.  In #4-5, you see a male from nest #2 raiding an old nest from last year for a stick, then returning with it to nest #2.

 

Now to the other side of the coin, dadgum it.  First, I point out that the new osprey nest is up and available at the water treatment facility, across the street and down a little from Black River.  The sticks were human-placed as an inducement.  Sort of like apartment come-ons.....”First Month Free”.  No ospreys seen yet and it’s getting late.  We’ll see.

 

But....only a few hundred feet from the osprey nest, there were three eagles playing chase in the sky.  You see two of them in #7-8.  (There’s never an osprey around when you need one!).  These two are adults.  Bernie thought the third was perhaps a fourth-year eagle.  And now the plot thickened further.  When we got back to “heron land”, two adult eagles were in the old eagle-nest tree (#9).  After a bit they took off toward the heron cluster, circled over it, and then moved off to the east away from Black River.  It was clear that this action by the eagles caused several herons to flush, except for those on eggs.  There was no attack attempt by the eagles.  Hopefully, this was a random encounter (Hopefully...).  There is no way at this point to know if these two are Bonnie and Clyde.  Stay tuned for next week.  However, it will get progressively difficult to see the nests to monitor heron presence and activity, but we will try.

 

Now, on to other Black River denizens today.  The usual ducks, including wood ducks were on the pond, but the unusual ones, at least for Black River, were a pair of common mergansers (the male in #10) and a pair of hooded mergansers (#11).

 

In the small bird department, there were numerous yellow-rumped warblers along the trail (#12- 13).  The male Anna’s with the “bowtie” continues to haunt the meadow (#14-16).  He performed an impressive courtship dance for us around ten times.  He dives from something like 100 feet and does a sharp U-turn at the bottom.  The speed is great enough to produce a sharp whistle through his feathers at the bottom of the dive.  After the dive, he rises to perhaps 30 feet, hovers, then repeats the performance.  In #17 he is seen in one of these hovers.  The bowtie doesn’t seem to interfere with his style.

 

And finally, there is the male rufous that seems to have set up shot along Springbrook Creek.

There weren’t many herons today at Black River but those that are there are serious.  When I first arrived I saw the heron in #1 appearing to be on eggs.  But a few minutes later it was standing.  This is the nest of those I dubbed “Adam and Eve”.  It was good to see this pair that I had seen last week was still there.  But now we jump to the end of the day as a heron approaches the nest area (#3).  Bernie and I pursued to see where it landed.  We’re not sure which is which, but we discovered a second nest (#4) with a standing heron rearranging sticks.  (I’ll call this pair “Samson and Delilah”).  So, it looks like we are pretty solid on having two nesting pairs at Black River this year.  Maybe there is a yet unseen pair back in there somewhere.  The view of the leafing trees around the pond in #5 shows the problem we face.  The nests being used are back in the forest and will be very difficult to get views of chicks when they appear.  We should be able to hear them though in perhaps 5-6 weeks.

 

We seem to be seeing a lot of hummingbirds this year at Black River.  We couldn’t catch them all but here is a sampling of the bunch, starting with the male Anna’s in the meadow (#6-7).  Then, a female Anna’s along the main trail.  Finally, the first male rufous at Black River this year (#9). 

 

I expected to see mallard ducklings on the pond this week but instead there were goslings, as in #10-12.  Wood ducks are continuing a presence on the pond and I am sure we will see wood ducklings in due course.  Two views of one of the males are shown, the first one showing that this guy has been banded.  Next, a duck pair I haven’t seen at Black River in awhile.....hooded mergansers......so maybe we will also see merganser ducklings later.

 

The bushtit nest we saw a couple of weeks ago is completed and in operation.  There is no doubt incubation is in progress.  The male (black eye) is seen emerging from the nest.

 

Last of all, a band-tailed pigeon is seen high in a tree along Springbrook Creek.

It must be spring, the herons are nesting at Black River......well one pair is nesting there.  It seems strange to refer to the Black River “nest” instead of the Black River colony but, after the fiasco of last year, this is a big deal.  I am calling this pair Adam and Eve (#1).  I think we may one day want to put up a plaque in their honor.  They are serious.  #2-3 show a stick being taken from a nearby nest and another being handled for placing in this year’s nest.  There are obviously no eggs yet, but maybe next week.  Unfortunately, these may be the last photos of this nest because of encroaching leaves.

 

Continuing with spring - ta da! - the first mallard ducklings of the spring in the Waterworks Garden.  I think there were 6 or 7.  I’ll bet next week there are some on the BR pond.

 

More spring!  This time flowers (#5-7).  Most of you know that I know beans about plant and tree identification.  However, I am bragging that I at least know salmon berry blossoms (#7).  And speaking of flowers, next is the same old male Anna’s working the red-flowering currant by the main trail, followed by a female Anna’s down the trail a ways, doing likewise.  #10 shows her resting directly above the trail.

 

Directly below Mrs Anna’s is a Bewick’s Wren gathering soft stuff for lining his nest (#11-12).  In #13 he (she) is relaxing from the tough work.  Then, back to work as she crouches to launch off the branch (#14).

 

The last song bird of the day is the golden-crowned sparrow in breeding plumage (yellow fore-crown and bi-colored bill).  Also in breeding plumage and never before seen (by me) at Black River, is a male ruddy duck.  There are quite a few at Tukwila Pond, a few miles away, but I have never seen one at BR.

 

And now, about a new nest going up.  The last photo shows the pole for a new osprey platform being set up at the water treatment plant across the street from Black River.  It’s getting late and it may be iffy as to whether it sees use this year.  We shall hope.  Also, you have seen over the years in these emails that ospreys have a “thing” about eagles.  They will go to some lengths to chase them away.  We can wonder if any new osprey residents might have a beneficial impact on heron stability at Black River.  Well, maybe.......

Well, what can I say.  The Black River heron yoyo continues.  Mary, Bob, Bernie, and I agreed it was a done deal.  No nesting herons at Black River this year, but we would have fun finding other things.  However, as a well-known Book put it.....The last shall be first, so I am starting with the end of the day.  After Bob and Bernie had to leave, Mary and I hung around hoping for a beaver.  Oh my goodness.  Around 6:00 a lone heron crossed the pond over our heads and went directly to a nest.  No circling.  Then two more came.  Then a fourth.  Then three left.  Then they came back.  To the bottom line – #3-4 show them as we left around 7:00.  It looks like we may have at least two nesting pair at Black River this year.  Could be!

 

I didn’t think herons would one day be a novelty at Black River, but they are right now.  But there was lot’s of novelty today. 

 

First, the hummingbirds.  The meadow hummer is still carrying the sticky thing on his neck (#5).  Along the trail by the red-flowering currant, the male Anna’s is still around (#6).  He is now sharing the flowers with a female (#7-8).

 

Bernie has found two bushtit nests.  The male and female are shown by one of the nests in #9-10.  The male downy woodpecker is in the meadow.  I considered it novel for me to get a decent picture of one.

 

Out on the pond, the pied-billed grebes have paired off.  A male hooded merganser has appeared for the first time in months.  And the male bufflehead is warming up for his migration.  They will be gone pretty soon.

 

And finally, there actually two furry critters.  Over in the Waterworks Garden, a long-tailed weasel was hiding from us under a utility box.  And at the end of the day, with barely enough light, a beaver finally appeared after many months of not being seen (by me).  In fact, this guy whacked his tail three or four times.

 

Well, that’s it.   Looks like interesting times ahead at Black River.

No herons have been reported at Black River for almost a week now, so far as I know.  Today, I report herons at Black River.  The bad news is they were not in the nests.  The good news is that at least there were four of them there.  Why....I don’t know.  One adult was hunting in the far corner of the pond (no photo).  Two adults were hanging around in the staging area west of the nests (#1-2).  One immature heron (#3) was on a log by the pond.  It’s not very many, but why are they there?  Maybe there is still slim hope.

 

Now to hummingbirds.  This has been a big spring for hummingbirds at Black River.  Two today at BR and one across in the Waterworks Garden.  The first two photos (#4-5) are of the male Anna’s who has commandeered a small tree right beside the meadow trail from the parking lot.  He has acquired something resembling a necktie.  I assume it is some sort of sticky vegetation that has attached to him.  I wonder if he even knows it.  The next four (#6-9) are of the male Anna’s who has been staked out by the red-flowering currant by the main trail.  He is wearing conventional hummingbird attire.

 

Right by the pond, the northern flicker is casting furtive glances around.  And on the pond......the green-winged teals and the wood duck.  There were two wood duck pairs around today.

 

And finally, on the little island closest to the beaver den, a nesting Canada goose.  There has been a nest on that spot for at least three years now.  Consequently, I now officially name it – Goose Island!

I think “nonplussed” is the perfect word for me today.  No herons in the nests at Black River.  In fact, only one heron....on the small island next to the “beaver” island, where he has been a couple of weeks now.  Why is he there?  Where are the others?  Will they return?  Beats me.  My guess is that the lousy weather has discouraged them from getting started.  Well, that’s what I hope, anyway.

 

It rained the entire time I was there, lighter at first, then heavier and heavier till it drove me home.  The buffleheads didn’t seem to mind it too much but the teals and mallards weren’t too thrilled with it.  So, the star of the Black River show again today was the male Anna’s hummingbird working the large red-flowering currant tree.  You can see the rain drops in the first one of him (#7).  The next three show him futzing around.  The next two show the currant blooms.  It’s a nice touch on a miserable day like this one.  The last two show the hummer in action with the currant as he demonstrates the easy way and the hard way.

 

Now you would think I would be the only crazy one out there, but there were four others.  Two young couples came along in rain gear, with binoculars, looking for birds.  Two of them were local, maybe Renton, I’m not sure.  The other two were from Humboldt, CA.  They were only generally aware that BR has been the site of a large heron colony, so I told them the story.  This is just another of more than a few encounters I have had at Black River with people from other states.  It always reinforces the high value I place on Black River, herons or not.

I stood for 3 1/2 hours in pouring rain today at Black River, but it was worth it.  The herons are back in the nests.  Susan Anderegg saw them there on March 26th.  Over the next few days they were back, but to the staging area, then gone, then back, then gone.  I didn’t know what to expect today but I had to take a look.  I first saw the lone heron across in the staging area.  Not good.  However he looked up as another flew overhead (#1).  That raised hopes.  Then he buried his head in a futile attempt to stay dry (#2).

 

I headed down to the “main viewing area” to face the music.  The view there is in #3.  The nests appear as tiny black dots in the upper-center.  But moving around, and looking closer....BINGO....there they were.  #4 shows a cluster of five herons.  Next is a closer look at a nest with a pair.  Then a solo out on a limb.  The total in the colony was ten, that I saw.  Meager compared with the heydays.  There could have been a few more not visible.  Some were in nests, some standing around, just like the Lake Sammamish colony last week.  There are only ten, but considering the fiasco of last year, this answers the question “are they coming back”.  At least some have returned.  I think we can expect more to come when the weather improves.  After all, Black River is still prime habitat for a heron colony.

 

By the trail at the main viewing area, the male Anna’s hummingbird was again hanging around.  #7 shows him in a blackberry thicket trying to stay dry. (Lots of luck!).  Next are three closeups of him with the Canon SX30 camera. 

 

Did I mention that it was raining today?  If not, then have a look at the grebe, buffleheads, and the goose.  If you still aren’t convinced, ponder the pond and the submerged trail.  The original Black River went dry many years ago and few people know where the old river bed was.  From #15, it seems a new Black River may be emerging.

 

Well, my view is things are looking good.  I am convinced the herons are back to stay for the season.  Welcome back!

I went to Black River today with high hopes the herons would be back and in the nests.  Not so.  There was one heron down in the staging area and we hoped he would draw more, but it didn’t happen.  However, since so many other colonies seem to be starting late, I am still expecting herons to nest at Black River this year.  I will probably go again Friday to see.

 

Hey, but Black River always comes up with something.  However, let’s start with today’s weather (#1) which was not unlike the day-before-yesterday’s, or yesterday’s, or tomorrow’s, or the next day’s, or.....who knows.  I’m getting tired of trying to keep my scope eyepiece dry so I left it in my car today and depended mostly on the Canon SX30.  Though the weather is officially annoying me now, the male scaup in #1 is unperturbed.  He can’t seem to get enough water. 

 

The other critters who are not annoyed by the weather are the beavers.  Though it has been months since I have seen one, they have had another spurt of energy.  #2 shows the latest downings, just within the last few days.  The biggest one, stretching far across the pond, is a forty or fifty footer.

 

Black River, in spite of the rain, was showing some nice color today.  First, the trailside greenery.  Next, the red-flowering currant.  It is said that hummingbirds like this stuff.  Well, maybe.....

 

There were quite a few bushtits around today but it was tough to stay up with them, as illustrated in #5. 

 

And now for the lifesaver.  It turns out that hummingbirds actually do like red-flowering currant.  We were treated to a demonstration by an extremely obliging male Anna’s hummingbird.  #6-11, and #15 show him in action, as seen with the Canon SX30.  Some of these are not bad.  Fortunately, Bob had brought his scope and set it up on the guy at one point.  Given a chance, I took #12-14.  A scope is just hard to beat!

 

And finally, in #15, we see our friend waving goodbye to us as we give up waiting on the herons and headed down the sloshy trail.

I couldn’t resist going to Black River this afternoon after Susan Anderegg saw up to 16 herons in the nests yesterday morning.  It was different today, but still interesting.  When I  got there, there were no herons.  When I left, there were no herons.  But in-between, there were 15.  Here’s the story.  Around 2:30, a lone heron passed over the pond, circled back and landed 600 feet away in a tall cottonwood (#1), next to the one that had held the eagle nest.  After ten minutes, he took off headed south and left the premises.  Aha! but around 3:00, thirteen came in together and landed in the staging area to the west, toward the dam.  #2 shows a group of eight in one of the trees they chose.  In a nearby tree there were another five, including the two seen in #4.  They stayed a half-hour or so, then all left.  Bummer.  But......in another 45 minutes, 6-8 returned to the same trees.  And then, in a little while, all but one of them left.  That one was there as I traversed the meadow toward my car.  But, almost there, I looked up as he passed over me.  And then there were none.  What does this all mean?  I think it means they are going to nest there but haven’t quite committed yet.  However, I warned you about taking my wildlife prognostications at face value, so you decide.  I’m feeling pretty good but will be checking again on Tuesday.

 

As an aside, it rained most of the time while I was there today, from light to medium.  It was somewhat miserable.  You will notice rain drops in a number of the following.  Also, I have once again added the “SX30” suffix to photos taken with that camera.  All others were digiscoped with the S95 camera.

 

There are always other critters on the scene at Black River and for the moment we have a male Anna’s hummingbird staked out in the meadow right by the trail.  You will brush the small tree as you pass by on the trail.  He is seen in #5-10.  In the last three of these, I was in the range of 6-8 feet from him and the SX30 did a pretty good job.  He seems to be pretty tolerant of passers-by.

 

Also in the meadow were two band-tailed pigeons, not seen too often at Black River.  One of them is seen playing peek-a-boo.  Two small birds are included....the bushtit and the kinglet, seen down by the pond.

 

In the duck department, the entries are the common mergansers, the female scaup, the green-winged teals, and the male ring-neckeds.  The mergansers are the only ones in breeding plumage that I have seen at Black River.  There are two ways to tell if it is breeding plumage.  Check in a bird book or be there when......well, I covered all the angles today.

I may as well get to the point.  There were no herons today at Black River.  There were only a few down at Lake Washington.  In my mind this makes it 99% likely they are not coming back this year.  If they are not there next week, I will move the meter to 100%.  In the heyday of the colony there were around 130 nests, 260 adults, and perhaps 300+ fledglings.  This year there will be none.  I have been going there nine years now.  Others I know, such as Suzanne and Susan, quite a bit longer.  We, and others, will miss them a lot.  But, perhaps next year or the year after......  Returns have occurred in some other colonies we know about.  Knock on wood.

 

I have no plans to discontinue my weekly trips to Black River.  It is a still a great nature preserve, an oasis surrounded by business parks, water treatment plant, quarry, and apartments.  There is a great amount of wildlife and flowers there besides the herons.  I look forward to chasing migrant birds, weasels, green herons, beavers, and other critters through the coming spring and summer.  Maybe I’ll see you there.

 

On to today.  We still have most of the winter ducks at Black River, except that the shovelers were absent.  There is an above average number of scaups this year.  There were around ten today.  In past years, usually only a few.  Some are seen in the first photo, along with a male bufflehead.  There are still 10-15 of the buffleheads around, and a number of green-winged teals.  The next two photos show some of the ring-necked ducks still hanging around.  Gadwalls aren’t novel at Black River, but the one in #4-5 has lost all sense of decorum.  The mallard in #4 is expressing his opinion.

 

Actually, there was a moderately interesting bird in the meadow this afternoon.  I am calling it a yellow-shafted flicker.  I have never seen one around the NW.  This is contrasted with the red-shafted flicker of photo #6, taken today in the Waterworks Garden.  That one shows the characteristic red mustache on the cheek.  The yellow-shafted flickers have a black mustache and a red “V” on the back of the head.  The one in #7-9 has tinges of red bordering the black mustache.  I am out of my depth to say if this is unusual.

 

There were some uncooperative small birds at BR today but I did finally catch up with a golden-crowned sparrow.  And speaking of “golden”, #11 shows Oregon Grape buds that are close to opening.

Another email listee, Mary Roller, joined up with Bob, Bernie, and I at Black River this afternoon.  It rained the entire time and the cameras were not happy.  Neither were we.  What heroes.  But, we wanted to see if the herons were back to Black River, or not.  The short answer is not.  We have heard recently that herons returned to the Pioneer Way colony in Tacoma about two weeks ago, and to the new Kent Animal Shelter colony just last week.  On the other hand, I heard from Mike West today that they have not yet returned to the Kenmore Park-and-Ride colony, so there is still hope for Black River.  I should go to Lake Sammamish State Park soon to check on the status there.

 

Back to Black River, we saw one heron on one of the little pond islands when we arrived.  Later, one passed over our heads toward the back corner of the pond.  And just as we were headed to cars, we saw the one in the photos.  They could have all been the same bird but my guess is there were two.  It doesn’t really matter, they aren’t back yet.

 

In the dreary drizzle the pond was lightly populated today.  The teal pair were the only winners in the popularity contest, by a hair, or rather a feather.  Over in the Waterworks Garden it was really exciting as I set a new Puget Sound record for empty-branch shots.  We chased a number of kinglets, chickadees, YB warblers, and bushtits around, giving me only one passable shot of a golden-crowned kinglet.  The little devils just hardly ever stopped for more than a few seconds.  In bad light, the Canon SX30 has a devil of a time focusing fast enough.  But that’s my problem.

 

So now, over to the Cedar River Park to look for herons at the staging area by Boeing.  From that vantage point, we saw none and started to wonder if they had all gone to Kent.  While we groused, I took pictures of gulls (not grouse).  As the rain intensified and the light failed, six herons appeared in flight headed our way from the direction of Coulon Park.  Several landed near the end of the Renton airport runway.  Several others went to driftwood in the lake.  The farthest two are seen posturing in a way that I have seen before at the Tualco Rd. pond.  (Necks and heads extended upward, wings arched).  At that time, Chris Anderson (WDFW) thought this likely had to do with a territorial dispute.  Most likely, he’s right.  Maybe this time, though, the dispute is with the kayakers that were approaching.

 

Well, we were heartened to see herons at Lake Washington.  Before we left the Cedar River park, all had flown over in the direction of the Boeing plant where we had seen them gathering.  So, we made our last stop Coulon park, to check the other side of the point of land that attracts them.  Sure enough, there was a large number of herons huddled together out of the wind.  Bob counted 40.  My two photos don’t include all of them.  So, my feeling is that there is a good chance that these herons are destined to make a nesting try at Black River again.  I checked my files again and the first nest photos last year were on March 17, so stay tuned.

It was quite an interesting day today at Black River and the Cedar River Park.  In more ways than one.  Bob, Bernie, and I met at Black River first today and shortly after the great blizzard of ‘11 struck (the first three photos).  At least for a short time, BR was in the Puget Sound convergence zone.  It’s a good thing birding is so much fun.  (It’s good to say that often).  Well, anyway, along the way I picked up a couple of small bird photos in bad light – the creeper and the kinglet.  But, when the blizzard had ceased and skies improved, the bird luck improved, also.  On a light pole near the Oaksdale Ave. bridge, we spotted the red-tailed hawk.  These photos were taken from the Springbrook Creek path with the Canon SX30 camera.  I had left my scope in the car because of the weather.

 

Back to the car, I got the scope and we returned to the BR pond.  Today, there were three adult herons in the staging area.  I include shots of two of them.  With the unseasonably cold weather that is coming our way, I expect there will not be a move to the nests in the near future.  By the way......again today, no eagles seen at BR.

 

Next, we moved over to the Cedar River Park on Lake Washington.  From there we can see the other side of the point of land where the Black River herons are thought to gather.  From this side we counted six.  My photo includes four.  Presumably there were many more on the far side of the point.

 

Out on the lake it was mostly gulls, hanging around having a good ole time......until.....suddenly, and silently, they rose en masse, and you know why.  An eagle has approached.  This one was carrying the remains of something and passed them by for the log out in the lake.  By the time we caught up, he was finished with it.  Before long, he flew closer to us (nice guy!) and landed in the shallow water near another log.  Eagles don’t have too many nemeses, but one of them is kayakers.  A  group had just left the boathouse, spotted him, and headed his way.  He said no way.  This makes me think we should get a kayak for the Black River pond.

 

Well, let’s see.  That’s two raptors so far, but there were more.  From where we watched the eagle, Bob spotted the peregrine falcon on a tower above the Boeing plant.  And when we got back to the car, Bernie saw a Cooper’s hawk on a ladder attached to the same building.  This one then moved to the roof and proceeded to stealthily, and quickly, stalk around on the roof.  It was more catlike than hawklike.

 

As a contrast to the Black River blizzard, my last photo at the Cedar is of a flowering tree by the lake.  The contrasts weren’t over, though.  As I approached home, the ground was white and it was snowing like a son-of-a-gun.  More is expected tomorrow through Thursday.  I hope you like juncos.

There were at least four herons at Black River today.  Suzanne and I met Jim Kaiser there to talk about ospreys, etc.  Jim is a recognized expert on ospreys and has authored a number of scientific papers on the subject.  He also knows something about eagles and agrees that it is very unlikely the eagles will nest at Black River this year.  It is simply too late.

 

As I first approached the pond, I saw the two adult herons  (white crowns) close together.  From the same position, I saw the third adult hunting along the shore.  At the end of the day I saw the fourth adult by the Beaver Island.  You can see him in the upper right in the “island” photo.  However, my feeling is that this is one of the three adults who had changed positions when we weren’t watching.  And by the way, “Beaver Island” is a just a name I have adopted for the small island where the beavers took down all the taller trees during the winter.  Further down the pond, near the main viewing area, there was an immature heron (gray crown) at the far shore, making a total of at least four.

 

Not to slight the ducks too much, I have included a green-winged teal pair and a goldeneye on Springbrook Creek.

The herons were on hold today.  At Coulon Park, I counted only 24 by the Boeing plant.  Over at Black River, there were only two rather inactive herons.  Actually, I consider that a good sign.  That is typical “staging” behaviour.  If they are going to just hang around.....better at Black River than somewhere else.  By the standards of recent years, it is still early for things to be happening at Black River.

 

As usual, I started at Coulon Park.  After counting the herons, I took the goldeneye tail feathers and the female scaups.  Back in the parking lot, I finally got a chance at the male Anna’s hummingbird Bob and Bernie have been telling me about.

 

At Coulon, the weather was breezy, but passable.  At Black River, things went downhill.  “Today’s Weather” (#5) about sums it up for most of the time.  The first bird sighted was a Cooper’s hawk far across the wide part of the pond, down by the dam.  Within sight of him was the “first heron”.  Down a few hundred feet from him was the “second heron”.  With the rain and the dark, I unsuccessfully chased some small birds, so the rest are ducks.  At Black River, they include the gadwall and teals, the female mallard, the wigeon pair, and the lone male wigeon.  Over in the Waterworks Garden, there was the mallard pair and a male gadwall who landed as contemplated the mallards.

It was a hot time at Black River this afternoon, but first, our stop at Coulon Park.  The herons are still gathering by the Boeing plant at the south end of Lake Washington.  We had been seeing in the twenties.  Today, I counted 36.  James Holland told me this morning he had counted 41 recently.  So, things are gaining speed, it seems.  Otherwise at Coulon today, not too much activity.  Just the diving bufflehead, a soaked cormorant, and the occasional gull passing overhead.

 

Things got interesting right at the parking lot at Black River.  We immediately saw a juvenile red-tailed hawk (#4).  About this time a woman came out of the meadow and told us it was her hawk.  She and another person were there training the hawk in falconry.  You know, falconry?  That’s like hunting with a bow and arrow, only the arrow has eyes and can steer.

 

And also seen, within minutes, a nearly-mature eagle soaring overhead.  I judge this one to be a fourth-year eagle.  If I am right, he is the same age as the fledgling of the Bonnie and Clyde in 2007.  It could be him.....who knows!  James H. also told me he saw two adult eagles in the former eagle tree.  This had Bob, Bernie, and I nervous when  we arrived today.  However, the eagle we saw never landed soon moved on beyond Black River.  It seems pretty sure no eagles will nest at Black River this year.  There is no evidence of a nest under construction and it is getting very late.  It’s not impossible but we just aren’t seeing that much of them.  Also, though I am not an expert, it doesn’t seem to me that what is left of the “eagle” tree (after last year’s crash) is suitable for an eagle nest.  However, if the herons do come back to Black River, we can expect some degree of eagle predation.  We’ll just have to hope it doesn’t get out of control again.

 

We are convinced there were at least four herons at Black River today.  They were pretty active, making it difficult to keep track of which was where.  Just as we arrived at the pond two came by in the air in a chase (#6,7).  Soon after, we saw an immature heron hunting near the nest area.  Later, possibly the same one near the beaver lodge.

 

There was a good variety of ducks on the pond today, for example, a wigeon (long-time no see at BR), a few pintails, a group of scaups and ring-neckeds.

 

In the small-bird department, there were the kingfisher and the preening brown creeper at Black River.  Over at the Waterworks Garden were the yellow-rumped warbler and the ruby-crowned kinglet.  As always, there were other birds seen but not photographed.  It’s surprising, but some birds just don’t seem to have wildlife photography very high on their to-do list.

Bob, Bernie, and I started off at Coulon Park again today, but on the way, I passed by the Barbee Mills osprey platform and saw an eagle pair on it.....one of them eating something.  The repeat of last year continues.  It will be very interesting to see what happens when the ospreys return in a couple of months.

 

At Coulon Park, the herons are still by the Boeing plant.  They are still numbering around thirty.  Otherwise, it was sort of dead at the little island.  A small number of goldeneyes were diving, snoozing, and preening.  No grebes of any sort were seen.  The western grebe flock of last week was gone.

 

Next, it was on to Black River and I’ll cut to the chase.  There were three adult herons in the staging area.  It’s a small number but it is still quite early.  We took the presence of these three, doing what herons do in the staging area (namely nothing), to be encouraging that a ramp-up may be commencing.  Stay tuned.

 

The next photo is a duck calibration shot......the female mallard and the male green-winged teal.  Next are some things not seen too recently at Black River – two of about 8 pintail ducks, two pied-billed grebes, and a male wood duck.

 

We saw few small birds at BR today, but Bernie found one I don’t remember seeing there before......a brown creeper.  He’s the last of the batch.