Thomas Pond

Thomas Pond is literally a hole in the ground. The area was formerly farmland but is now fast becoming a sea of warehouses and the pond was probably dug as part of a mitigation project to 'compensate' for the loss of farmland and open space. In Autumn 2003 the pond was on the edge of a new construction site and was problably only recently excavated. The hole measures about 250m x 75m and is about 1.5m deep. The sides are rather steep and were only lightly vegetated with grasses and other colonising plants. The water level was low and as the area dried out this left a network of tiny pools and exposed mud which were a magnet for passing shorebirds passing down along the edge of Lake Washington and south along the Kent Valley.

The pond is right next to Highway 167, which is probably the third busiest road in the state, after I-5 and I-405. There are only a few cars and trucks using Frontage Road and the only people in the area are birders visiting the pond so despite the deafening noise the area is relatively undisturbed and the birds seem quite settled.

It is not known how long the site will remain good for shorebirds. If it continues to be seasonal - drying out in late summer - then it will continue to be one of the better sites for viewing shorebirds up close and possibly the best site to take photographs with a 50-mile radius of Seattle. It is possible it will be further developed to become a 'normal' pond with the water level raised permanently and the sides lined with cat-tails and other reeds - reducing it to a site suitable for herons and red-winged blackbirds.

Best Times To Visit

The pond is new so there is only one season's worth of information to go on. Currently the pond starts to dry out in late July and August which nicely coincides with the peak migration of shorebirds passing south through Puget Sound. Between 50 and 100 birds are typically present at any one time. The small number of Least Sandpipers present do fluctuate a little - possibly birds are moving between the site and other smaller ponds in the area.

During The Day
Late afternoon is by far the best time to visit. With the setting sun lighting the pond from the west side the reflections off the water provide fantastic backgrounds for taking photographs. The east side has a clear view of the Cascade Mountains and if they are covered in clouds then this shows up as a fantastic smokey-blue reflection on the water which really brings out the colours and details on the birds' plumage.

What Species To Expect

Most of the shorebirds passing down the Kent Valley prefer freshwater habitats. Western and Least Sandpipers are most common with Lesser Yellowlegs in smaller numbers. There are also a group of resident Killdeer which probably nest in the area. Surprises such as Semi-palmated Plovers which are more commonly founds on the beaches of the outer coast also turn up.

By far the most interesting species from 2003 were the handful of Baird's and Semi-palmated Sandpipers which appeared in August. Both species are relatively unusual for the southern end of Puget Sound and the site offered a rare opportunity to see them up close.

What's Good

• The reflection off the water, particularly when there are clouds over the Cascade Mountains is hard to beat, and produces the most exquisite backgrounds for taking pictures.
• The number of birds is small and potential predators are few so the birds spread out over the entire area. As a result it is relatively easy simply sit at the side of the pond and get close-up shots of the birds as they feed around the edges of pools.
• The steep sides of the pond provide an excellent back-drop so you are not silhouetted against the skyline. With slow, careful movements the birds are not easily disturbed and so will come very close to where you are sitting. I have even had Least and Spotted Sandpipers feeding along the edge of the pond try to walk underneath the tripod before deciding my legs were too formidable an obstacle.

What's Not So Good

• The future of this pond is not assured.