Hi Tweets,

Thanks to information provided by Dave Beaudette and Andy Stepniewski, I
headed out to see the Tricolored Blackbird colony near Wilson Creek in
eastern Grant County on Friday, July 10th. The only thing I would add to
the logistics would be to bring a good strong scope. Unless you want to
clamber down the cliff and increase your chances at seeing rattlesnakes, I
believe the best viewing is from the crest of the cliff in the morning hours
with a scope. I was there 9:30 to 10:45 a.m.

Conservatively, there were 5 adult males, but there could have been more.
It was impossible for me to judge just how many Tricoloreds were in the
marsh since they kept deep within the cattails when they weren't out
shuttling food to their young. While there were a number of female-plumaged
birds seen, the males were always the most visible. But I speak in relative
terms: there would frequently be periods where you'd go several minutes
without seeing any blackbirds in the marsh (though you'd hear them of
course). There were a few Red-winged Blackbirds near the periphery (for
comparison purposes).

In Questar views at 64X the males showed blood-red epaulets (lesser wing
coverts) broadly tipped with white. The red was a deeper red than the
orangey-red on Red-winged Blackbirds in the immediate vicinity. At times
the epaulet would all but disappear by black feathering in response to it
"puffing" up or when confronting a dominant male(?). I say the latter
because while viewing one such male, a second brighter colored male, landed
on a nearby cattail marsh. The first male immediately covered its red patch
leaving only a small sliver of white visible. The bills on these birds
seemed slimmer than that of nearby Red-wingeds. Their black plumage was
glossy and I could pick up bluish highlights, particularly in the nape, as
the bird would move in the sunlight.

I really could not do much with their calls. Being new to the Northwest, I
am still getting used to the variety of calls given by our own Red-wingeds.

I only got to study one female-plumaged individual in the scope, however,
both the belly and tail were obstructed by vegetation. It was begging for
food (fluttery wing display) deep within the cattails. It was perhaps
darker than a female Red-winged Blackbird with denser streaking on the
breast. It also had dull red shoulder patches (juvenile male?). If what
others have said is true with regard to the males leaving the colony shortly
after the young have fledged, then I suspect this could happen soon given
this apparent young bird's development. The males always came in with
mouthfuls of what looked like grasshoppers in their bills.

I echo Andy's comments. This is a very birdy area and well worth a long
drive.

Carl Haynie
Issaquah, WA
Chaynie at gte.net