After Maureen Ellis announced the return of some "winter" birds to the Des
Moines Marina, I had high hopes for East Bay, Olympia, surveys, but the grebes
and their buddies still haven't worked their way this far south. Over the past
week, I have seen only cormorants, geese, and mallards on the water.

This morning, 3 pipits and 6 larks were present nearby, though. Locals might
check the weedy gravel alongside the RR tracks across from the new Batdorf and
Bronson place by the Farmer's Market.

Along the shoreline of West Bay, a flock of about 20 yellowlegs was too far
away to learn much more about.

I've also been encountering migrant Savannah Sparrows in the drainage pond
beside the Swantown Boatworks construction site. These are Alaskan birds, I
would guess, as they are larger and darker than our local nesters. Jewett et
al. describe "Sitka" and "Aleutian" and "Western". Not sure how I'd assign
these.

Yard birds on Oly's west side are finally interested in the sunflower seed
feeder. Chickadees and nuthatches are now regulars. Juncos showed up over the
weekend, too.

--
Scott Richardson
Olympia, Washington
salix at halcyon.com