Took a quick, windy, wet spin through the Valley on Sunday. Winter
visitors are arriving but didn't yet see huge numbers. Many were
probably there but hunkered down. Did see an impressive flock (2000
plus) of redwinged blackbirds (Neal Rd). That alone was worth the
drive.
Further along on the Carnation Farms Rd loop encountered 3 eagles, 2
male common mergansers, lots of hooded mergansers, lots of dc
cormorants, abundant numbers of Coopers, Redtails, a single marsh hawk
(very striking light morph) and a lone Kestrel. Other water birds
included: mallard, green winged teal, gadwall, ring necked, widgeons (no
Eurasians that we could see), coots, a very few pied-billed grebes.

Our own partially albino junco is visiting the feeder (after over a
year). It successfully raised young this past summer - none of which as
far as I could see were out of the ordinary. He had a less albino
friend, last summer, who doesn't seem to be around any more. Can anyone
tell me how common this feature is with juncos? I worry about this
fellow, he really stands out from the rest and also seems less wary -
not a good combination.

Janet Ray
Preston,WA