Tweeters,

The last couple of weeks my dad and I probably had twenty-five to
thirty Common Redpolls at our feeder every couple of days. They've been
eating the millet from the feeder. I've been keeping my eye out, as the
commons seem to be using our feeder this year as a stopover point on their
way north. I was hoping to find a Hoary in one of the groups. Yesterday I
thought I saw a Hoary Redpoll in a group of twenty-five redpolls. I wasn't
sure because I saw him at dusk, but he returned again today in better light.
Now neither my dad or me are experts, but this bird definitely has a white
rump. There is also minimal streaking on its sides. There also appears to
be a slight pink wash on the upper part of this bird's breast. The wash is
very faint. He also appears paler than the others in the group. I'm hoping
that he'll be back tomorrow for another look. My dad and I believe that
he's a Hoary Redpoll, but we're not totally sure.
If anyone from Spokane or the surrounding area wants to take a look at
him (hoping that he'll be back) your welcome to come and look. We live in
North Spokane County. Our address is 39015 N. Madison Road in Elk, WA. In
order to reach us you have to take the Newport Highway (Highway 2) north
from Spokane for probably fifteen miles to Riverside High School. At the
high school, turn right at the signal on Deer Park-Milan Road. Go down the
hill and the road will come to a T. Turn left on Elk-Milan Road. Go about
five or six miles until you reach another T in the road. There will be a
lake to your left. Make a right and continue up the hill. Now your on
Elk-Chattaroy Road. Watch the speed limit on this road as there ticketing
quite often (30 MPH). Follow this road for two miles. You'll see the that
road will curve to the right in about two miles. You don't want to go that
way as that will lead you back to Spokane. Take the road straight ahead.
This is Nelson Road. Go 1/2 mile and turn left on Madison Road. It's a
dirt road. Go about 3/4 of a mile. We're on the right side and very close
to the road. The house is a white single-wide trailer with an addition on
the back. There is also a motor home in front. We have birch, douglas, and
spruce trees out front with the bird feeder in the birch trees. If you do
come it may be a good idea to park on the side of the road as driving down
the driveway usually spooks the birds. Also the driveway can get muddy.
The redpolls seem to be coming a couple of times during the day. They
are usually found in the birch trees or on the ground picking up the fallen
millet.

Matthew Moskwik
yuhaus at hotmail.com
Elk, WA
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