Subject: Great-tailed Grackle
Date: Jan 10 16:10:42 2001
From: P&B Bell - bellasoc at isomedia.com


Hi Tweets -

The Great-tailed Grackle was present this afternoon in Stanwood from
1:30 PM to 2:15 PM. It was located in the parking lot behind the
Stanwood Police Station (8727 271st. St. NW). This is about one block
west of the Wolfkill Feed facility. To get there take ST 232 west to
Stanwood, turn right on Pioneer Hwy to Cedar Home and go down the hill.
Cross the railroad tracks and turn right on Florence for about one-half
block. Turn left into the parking lot. The bird was present most of the
time perched on a cross arm of one of the telephone poles behind the
buildings. It was associating with Brewer's and Red-winged Blackbirds
and Starlings. It is immediately evident because of it's greater size
than the other blackbirds, it was frequently perched on the crossarm
alongside a Brewer's Blackbird (think compact car in relation to laaarge
SUV) . It's long bill which is fairly strongly downturned, and it's long
tail - particularly when it fans the tail - were very noticeable as was
the flatness of the head from the bill back (as opposed to the more
rounded appearance of the head in Boat-tailed Grackle). In the afternoon
sun the iridescent purplish/blue-black plumage stood out nicely (. Twice
during the period it flew down to the parking lot to drink from puddles
in the lot. It was somewhat wary and would fly back up to the pole at
the slightest provocation.

Good birding

Brian H. Bell
Woodinville Wa
bellasoc at isomedia.com
www.peregrinenorthwest.com