Hello Tweets,

Today my mother and I ventured to Thurston Co., mainly in search of the RUSY
BLACKBIRD along Nisqually Cutoff Rd., just SE of Nisqually NWR. We located
the blackbird promptly upon our arrival, witin 10 minutes of scoping the
rather extensive blackbird flocks at 11am, as it foraged loosely with
Red-winged and Brewer's Blackbirds, and Starlings along the southern portion
of the plowed pumpkin field, just north of the IFA Nursery Inc., as
previously mentioned by Bill Shelmardine. The bird foraged with other
blackbirds, and nearby Starlings, but also seemed to keep to itself, as well
during two visits. The bird most definetely appeared to be a male, due to
the overall darker tones, despite this individual showing an unmarked rusty
crown, pale throat, lack of grayish rump(unlike in female), broad buffy
supercillium, dark barred underparts(with warmer rusty barred upperparts),
contrasting to the relatively well marked face. The wings were as Bill had
most recently mentioned by showing fine rust wing edges, bordered by darker
secondaries on the outer wing, being brightest on the greater wing coverts.
Eye color was as in nearby Brewer's, but somewhat more noticeable. Due to
the overall coloration of the bird, lack of pale gray contrasting rump, and
dark barred underparts we believe the bird is a male, so hopefully upon
future attemps photographes will be taken, as it seems they are possible
with enough patience. The blackbird flocks move around in the basic general
vicinity, as they were foraging at all corners of the pumpkin field north of
the IFA Nursery Inc., as well as observed in smaller seperate flocks in a
corn stubble field immediately north of the pumpkin field, and were also
seen perched along power lines and trees close to Nisqually Cutoff Rd., in
which during our afternoon visit the Rusty Blackbird was again noted in the
pumpkin field closet to the road, then in a small coniferous tree on the
nursery grounds, then later flew across the road and perched in a large
leafless Black Cottonwood tree amongst other blackbirds, until we headed
home. It seem most likely the Rusty Blackbird will remain for some time with
available food and the company of other blackbirds to it's favor, but the
blackbird flocks move around, but they often come very close to the road at
times, if they are not to nervous, and continue feeding. A list of our
additional sightings follows for Nisqually Cutoff Rd. sightings and for
other locations:

Nisqually Cutoff Rd. 11am-11:20am, 1:45pm

43 Killdeer
1 Western Sandpiper
6 Am.Pipits
320+ Red-winged Blackbirds
14 Western Meadowlarks
78+ Brewer's Blackbirds
18 Brown-headed Cowbirds

Luir Beach boat launch/Nisqually Reach 11:45am-12:05pm

7 Red-throated Loons
1 Pacific Loon
5 Eared Grebes
1 male HARLEQUIN DUCK
2 Long-tailed Ducks
500+ Bonaparte's Gulls(foraging loosely, and in tight flocks of the mouth of
the Nisqually River, and the south end of Anderson Island)

Mud Bay/Eld Inlet 12:30pm, 1:20pm(outgoing tide)

22 Greater Yellowlegs

Kennedy Creek Estuary, Mason Co 12:45pm-1pm

14 Black-bellied Plovers
4 Western Sandpipers
180+ Dunlin


Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net