I checked www.Birdingonthe.net and didn't see my original post, so I'll try
again.

Olympia counters braved the elements yesterday to count every bird they saw.
Keith Brady and I covered the downtown area with Capitol Lake, Priest Point
Park, East and West Bays, Capitol Hill neighborhoods and the base of
Tumwater Falls by the old brewery. I tried owling at midnight and 6:00 AM
without success, winds and intermittent rain were the cause (I'm sure!!).
Keith and I arrived late to the tally so we missed some of the excitement,
but here's our species highlights from downtown:

1 EARED GREBE (again on north end of Capitol Lake as last year)
1 EURASIAN WIGEON (south end of Cap. Lake)
4 REDHEAD (south end of Cap. Lake, 3 males 1 female remain. Also another
crew had 2 at Pattison Lake in Lacey)
2 Canvasback (I guess only birds on the count, usually higher numbers)
1 Peregrine Falcon (Cap Lake)
3 Virginia Rail (Cap Lake interpretive center)
2 G. YELLOWLEGS (West bay)
2 SPOTTED SANDPIPER (West bay)
1 WILSON'S SNIPE (flushed near KGY station on peninsula off Marine View
Dr.-East Bay...from saltwater edge)
1 COMMON RAVEN (unexpected flyby downtown over Capitol Lake)
1 Hermit Thrush (calling near Cap. Lake north end)
2 Townsend's Warbler (Swantown Marina area-East Bay)
5 W/Crowned Sparrow - probably "pugetensis" (KGY area)

Some good birds heard about at the tally were the continuing ANNA'S
HUMMINGBIRD at a resident's feeder (last 3 years for the count!-Go
Virginia!), SWAMP SPARROW and W/THROATED SPARROW at Nisqually (off-limits
area) and the aforementioned SAY'S PHOEBE (Nisqually Cut-off RD, see Gary
Wile's post) and continuing ROSS'S GEESE. Also Dave Hayden and friends had
a LONG-TAILED DUCK and BLACK SCOTER from one of the boats, both can be hit
or miss for the count. The HARLEQUIN DUCK continues at Luhr Beach near
Nisqually as well. Bob Morse's crew (I think) had the GRAY JAYS for the
year which can also be tough.

Big misses for the count were (keep in mind we missed the opening of the
tally, so there may be more): Brant, Marbled Murrelet, Barn Owl,
Screech-Owl, Barred Owl, Saw-whet Owl and RED CROSSBILL (ouch). I suspect
that Siskin numbers are not going to be very high this year, though I was
proved wrong last year when I had the same suspicions. I think Olympia
ended the day in the high 120s. Could probably have broken 130 if we'd have
had some owling weather. Alas.

Good luck on your counts!

Jason Paulios
Jpaulios at earthlink.net
Olympia, WA