While birding in south Kitsap County this morning I happened across a very
unusual redwing blackbird singing on some cattails beside the road. It was
on SE Olympiad Dr. by a small pond between Viewsound Ln SE and Nokomis Rd SE.
The easiest way to get there is to head for the Southworth Ferry dock then
head east on Southworth Dr. to Harper's Park (found an Anna's hummingbird
there this morning too) then head east on Olympiad from Harper's Park to the
pond on the south side of Olympiad.

The RWBB had a black hood ending in a black bib on the front constrasting
sharply with the white chest, belly and undertail coverts. The sides shaded
from white to cream to rusty tan on the back. The wings were black except
for a tan area under the red/orange epaulets. The lower back of the head was
speckled with tan blending into the rusty tan back. The tail, when flared,
showed a white hourglass figure edged in black. The song was typical of the
wintering RWBBs and it was singing loudly from the roadside cattails.

The pond next to the RWBB also has a small flock of American Wigeons with one
male Eurasian Wigeon.

Mary Hrudkaj
hrudkajm at aol.com
Belfair/Tahuya