Subject: [Tweeters] Redwing seen this p.m. in Olympia - "usual" spot
Date: Dec 28 16:58:36 2004
From: Jon. Anderson and Marty Chaney - festuca at olywa.net


About 28 birders saw the Redwing today at about 3:30pm along 4th Ave NW
between Milroy & Decatur. The bird was first seen north of 4th in the
alleyway, then flew back into the willow & holly on the south side of 4th.
It fed for about 15 minutes with the robins, and "disappeared" afterward.

Earlier this afternoon, at about 1-2pm, I checked out the 'possible' site at
14th & Kaiser. This is an area of homes, brush and second-growth Doug fir,
and the Puget Power substation. Although there were 3 homes with filled
feeders, I did not see any robins (or other thrushes) there in an hour's
worth of walking about. Lots of other dickey-birds, nothing terribly
exciting (except a good view of a Red-breasted sapsucker....).

However, I would not pooh-pooh the idea that the bird might be that far away
during the mid-day. At dusk, I got in my car & followed a flock of robins
that were departing the 4th & Cushing area. The birds flew high to the WNW.
As I crossed Harrison & Division, I saw a number of other small (8-12 birds)
flocks of robins flying in that same general direction. Finally, I ended
up on top of the hill at the west end of Sunrise Park as light was fading.
There were still robins flying to the WNW over & above that hill.

This is about 1/2 mile from where we've been seeing the Redwing. I presume
that these birds may be going to roost somewhere toward Grass Lake Park??
Grass Lake is another 1/2 to 3/4 mile or so further along that flight path.

I'm not trying to get a stampede of birders "away" from where the redwing
has been seen - morning and late afternoons. On the other hand, the bird
HAS to be somewhere during mid-day, and it has NOT been seen in the 4th &
Decatur area during the noon hour. I might poke around a bit tomorrow
afternoon & see what I can see......

Good luck, all,
Jon. Anderson
Olympia, Washington
festuca at olywa.net