Several of us east-siders (Cindy McCormack, Garrett
MacDonald, Randy Hill, and I ) made a pilgramage to
see the Redwing (the Eurasian thrush not the
blackbird) over in Olympia. Afterwards, we birded the
outer coast from Hoquiam to Ocean Shores.

Upon our arrival in an unassuming neighborhood of
western Olympia on Monday afternoon (12/27/04), we
quickly learned that the Redwing had been seen once in
the early morning but had not been relocated since
then. We spent several hours patrolling the
surrounding residential streets in an ever widening,
more desperate circle, but could only come up with
Robins, Chestnut-backed and Black-capped Chickadees,
Bewick's Wren, Fox & Golden-crowned Sparrows, Spotted
Towhee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Goldfinch, Pine
Siskin, Western Scrub Jays, and Juncos. A Merlin and a
Cooper's Hawk further suppressed the meager passerine
activity.

Regrouping in the evening, we were determined to be on
site at dawn (Tuesday, 12/28/04). Most of our party
opted to position ourselves where it had appeared on
the previous morning, (on Decater Street just south of
4th Ave.).

Over 20 birders quickly gathered around this favored
location and began peering intently into the dark
interior of the holly thicket. The weather was calm,
overcast, and somewhat foggy. Tension mounted as more
and more juncos and robins were began arriving to
feast on the holly berries. At 8:05 AM, a flock of
half a dozen robins flew in from the east/northeast
and alighted in a bare deciduous tree. Simultaneously,
several us noted that there was a smaller thrushlike
bird in this flock. Yes, the Redwing had arrived!

As Randy Hill had accurately predicted over dinner on
the previous evening, my post to Tweeters would read
" ...after 8:00 AM we enjoyed crippling views of the
Redwing...". My only additional comments is that there
plenty of other wonderful enthusiastic birders present
to enjoy the event too.

While folks like Malcolm and Joan McDonald ( the
couple that I bonded with on the Black-tailed Gull
vigil) came all the way down from Edmonton, Alberta to
see this bird, there were also birders from Colorado
and Oregon present. It was wonderful to meet Gene
Revelas the birder who made the original sighting and
ID) and his son Michael too.

When we departed Olympia, we headed for the outer
coast. Our next stop was Grays Harbor NWR, west of
Hoquiam. In the bright sunshine, we were rewarded with
excellent views of the juvenile RED-SHOULDERED HAWK
(lifer for Garrett and new state bird for the rest of
us) that has been present along Paulsen Road for the
last several weeks. The RS Hawk utilized the Red
Alder trees as well as the occasional light pole to
scan the area. In addition, a lone SNOW GOOSE is
still present on the Hoquiam STP.

In Ocean Shores, we checked the adjacent shrubbery to
the McDonald's drive thru lane for the reported Palm
Warbler. The noontime traffic was rather brisk and we
could only pish up a ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and a Fox
Sparrow.

Around the Damon Pt. parking lot, we searched in vain
for Black Scoter. However, the jetty yielded at least
8 BLACK SCOTERS (lifer for Garrett), 20 ROCK
SANDPIPERS (lifer for Garrett), and plenty more SURF
BIRDs and BLACK TURNSTONES. On our second check of the
McDonalds drive thru area, we easily found the PALM
WARBLER (lifer for Garrett).

Even though we ran out of daylight before we could
check the Kent Ponds for the elusive Baikal Teal, we
had a sensational trip. I can't help but wonder, what
will turn up next?

Gina Sheridan
Spokane, WA






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