Tweets,

Saturday morning, 11/13, I observed two atypical Fox Sparrows. (The birds were very active with gorgeous weather.) The first was most likely a "red", on Mull Rd just east of Tenino via SR 507 (toward Rainier). Turn left (north) on Mull Rd. The best place to park is probably on the right-hand shoulder as you approach the bridge guard rail, right up against the two survey stakes there (the shoulder is solid). Location: about 150 feet north of the bridge, past the large trees on the left and around 80 feet back (area is fenced off). The bird hangs out in the rose/snowberry brambles and will rise into the taller isolated trees, with excursions into the snowberry patch just north of the adjacent fenceline. Description: red-brown upperparts and tail with bright/saturated red-brown uppertail coverts (almost glows in sunlight), unmarked gray rump, gray back streaked red-brown, and a prominent dark area below the eye (cheek) on a patterned/contrasty head. (Definitely not the full-hooded look of typical "sooty." No view of underparts. A similar individual was observed in the same location one year ago.) Later in the day Bob Sundstrom also caught a fleeting glimpse of a "suspicious" red-brown sparrow in this location.

The second sighting was an incomplete look at the "upper quarters" of a comparatively pale and grayish Fox, minus a view of the wings and tail. I'm wondering about a possible "slate-colored" on account of the color and the comparatively differentiated breast spots. Location: Proceed south on Mull Rd; cross SR 507 onto what becomes Churchill Rd; park at the first pullout (rail to trail access) and enter the Heernet Foundation property at the second pullout (brown sign, birders have permission to enter). The bird is likely hanging out with about 5 other Foxes at the near right-hand side of a clearing just past the crest of the hill, about .4 mile up the old logging road.

Good birding!

Paul Hicks
Tenino
phicks AT accessgrace.org