Subject: [Tweeters] Am.Redstart continues near Auburn
Date: Dec 2 17:36:41 2005
From: Ruth and/or Patrick Sullivan - godwit at worldnet.att.net



Hello Tweets,

Today we decided to try a chance for the American Redstart that has been present along 29th Ave.NW near the Emerald Downs Raceway in Auburn. We checked the riparian grove between 11am-2pm at the northwest corner of 29th Ave.NW that borders Hwy.167 and Mill Creek. Most of the passerine activity was most active soon after we arrived,but then thinned out. We noted 4-5 Black-capped Chickadees,3-4 Ruby-crowned Kinglets,up to 3 separate Yellow-rumped Warblers,2 Orange-crowned Warblers and a small flock of Am.Goldfinches that foraged in the birch trees. At 12pm the Am.Redstart made a very brief appearance near the top portion of the large bramble patch just east of the large blockade,but the bird soon descended back into the bramble patch never to show itself again for us. The bird was rather dull overall,but the distinctive orange-yellow flank patches and yellow "flashes" in the wings and along the outer tail feathers were quite brilliant. We covered the small woodlot quite good and had passerine movements off and on during our entire stay,but the birds never stayed long. The noise from the nearby highway was quite apparent and "pishing" didn't do too much to entice any of the birds. We were happy to get just a brief view of the Am.Redstart and figured it may stay around since there should be a small supply of insects along the canal and riparian area as along as conditions don't get too cold! After 2pm conditions became much darker and few birds were observed so we decided to go home.

You are quite limited by checking the riparian area,but you can walk along 29th Ave. NW to the Mill Creek bridge,but it seems the most activity was within the woodlot itself. A walk from the parking area produced a SWAMP SPARROW in the wet brambles and grass at the Mill Creek bridge,which is the same location that hosted a Black Phoebe this past May. Other notable species encountered during our visit at this location included the following:

1 immature Trumpeter Swan(observed flying overhead north to south)
2 Cooper's Hawks
4 Red-tailed Hawks(including 1 adult dark-morph bird)
1 Am.Kestrel
1 Merlin
7 Wilson's Snipes



Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
Fircrest,WA
godwit at worldnet.att.net