Hello Tweets and other birders,

The Redwing was again observed at Olympia(Washington State)on this clear and chilly day by many observers from 8:45am-1pm from several locations. The bird was first located at the corner of 4th Ave. and Thomas Street by a few birder(s) at 8:45am,who immediately called the sighting into the FRS radios,then the bird remained in this vicinity perched in several deciduous trees,as well as at least one of Holly trees across from the large church parking lot on Thomas Street. Many of the birds got good looks at the bird before the bird flew west towards Cushing Street. At around 9am the bird was relocated from the alleyway between Division Street and Cushing Street just north of 4th Ave.,but also observed from Cushing Street too. By this time many of the observers had left the area after seeing the bird on Thomas Street,so we enjoyed helping those who were still around see the bird in spotting scopes with good lighting. The bird was noted on one occasion flying into a deciduous tree on the west side of Division Street while many of us stood in the alleyway and at this time we watched the bird seemingly drop down onto the ground out of view behind a hedgerow. The bird quickly flew east towards the Holly tree along Division Street,where it was later detected when it flew up into a deciduous tree within the alleyway.. The bird shifted around between the alleyway and Cushing Street,as we kept a close watch on the bird until 11:30am. At this time the bird flew off to the east with a group of Am.Robins and was soon relocated perched in a lone deciduous tree in an alleyway between Milroy Street and Decatur Street north of 4th Ave. The bird remained in the tree for about 5 minutes then quickly flew by itself to the east,then quickly cut back towards Cushing Street. The bird was soon detected in the alleyway between Division Street and Cushing Street,then it and a flock of Am.Robins were somehow flushed and the entire flock flew east to an unknown location.

The Redwing was later refound within 20 minutes in this same alleyway perched in a Holly tree,where it remained very elusive. The bird would occasionally fly to another Holly tree on the other side of the alleyway closest to Division Street,then return to the other Holly tree. Several birders watched the bird closely and at times the bird was difficult to see due to the thick cover of the Holly tree(s) and also when the bird flew up into a few deciduous trees due to lighting conditions. For the most part everyone saw the bird that came before 1pm,when the bird was again spooked somehow and it flushed and flew off to an unknown location to the east of Cushing Street with Am.Robins or possibly to the north of Harrison Ave. There were flocks of Am.Robins and Starlings that scattered everywhere in both these directions,so the Redwing could have gone anywhere.

A few of us that remained on location decided to walk the streets after 1:30pm towards Rogers Street,then north of Harrison Ave,but overall conditions were very quiet with minimal or no activity until we arrived to Rogers Street. A few mixed flocks of Am.Robins and Starlings were encountered,as Keith Brady and I continued to the north of Harrison Ave,then working our way towards Jackson Ave. via Foote Street. A few more flocks of Am.Robins and Starlings were noted,but otherwise conditions were quite slow. A group of birders returned to the Cushing Street vicinity at 3pm,but conditions remained very slow even to the time we left at 4pm. Walking coverage was made by several birders west along 4th Ave,(west of Division Street)and around the surrounding street near Cushing Street,but to our knowledge the Redwing was not observed the remainder of the day.


A few other species of note in the vicinity during the day consisted of the following:

1 Common Merganser observed flying southwest over 5th Ave. soon after our arrival at 8am

2-3 Bald Eagles observed flying overhead at tow locations

1 Red-breasted Sapsucker and 1 Cedar Waxwing observed north of Harrison Ave. with the latter species observed in a mixed flock of Am.Robins and Starlings.

5-6 Western Scrub Jays in the immediate area

1 Townsend's Warbler noted at the corner of 4th Ave. and Cushing Street

1 lingering adult White-throated Sparrow persisting in an alleyway(with Oregon Juncos and Golden-crowned Sparrows)along the north side of Jackson Ave. between Percival Street and Grand View Ave. and observed by several birders in the mid to late afternoon during a break looking for the Redwing.



Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan