Hello Tweets and other birders,

The Redwing at Olympia was again noted today by up to 60 birders between Division Street and Thomas Street at separate times from 7:45am to 4:30pm with a slow period between 12pm-3pm with no observations. The bird was first detected by 2 California birders at the corner of 4th Ave. and Division Street at 7:45am,but then again noted as this sighting got out by other birders at 8:30am. A group of birders descended on the Thomas Street location beginning at 8am,but little activity was noted until a few birders found out the Redwing was observed previously at 4th and Division.,so all of us scoured that area heavy until the bird was relocated. The sightings at this location were often very brief and quick,as the bird remained very "jumpy" and elusive flying to an from trees between Division Street to the alleyway between Division and Cushing Street. The bird was also noted on the ground by a few lucky observers at a residence foraging with Am.Robins on the leaf-covered ground,but most sightings were made from 2 separate dense Holly trees viewed within the alleyway and from a few other deciduous trees with not the best views,at times. Most of the observers watching and tracking the bird didn't seem to mind the limited views of the bird,as it moved around and was last noted from this location at 11:45am with an absence between 10:15am-11am.

By the latter portion of the morning sightings most of the birders had left the area with only a few to remain the afternoon search of the Redwing during remaining cold temperatures. We drove and walked several of the side streets from Cushing Street to Thomas Street and north of Harrison Ave. north to Jackson Ave. as activity decreased through the afternoon. At 3pm we relocated the Redwing along Thomas Street just north of 4th Ave. at the "usual" location than noted in the past 3 days,as it flew in from an unknown location and landed in a large deciduous tree just north of that intersection with great scoping views. The bird remained in the deciduous tree,then quickly flew east towards Rogers Street with a few Am.Robins,but then returned to the Thomas Street location this time noted in the dense Holly tree close to the street. The bird snapped at a few Holly berries,then quickly few to the tallest of two deciduous trees offering extended views,as up to 10 of us watched the bird move to and from that same Holly tree. The bird remained at this location until 4:25pm when the bird flew southwest to the large Sequoia tree at the corner of 4th Ave. and Decatur Street,where it perched atop that tree with 2 Am.Robins. We watched the bird in our spotting scopes at a distance,but then the bird flew off to an unknown location at 4:30pm,as lighting conditions quickly declined. This was by far our best sightings of the day,as the bird seemed much less nervous and elusive,but who knows where the bird may show up tomorrow morning.



Away from the Redwing our other highlight of the day was a female Common Redpoll well noted by several observers at close range within an alleyway south of 4th Ave. between Milroy and Cushing Streets. The bird was noted at around 10:15 and remained until at least 10:45am mainly perched in a deciduous tree,but also coming to one of several thistle and other feeders at a residence in the alleyway. The adult White-throated Sparrow was again noted in the alleyway north of Jackson Ave. between Percival Street and Grand View Ave. continuing to forage on the ground with a mixed flock of Oregon Juncos and Golden-crowned Sparrows. A single pair of Peregrine Falcons were also observed by several observers in the immediate area throughout the day,as well as 1-2 Sharp-shinned Hawks that kept the Am.Robin and Starling flocks well scattered,at times.


Other species of note in the general vicinity included the following:

2-3 Red-breasted Sapsuckers
4-5 Western Scrub Jays
1-2 Townsend's Warblers



Good Redwing searching,

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