Hello Tweets and other birders,


Sightings today for the Redwing at Olympia at selected locations follow below followed by a more detailed follow-up(for those that are interested):


Along Decatur Street just south of 4th Ave. with Am.Robins from 10:45am-10:58am,then in a deciduous tree between Milroy and Cushing Streets at 11am-11:05am

Along Decatur Street just south of 4th Ave. at 11:30am,then in the alleyway between Cushing and Milroy Streets north of 4th Ave. at 11:02am-11:17am before flying east towards Rogers Street with Am.Robins.

Along 5th Ave. between Rogers and Plymouth Streets with large flocks of Am.Robins at 1:30pm-2:30pm

Along Decatur Street just south of Decatur Street with a smaller flock of Am.Robins from 3pm-3:50pm



The Redwing was again observed at Olympia today between 10:45am-3:50pm at separate location,despite the cold temperatures and rather wet conditions. There were approximately 25 birders present during our visit between 10:30am-4pm with all the Redwing sightings occurring between Milroy Street and the corner of 5th Ave. and Rogers Street. My mother and I arrived to the corner of Thomas Street and 4th Ave. and joined 3 other birders from the Port Townsend area along with one birder from British Columbia and an out-of-state birder. Conditions were very slow upon our arrival,but then several flocks of Am.Robins flew in from several direction with many of them landing in trees along Decatur and Milroy Street just west of Thomas Street. We quickly walked over to the corner of 4th and Decatur Street,where the Redwing was immediately spotted at 10:45am atop a deciduous tree viewed along the sidewalk along Decatur Street. We obtained great scoping views of the Redwing,as it perched in the tree with several Am.Robins for a few minutes,then the Redwing dropped down to an apple tree within a backyard,but viewable from 5th Ave. We moved to gain better looks at the Redwing,as it perched in the apple tree,then it and the entire flock flushed and shifted to the southeast over Milroy Street,where we relocated the bird perched in a deciduous tree at 11am within an alleyway between Cushing and Milroy Streets. The Redwing and the loose flock of Am.Robins scattered one more time and we were unable to relocate the Redwing upon further searching by walking the alleyway between Milroy and Cushing Street and back around to 4th Ave.

At 11:30am we relocated the Redwing briefly again in deciduous trees along Decatur Street just south of 4th Ave.amongst a flock of Am.Robins,until the entire flock flushed yet again and flew northwest to a large deciduous tree in the alleyway between Milroy and Cushing Streets viewable in our spotting scope from several vantage points. The Redwing remained in this rather tall deciduous tree with several Am.Robins for 15 minutes,then the entire flock flushed yet again and flew east towards Rogers Street. We quickly moved back to Thomas Street,but could only locate a few small remaining flocks of Am.Robins flying northeast over Harrison Ave,

At 1:30pm the Redwing was again relocated by 4 California birders,as well as a few other birders along 5th Ave. between Rogers and Plymouth Streets,but closest to the Rogers Street side along 5th Ave. The bird remained at this location until at least 2:30pm foraging in a single Holly tree and perching in deciduous trees with large numbers of Am.Robins. The Redwing was also observed from the alleyway between 4th and 5th Ave. between Plymouth and Rogers Streets,but it seemed to favor the lone Holly clump along 5th Ave. flying back and forth from that tree on several occasions until flocks of Am.Robins and Starlings scattered widely to the northwest towards Thomas Street and also west towards Decatur Street.

We relocated the Redwing within 30 minutes back along Decatur Street just south of 4th Ave. at 3pm,where the bird remained at this location until at least 3:50pm. In addition to us the bird was viewed by 2 happy Oregon birders that drove up in time from Eugene to get fairly good scoping views of the bird in spotting scopes,etc. The bird was first detected in the leafless deciduous tree behind a residence along the west side of Decatur,then the bird dropped to a lone Holly clump,where it sheltered itself under leaves to stay dry and be able to feed at the same time on Holly berries. As we stood in our raingear we continued watching the Redwing,as conditions remained wet and lighting began to slightly decline. By 3:40pm the 2 Oregon birders arrived and quickly obtained scoping views of the Redwing until 3:50pm,as it settled in the lone Holly clump,but then moved further into the foliage and could not be relocated. At 4pm the 4 California birders that previously observed the Redwing earlier in the day arrived at the location,but the bird did not make another showing to the point when we departed at 4:30pm.

Overall Am.Robins flocks were widely scattered today,but most concentrated in the afternoon after 1:30pm between 4th and 5th Avenues. west to Milroy Streets and east to Rogers Streets with an estimated 500+ birds. Good numbers of Starling were also encountered in the area,but more confined to certain locations. A single Cooper's Hawk and Sharp-shinned Hawk kept flocks scattered at times mainly north of 4th Ave. We also observed the lingering adult White-throated Sparrow along the alleyway north of Jackson Ave. between Grand View Ave and Percival Street,as it foraged with a group of Oregon Juncos. Other species of note in the general location included the following:

1-2 Red-breasted Sapsuckers
6-7 Western Scrub Jays
1 Townsend's Warbler
1 female "Slate-colored"Junco(observed in the alleyway between Rogers and Plymouth Streets)
10+ Am.Goldfinches
50-60 Pine Siskins


Good Redwing searching,

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