Subject: [Tweeters] Redwing update at Olympia 1-08-05
Date: Jan 8 19:03:12 2005
From: Ruth Sullivan - godwit at worldnet.att.net


Hello Tweets and other birders,

The Redwing at Olympia(Washington State)was again present on 3 occasions during the day and well observed again by up to 65 birders. Birders from across the country were given views of the Redwing from up to 9 states beyond Washington that we tallied including birders from Delaware,Massachusetts,Florida,New Jersey,Georgia,Colorado,Oregon,Louisiana and Pennsylvania and it was a pleasure meeting them all and helping them see this grand rarity. The weather cooperated most of the day,except for some stiff southerly winds at times that made temperature very cold,as we all stood looking for the Redwing,but nonetheless it was another grand day in Olympia. Most of the out-of-state birders mentioned to us they viewed the recent postings of the Redwing not on the WA Birdbox,but at the following birding website accessed at the following link for those of you that wish to visit it: http://www.birdingonthe.net/birdmail.html , then scrolling down to the Western US column and clicking on Tweeters(WA). We checked this site out for ourselves and it has all the recent Tweeters postings for the last 4 days and seems like a nice site for out-of-state people in North America and around the world.

The Redwing was first detected this morning at 8:15am along Thomas Street just north of 4th Ave. in a tall deciduous tree for about 15 minutes and viewed in spotting scopes by 15 birders until dropping in a Holly tree along the street. The bird remained in this same Holly tree until about 10am,as the bird was occasionally seen in the dense foliage from limited angles. As conditions improved with the sun occasionally coming out more birders began arriving to this location with the largest crowds between 9am-10am. We continued watching the bird until 10am,when crowds began to decline and the Redwing remained fairly hidden in the thick cover of the Holly tree. By about 11:45am the Redwing was again observed at this same location along Thomas Street perched within the large deciduous tree and remained here until 12:05pm,as it occasionally dropped into a Holly tree, but then flew and continued west towards Cushing Street. Within a short walk to the corner of 4th Ave. and Decatur the bird was detected at a distance atop a large deciduous tree within the alleyway between Cushing and Milroy Streets. We quickly moved closer to the exact location ending up in the parking lot of a hair salon at the corner of 4th Ave. and Milroy Street,where we watched the Redwing in this tree with a few Am.Robins for about 10 minutes. The bird then flew a short distance to another deciduous tree along 4th Ave.,where we repositioned ourselves to the south side of 4th Ave.,where we watched the perch alone,as a few bystanders became interested in all the activities. The Redwing remained at this location for 30 minutes,until the bird suddenly flew off to an unknown location,but was soon relocated at the "usual" Thomas Street location perched atop the large deciduous tree. Several birders watched the bird at this location,as it moved from the deciduous tree to the Holly tree,as well as perch in a few apple trees within a yard close to the road. Up to 8 birders remained at the location,as we watched the bird and kept a good track on it's actions and behavior until it lifted and flew east into a distant deciduous tree along Perry Street,but viewed along Thomas Street. The bird remained in this tree for several minutes offering additional scoping views until it then flew again with a small group of Am.Robins to the top of a large coniferous tree along the south side of 4th Ave. and viewed in the same location where we all stood watching it until 1:15pm,when the bird then flew off to an unknown location.

The bird returned to the large deciduous tree at this location at 1:30pm,but then quickly into a Holly clump,then quickly flew to another Holly clump and was seemingly lost in the thick cover of this tree.A few birders remained along Thomas Street,but at times it was just us alone,as bird activity decline rapidly through the next 2 hours. We stood patiently and carefully checked all the Holly trees from several visible vantage points along the sidewalk,but the Redwing could not be refound. At 2:45pm the Redwing suddenly reappeared,but observed flying from an opening in the homes in from the direction of Decatur Street due west of this location. The bird quickly settled into the male Holly tree for 10 seconds before quickly flying out in the same direction it came from and coverage thereafter could not relocate the bird,despite further searching as far west as Cushing Street. Several of us returned and settled along Thomas Street until 3:50pm when the Redwing again reappeared this time from the lone Holly clump. The bird then flew into the male Holly clump and remained for about 15 minutes,as many birders obtained scoping views of the bird atop this same Holly tree. The bird then flew and landed in the other Holly tree,before quickly moving to the large deciduous tree,where it remained off and on for up to 16 birders to watch in spotting scopes,including several birders that had just arrived in town from out-of-state for the late afternoon showing. The Redwing would move back and forth from this same deciduous tree to the Holly clump,then to a short deciduous tree,then back to the Holly clump,then finally settling back in the original deciduous tree until 4:30pm. The bird at this time flew north with some elevation gain and continued with a small group of Am.Robins until we lost it over the tops of homes and distant treetops. Everyone enjoyed seeing and watching the Redwing throughout the day,as our visits will continue!


Other species noted in the immediate area included the following:

1 Sharp-shinned Hawk
1 Cooper's Hawk
1 adult Peregrine Falcon
1 Red-breasted Sapsucker



Good Redwing searching,

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