Subject: [Tweeters] Redwing, Redpoll both seen this morning in Olympia
Date: Jan 15 14:52:23 2005
From: Rob McNair-Huff - rob at whiterabbits.com


Natalie and I joined roughly 25 other birders in viewing the REDWING in
the rain and sleet in Olympia this morning. We last viewed the bird
around 11 a.m. from an alley between 6th and 7th Streets off Plymouth
Street on the west side of Olympia, after Patrick Sullivan initially re-
found the bird around 10 a.m. There continue to be a lot of American
Robins in the area, and their food supply in the form of holly berries
continues to be plentiful, so be prepared to sort through a lot of robins
before you find the rare-to-us thrush.

Another real treat this morning was watching the COMMON REDPOLL that has
been in the same Olympia neighborhood over the last few weeks. We were
able to observe the bird from just a few feet away as it plucked small
insects from a power line in an alley between 5th and 6th Streets near
Milroy Street. The people who live in this Olympia neighborhood really
have a good mix of birds for such an urban site. Many thanks to those
living in the area who continue to put up with dozens of bundled up bird
nuts traipsing through their neighborhood with binoculars, spotting
scopes and radios as they partake in the wild Redwing chase.

Happy birding!

--
Rob McNair-Huff ---------- Tacoma, WA
Author of Birding Washington (Falcon Publishing, 2004)
and Insider's Guide to the Olympic Peninsula (Globe Pequot, 2001)
White Rabbit Publishing ---- http://www.whiterabbits.com
Mac Net Journal ---------- http://www.macnetjournal.com
The Equinox Project ------ http://www.whiterabbits.com/weblog.html