Tweeters,

I extended my morning walk today by heading up 4th towards "Redwing Central". Walked around the neighborhood for quite sometime without seeing any other birders, or the robin flock for that matter. I focused my attention on a backyard full of feeders and pine siskins in hopes of seeing the red poll. I had been watching for quite a while when Gary from Tacoma joined me in the search for the redpoll. We watched for another ten minutes or so with still no Redpoll. We then walked the neighborhood for a bit. Still no Robin flock or other birders. Tried for the Redpoll again for five minutes or so before Gary headed back to his car. I stayed and watched the mixed flock at the feeders for a few more minutes before starting towards home (East Bay area). When I got to 4th and Percival St. I heard Robins and Starlings. In an alley way between 4th and 5th on Percival I finally spotted the Redwing in a tall deciduous tree on the north side of the alley. I watched for 15 minu!
tes or so
and then walked west again just incase there were other birders searching by now. Didn't see a single other birder, and after checking for the Redpoll one last time I walked back to Percival, viewed the Redwing again for a few minutes before my stomach growled loud enough to remind me I best be heading home!

This is the first time I have been back to the Redwing area since I first viewed the bird on Jan 2nd with my husband and several other birders. I was amazed that I met only one other birder today. I was in the neighborhood from around 8:45 to 10:50 am.

Other birds seen today on my walk, including along East Bay:

Common Goldeneye
Mew Gull
Buffelhead
Great Blue Heron (7)
American Crow
Mallard
E. Starling
Barrow's Goldeneye
Red-winged Blackbird
House Sparrow
House Finch
Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Pine Sisken
Dark-eyed Junco
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Spotted Towhee
American Robin
Black-capped Chickadee
Hooded Merganser
Double-crested Cormorant
Western Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull

And a Bald Eagle as I arrived back at my house, giving me a fabulous new yard bird!

An enjoyable morning walk!

Happy Birding,

Maurie Kirschner
Olympia WA
outdoorchickerooatyahoo.com

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