Hello Tweets and other birders,

The Redwing at Olympia was last encountered to our knowledge by a North Carolina birder yesterday morning(January 21st)at around 8:45am,but attempts throughout that day and today proved unsuccessful at least before 1pm this afternoon. We searched 5 hours yesterday and 5 hours today for the Redwing mainly helping out-of-state birders search for the bird. Overall Am.Robins numbers have greatly declined in the immediate area and were mainly concentrated between 4th and 5th Ave. near Percival and Rogers Streets with 12-20 birds.More extensive coverage was made today by driving additional areas north of Harrison Ave. and neighborhoods east of Capitol Lake north and south of 4th Ave. on Olympia's east side.We located 3 separate flocks of Am.Robins in limited numbers of 15-35 birds,as well as 2 separate flocks of Cedar Waxwings too. The habitat and general surroundings at these areas mirrored surroundings at the previous location with ample Holly clumps and other trees. Good numbers of birders were encountered mostly today with about 45+birders and about 15 birders yesterday from as far away as Virginia,Florida,Alaska,and Pennsylvania with a total of 28 states to date. Many of the out-of-state birders stayed overnight and plan to continue the search through the weekend. Many of the birders we spoke with also looked for the Baikal Teal at the Kent"ponds"too,which was not seen yesterday or today. Extensive searching for the Baikal Teal was made not only at the Kent"ponds",but in flooded areas north of 212th Street and possibly other areas too. Good numbers of waterfowl were present yesterday during our afternoon visit to the Kent"ponds" with exceptional conditions,but today numbers may have been fewer. The best concentrations of waterfowl were most readily noted in the "central" canal viewed directly from the paved trail,but many of the ducks remained very hidden and concealed under thick willow vegetation.

We wanted to post our sightings and keep the update ongoing with both species,as they occur. Other noteworthy species encountered at the Kent"ponds" from both days included the following:

1 immature Trumpeter Swan on both days

The lingering Gadwall/Mallard hybrid("Brewster's Duck)noted on the 21st

1-5 Eurasian Wigeons(with 3 Eurasian/Wigeon hybrids on the 21st)

2-4 Canvasbacks on both days

18 Ruddy Ducks on the 21st

1 Northern Harrier on both days

1 Sharp-shinned Hawk on the 21st

2 adult Peregrine Falcons on the 21st(with 1 bird present today)

2 Barn Swallows observed today

Of additional note a single Green Heron was present along the southern border of the Kent"ponds" on the afternoon of the18th by several birders,which is always a noteworthy species for the winter season in WA.

On our way home this afternoon after checking the Kent"ponds" we safely stopped and checked along 212th Street en route to I-5,where we relocated the adult Glaucous Gull located earlier in the day by Charlie Wright and Ryan Shaw. The bird was very crisp and feeding heavily amongst a fairly large gull flock that also contained a single adult Western Gull. Up to 8 male Eurasian Wigeons were also encountered while scoping the more extensive flooded areas,as was a bird fitting the description of a Snow/Ross' Goose hybrid. This particular is mostly likely the same individual noted recently at the Kent"ponds"(previously reported by us as a Snow Goose on January the 14th)and surrounding areas and show qualities of both a Snow and Ross' Goose,specifically body,head and bill structure.



Good birding,

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