Hi Tweets -
On January 4, Gene Hunn reported finding a Rusty Blackbird in
Carnation. Since then, several people have tried w/o luck to relocate
the male he saw.
This afternoon, I received a call from MaryFrances Mathis saying
she'd found a Rusty!
I decided not to wait and headed on out. I joined MaryFrances and
before long we'd relocated a female Rusty Blackbird. After wondering
a bit whether Gene's bird wasn't a male, we were then treated to a
male Rusty coming in to join the female! 2 Rusty Blackbirds in one
day - yay!

Both of these birds are in very striking plumage right now --

The female has a rusty back and gray rump, with a pale eye set off
against a face pattern that has dark through the eye, and light above
& below. The breast was pretty unmarked, so from below the main field
mark was the pale eye & face pattern. Viewed on the ground, rusty
tertial edges and the back/rump pattern is clear.

The male looked even more distinct, with a very strong mixture of
rusty & glossy black feathering.

Directions:
The birds were seen along Hwy 203, just north of Carnation.
Coming north from Carnation, look for the farm on the west [left]
side, just north of 60th St and south of the Carnation Farm Road.
There's not good parking on Hwy 203, but Carnation Farm Rd & 60th
both have shoulder-enough to park safely.
The Rusty Blackbirds were in a large flock of mixed Red-winged
Blackbirds, Brewer's Blackbirds & Starlings. They alternately sat in
trees on the east side of the road, occasionally flying down to the
ground both at the farm and across the street to feed & bathe.

If the flock is not around, try driving down 60th -- that's where
Gene had the Rusty earlier.

Finally, a warning that traffic is fast-moving on 203 and the road is
not very wide - be sure not to become a nuisance -- The farmer
'hosting' the blackbirds was very friendly today, and seemed happy to
learn he had a couple oddballs mixed in with the regulars.

Good birding,

Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA
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