Good day Tweeters,

At 1:50pm today, passerine activity was high in my neighborhood with large flocks moving about so I thought I'd step outside and check them out. About 30 AMERICAN ROBINs either perched in trees or rummaged through the leaves for edibles. As I picked through the robins, a chattering mixed finch flock came in overhead consisting of around 60 PINE SISKINS, 8 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHEs, and to my surprise and enjoyment 3 COMMON REDPOLLs. The flock was restless and only settled briefly. As soon as they'd come, the entire flock vacated the area within ten minutes. At one point the REDPOLLs were 30 feet from me perching together in an alder which allowed me to examine their streaked undertail coverts and rumps, but soon took flight and disappeared to the south before I could fetch my camera.

Other nice yard birds this week include a Merlin (male, Taiga race), American Wigeon (a flock of about 10 flew low over the house going west Saturday morning, calling), and Purple Finch (giving its "Vireo call").

Happy birding,

Tayler Brooks
Brier, WA
greenjaytay at comcast.net