Hi again, Tweets

After Marymoor today, Michael Hobbs, Brian Bell & I headed over to
Kitsap to try to relocate the Rusty Blackbird reported by Brad
Waggoner. On our second try along Leymen Lane, we lucked out. The
Rusty Blackbird popped out, presumably in the same spot Brad had it
yesterday, near a group of Killdeer in the muddy fields below the
Blue Barn. To make things even better, after distant scope views, the
RUBL flew up towards us and ended up perched in a tree along Leyman
Lane, right above Michael's car! Great views.

Also present at the same location were several Wilson's Snipes and
the juvie Northern Shrike previously reported.

Between attempts for the blackbird, we stopped up at Point-No-Point
and saw 6 Ancient Murrelets and a good number of Marbled Murrelets.

All in all, a very good day.

Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA


>Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:04:20 -0800
>From: Brad Waggoner <wagtail at sounddsl.com>
>To: tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
>
>
>Hi all,
>
>Yesterday via tweeters-alerts I reported a male Rusty Blackbird near
>Kingston - a Kitsap County first to my knowledge. George Gerdts and
>I re-located it this afternoon in the same general area. Even though
>there is a roving mixed flock of blackbirds and starlings in the
>area, on both days the Rusty Blackbird was foraging alone in the wet
>fields and not with this flock. It almost seems best to look for
>Killdeer and see if it might be near them.
>
>The location is about 2 miles west of downtown Kingston via West
>Kingston Road. The best viewing spot is about a 1/3 mile down Layman
>Lane just past an old blue farm house that is for sale. It could be
>a really great birding spot for those looking for an old run down
>farm house in the country. This afternoon it was on the far side of
>the pasture below and west of the blue house and close to the
>riparian strip. It did go up in the trees a few times.
>
>Also in the area is small flock of white-cheeked geese that contains
>one minima, two taverneri, and one leucopareia (Aleutian) for those
>interested Cackling Geese. I also have had a Northern Shrike in the
>area recently. And if that's not enough incentive to head over
>toward Kitsap County, a few Ancient Murrelets have begun to show off
>of Point no Point. O.K., so its not Hoquaim but it would still be a
>mini-bonanza to some.
>
>Cheers and good birding,
>
>Brad Waggoner
>Bainbridge Island
>mailto:wagtail at sounddsl.com
>_______________________________________________
>Tweeters mailing list
>Tweeters at u.washington.edu
>http://mailman2.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters