Tweets, Monday around noon I spotted a female Mountain Bluebird near 16700
Gibson Rd in s. Thurston Co. This location is about 5 minutes from I-5 via
exit 88 (Grand Mound/Hwy 12 exit), then east on Old Hwy 99 toward Tenino.
Gibson runs north from just past the racetrack, and the bird was located
beyond the jog then north past the 3 chicken barns along the east-west
fenceline on the right that borders the tree farm. I was out searching for
kites and shrikes but also thinking it might be a good day for bluebirds to
be about. (I encountered 4 male Western Bluebirds along Gibson Rd on Feb 9
2009, evidently passing through.) This bird was well off the road but
happened to make a foray to the ground and caught my eye just as I was
driving slowly by. The last time a Mountain Bluebird was reported in
Thurston County it stuck around for several days. Good birding!
-- Paul Hicks / Tenino, s. Thurston Co / phicks AT accessgrace DOT org