Common Redpolls galore this morning, all SOUTH of Lake Hills Blvd in a
tight cluster of 6-10 white-barked birches 80-100 yards east of the trail
opposite the large blackberry bramble and three large willows along the
trail's west side. On my walk northbound, 10-15 were present there at 0925, then
passing by there again southbound at 1020, there were 25-35, but as I was
in the process of looking at and counting those, another 40 dropped in from
the west. All total, 65-75 Common Redpolls in that birch cluster when I
left at 1025. There were never any seen at all at the usual Larsen Lake
locations north of Lake Hills Blvd. Directions: pretty much the same, "The
Club / Teen Center" (15228 Lake Hills Blvd), cross LH Blvd and follow the
trail south and around the "S" bends, right then left. Emerging from that,
the blackberries and willows are then on your right (west), the birch clump
to your left (east) across the small grassy field and just behind a row of
scattered 30-foot high conifers (cedar, spruce, Douglas Fir). Since these
birches aren't nearly as accommodatingly close as have been the other spots,
a scope would be useful and of course looking east, morning sun could be a
problem; cloudy like this morning, no problem.

Richard Rowlett
Bellevue (Eastgate), WA
Pterodroma AT aol.com