Today, while birding Spanaway Marsh, I was able to find a Gray Catbird. I heard it singing and making a bunch of racket before it appeared. All gray bird with black cap and rufous undertail coverts. I was able to get 5 other Pierce county birders out there and all were successful on finding the bird.
Directions: I 5 to Hwy. 512. Take 512 east and turn right on Steel street. Follow Steel for about 4 or 5 miles. When you come to the end before it turns into the Cross Basin Hwy, turn right into a dead end road which is 176 street. Park by gate, and walk asphalt road down hill past the pond on the right. Continue up the hill and the road levels off and the large second pond becomes visible on your left. At that spot is where the catbird was feeding in the choke cherry bushes.
I believe this is a first record for Pierce county!
Bruce LaBar
Tacoma, WA.