Temp in the 40s, overcast, rain, Wind SW 10-20 mph

It looks like the heaviest rain passed south of us, but it was still raining lightly all day. The wind has picked up and is coming from the Southwest, which is ideal for Asian strays. The winds are forecast to be SW to NW to SW for most of this following week, so things are looking promising.

I only picked up one species today — Emperor Goose — out on Goose Rocks!

It was a lifer for Steve and some of the new birders that arrived today.

I had another Brambling at the High School Spruces. They’re everywhere!

This morning, I joined Ivan as we searched for the Rustic Bunting he found yesterday. In the constant rain and wind, it was no fun — and no success. Ivan also had a Least Sandpiper near there. We did not relocate that either.

Maybe tomorrow, between rain showers, conditions will be better for finding the bunting.

The ponds adjacent to Lake Andrew are great places for Red-necked Phalaropes.

After that, I did my usual rounds and got to the airport just after two to bid farewell to Ivan and welcome the new batch of birders.

The house they are staying in is very near to where the Hawfinches are coming to a feeder. As we drove up to their place, we passed the Hawfinch feeder and they saw several flying around!

They were most interested in the Rustic Bunting, so I took them up there and we searched in vain. We did see a flock of six Brambling, but no bunting.

Some of them also needed the Emperor Goose, so I took them up there and, luckily, it was still there.

I then took them back to town and showed them where the Eye-browed Thrush had been hanging out and I then abandoned them to their own devices and quit for the day.

My Trip List is 59.

Today’s eBird list can be seen at https://ebird.org/checklist/S139162332 Not a very long list today. Conditions were terrible.