17 May 2019

the first peep

We've now reached the typical window for the Swainson's Thrush to be heard. Not to be seen, that's asking a lot - but the soft questioning peep? should be audible in the next few days. My wife's favorite sound is their mating song, but that usually takes a week or two more before both genders are well represented in the area.

We're listening..

In the meantime the first black-headed Grosbeaks and their 'tipsy robin' song have arrived.
How funny, 'tipsy robin' is now a song title; that really messed up my search!


Update, 19 May: the Thrush have arrived!
They might have reached us on the 18th, I suspected I heard one. They are more vocal at twilight, and that's when the heavy showers reached us - so I wasn't out listening in any case! No spiraling trills yet, just the short or longer one-note calls at this point. Too tired to set up a new nest just yet, perhaps?

Update #2, 21 May - at 5:30 this morning I heard the first song.
Until then I had only heard the peep or whit call.