Saw my first junco of the fall this morning in southern Washington County. More interestingly, this afternoon in Hennepin County in two separate (but very close) locations, I heard what I could swear--but won't--was Varied Thrush.
Aside from just seeing a few in Minnesota in winter, I've heard (and seen) many of them in their breeding range, having lived in and traveled through California for almost 6 years, plus from birding while visiting family and friends in Idaho, Montana, and Oregon. Their vocalizations are distinct enough that I've had no question whatsoever about what I'm hearing when I'm in their typical range. Unfortunately, I couldn't spot the curious sound-makers; one was likely on private property, the other across a wetland from me in fairly dense woods. Regardless, I was working and didn't have time to seek them out (or binoculars on me). So, before allowing myself to completely believe my ears, I'm wondering if there any frogs, toads, or even insects anyone can point me to that sound virtually identical to a Varied Thrush? For what it's worth, I was at Wolsfeld Woods SNA and Wood Rill SNA, hearing the sound repeated a few times in one location at each site. These SNA's are in the Orono area. Kyle Te Poel Stillwater, MN ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
