We have had a hilariously raucous Blue Jay family around the yard the
past couple of weeks or so (I failed to note the exact date that they
started their residence). We also have a Chickadee family! I know we
have several other species breeding here but it's easiest to notice the
ones who come around the bird baths and feeders.
At Lime Hollow yesterday evening we were treated to several Towhee songs
in different areas of the preserve. One from very close range who also
let me see him. From close-by their song sounds very thrush-like and
musical. If the mosquitoes hadn't been trying to exsanguinate me I would
have stood there and listened until the bird flew off or stopped
singing. So beautiful! He was also varying from the song I'm used to.
Instead of "Drink your tea!" He sang, "Drink! Drink! [long pause, then
extremely musical:] your Teaa!" Maybe that's not so unusual, but I
don't remember hearing a Towhee do that variation of the song before. It
was especially pretty.
But I have a question. As we were heading back toward the entrance I
heard a bird singing near the semi-circular sculpture. This bird was
singing with the more typical cadence of the phrase "Drink your tea!" of
a Towhee, but each note was a clear whistle and the first two notes were
the same pitch, with the last being approximately a fifth higher. Each
note was of the same duration. I don't recall ever having heard that
before, not that I'm great with bird songs. Any ideas what that bird
might have been? There were many Grey Catbirds around but the vocal
quality and style/pattern didn't sound like the Catbirds I hear on our
property.
We also saw a number of Wood Ducks on one of the ponds.
Melanie
On 8/1/2017 5:08 PM, Geo Kloppel wrote:
Lots of hungry young birds around, but I especially feel for this fledgling
Broad-winged Hawk, whose wails are not only piteous (all Broad-wings sound that
way to me) but also right in my ears, because the bird favors the trees that
shade my workshop.
Most years the Broad-wing fledglings take up begging stations several hundred
yards away, overlooking secluded Maple Avenue, where their parents hunt, but
this year is different for some reason...
-Geo
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