I just watched a trio of birds make their way, foraging across my unkempt
garden. The three were a song sparrow, a Bewick's wren and a hermit thrush.
Song sparrow and Bewick's wren are around all year in the yard, but this is
the first time I've seen the hermit thrush in the backyard. When I first
noted the thrush, there were two but only one stayed to be observed.
For much of the time over about 40 minutes the three would forage on the
ground in close proximity, that is within a circle less than 8 feet in
diameter, each getting things (insects or other arthropods mostly apparently,
and mostly from the ground though foraging in slightly different manners.
Of the three the sparrow was the more aggressive on occaision chasing at the
others. The wren was the more timid retreating from the sparrow and from
other nearby distractions (when I moved to get a different view) and the
thrush mostly just kept about his business and seemingly ignored the other
two.
When the wren flew off he soon reappeared and sang loudly for several
minutes. The song sparrow had been singing just before I noticed the thrush.
Don't suppose the thrush will stick around to sing in this mid city
neighborhood near the zoo.
Garet Munger
Seattle