While working in my garden this weekend I heard both a western tanager and a
pacific slope flycatcher calling from the tall trees (alder, hemlock, cedar)
surrounding my yard. I heard the tanager last weekend, but yesterday was
the first for the flycatcher. Also heard for the first time this season
both the call note and song of the swainson's thrush, one of my favorites.
The black headed grosbeaks are singing their hearts out now, but I have not
seen them at the feeders yet. I've been at this property since spring of
2000 and have had several families of BH grosbeaks as daily visitors in the
summer months. It's lots of fun to watch when the parents bring their kids
to my feeders. And FINALLY, the hummingbirds are back in full force. It's
about time!

Looking forward to more singing as this wonderful spring season progresses.
It's so nice when the noisy lawn mowers, roaring motorbikes, and loud radios
are notably absent, allowing the natural sounds to dominate, a rare
occurrence even in rural areas. A pleasant reminder of one of the many
reasons I moved away from city life.



Jody Breckenridge
North of Monroe, Washington
Snohomish County
mail to: jbreckenridge at r2usa.com