Since at least 4/13 I have had a typically-shy LINCOLN'S SPARROW hanging
around my pond in the evenings. This is a new yard bird for me.

Also on the 13th, I stepped out on my deck for a breath of fresh
shrub-steppe air after Leno's monologue. I was surprised to hear a WESTERN
MEADOWLARK in full song (11:50pm local time). This would be 4+ hours after
sunset. I found that quite interesting, and suspected the bird had been
disturbed was merely responding in a typical 'displacement activity' mode,
although I am not aware of singing being produced as a displacement
activity. The bird sang a three or four times, and then stopped. I've
heard nocturnal WEME song only once or twice before.

Do others have records of WEME singing late in the night? I have also
heard Yellow-breasted Chat singing around 1am on a Big Day north of
Ellensburg. And of course Mockingbirds may be heard at all hours of the
day or night.

Scott Ray
Eastern upper Yakima Valley