Hello Wayne& Martyn,
You beat me to also responding about the Swainson's Thrush.We had this
discussion before,and it is true that Starlings really imitating the call of
a Swainson's thrush.But maybe this year is a exception,we see if more
birders find Swainson's Thrushes.

Ruth Sullivan
Fircrest Tacoma
----- Original Message -----
From: "Wayne C. Weber" <contopus at telus.net>
To: "MARTYN STEWART" <mstew at naturesound.org>
Cc: "TWEETERS" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Monday, March 22, 2004 10:24 AM
Subject: Re: Swainson's Thrush & State park Issaquah


> Martyn,
>
> A Swainson's Thrush in March would be extremely unusual. Gene Hunn, in
> "Birding in Seattle and King County" (1982) indicates that the main
> arrival of Swainson's Thrush is in May, with only a few appearing in
> late April, and none in March. Where I live, around Vancouver, B.C.,
> the average spring arrival date over 28 years for Swainson's Thrush is
> May 6, and the earliest record ever is April 16. In addition,
> Swainson's Thrushes usually do not begin singing until a week or two
> after they arrive on their territories, or about May 20 in our area.
>
> You did not indicate whether or not you saw the bird, or only heard
> it. I have heard Starlings give some very credible imitations of a
> Swainson's Thrush song. Could it be that perhaps you heard a Starling
> imitation rather than a real Swainson's Thrush? This is one sighting
> for which some visual confirmation would definitely be helpful.
>
>
> Wayne C. Weber
> Delta, BC
> contopus at telus.net
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Martyn Stewart <mstew at naturesound.org>
> To: 'Tweeters' <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
> Sent: Sunday, March 21, 2004 4:00 PM
> Subject: Swainson's Thrush & State park Issaquah
>
>
> > I got my first Swainson's thrush of the season this afternoon at
> State Park
> > Issaquah, beautiful haunting spiral sound!
> >
> > The herons are doing well on the building with maybe 5 to 6 more
> nests than
> > last year; I counted 41 herons in the Heronry :-)
> >
> > Tree swallows in abundance, no willow flycatchers yet or common
> > yellowthroats but after today's sunshine, the dorsal tones will soon
> be with
> > us :-)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Martyn
> >
>
>
>