Walking in Seward Park Thursday I heard what I initially thought was a
Robin, "Cheeri-o, Cheeri-up". But not quite right. Too high in the
canopy, for one thing, and too, well, musical. Then it went into some
lovely variations, each starting with the "Cheerio, cheeri-up", but
going on to an amazing series of chirrups and trills. One series
sounded like "Cheerio, cheeri-up, too weird, chirrup, so weird,
trlllllll......"

After listening and watching for about 10 minutes the author revealed
itself briefly, to fly from one hidden perch to another high in a Doug
Fir, but in silhouette (danged sunshine). Smaller than a Robin, thicker
than a warbler, bigger than a kinglet. And then went silent.

It reminded me in a way of the manner in which Ruby-crowned Kinglets
sing seemingly to themselves in the early spring. On and on and on. OK.
I'm stumped. Any ideas out there?

Other summer voices in the park this last month: Olive-sided
Flycatcher, Hutton's Vireo, Pacific-slope Fylcatcher, Townsend's
Warbler, Yellow Warbler.

Catherine Alexander
Lakewood Neighborhood
South Seattle