And a native plant story. I was working on South American bird taxonomy updates and listening to radio mid-day today, when I thought I heard an unusual song for this urban Seattle (Capitol Hill) yard. When it repeated a couple times, I grabbed binoculars and ducked out into the sprinkling rain. I heard a few call notes, a song or two, and finally saw him moving in the little hedgerow of native shrubs I've gotten going: Swainson's Thrush, sallying to eat fruits just ripening on my twinberries (_Lonicera involucrata_). The hummingbirds and bees have been enjoying the flowers, but I never expected to see this species in the yard, and had been missing them from more forested homes. Seventh new yard bird since the sequestration.

16 May, 2020

Alan Grenon
Seattle