Just to add to the tweeters accounts (probably so many more on eBird), we counted 9 Varied Thrushes at one time in our backyard today. Dave Nunnallee told me he had 18 at once in their yard in Issaquah. Clearly a massive flight into the lowlands of western Washington, more than any time in my experience.

Anyone who has seen several of them in the same place knows how very aggressive they are. They chase one another constantly, much like hummingbirds that are hardwired to be territorial no matter how abundant the food resource. As usual, the males are the real jerks (oops, I should say at the top of the dominance hierarchy).

Dennis Paulson
Maple Leaf, Seattle


> On Dec 21, 2022, at 4:43 PM, Joan Miller <jemskink at gmail.com> wrote:

>

> I was so delighted to find two Varied Thrushes poking around my yard today! They hung around for quite a while, kicking up duff and grazing under the seed feeder. I was able to get a few good photos. I hope they stick around for a while. It was a busy feeder day, with Juncos, Stellers Jays, Fox Sparrows, Golden-Crowned Sparrows, Chickadees, Flickers and Anna's hummers. Didn't see any Bushtits or Bewick's wrens.

>

> Oh, I heard a new bird call - like a soft chuck chuck. Turned out to be the Varied Thrush!

>

> Joan Miller

> West Seattle

> jemskink at gmail dot com

> _______________________________________________

> Tweeters mailing list

> Tweeters at u.washington.edu

> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters