[mou] Back yard cacophony

[Thomas Maiello]

Birded my back yard this morning and the bird call cacophony was 
deafening!  I have two mimics apparently dueling out their "proud to be 
a father" doublets and triplets - Brown Thrashers and Catbirds.  It 
sounds like every bird that resides nearby is calling as loud as 
possible to be heard over the others.  In the midst are occasional 
warbler songs that I can only catch a few bars before they are drowned out.

Does anyone have or heard any reports on the Lake Pepin events and what 
birds were seen?  I was locally tied and couldn't make it.  Any warbler 
waves?

On the humorous side - with all the talk of odd birds at the jelly 
feeders - I dreamed that the hummingbirds finally made it back to Spring 
Lake Park and were feasting on the nectar in my numerous hummer 
feeders.  As I reveled in their arrival in my dream, they were joined 
and challenged by hovering Robins and a Scarlet Tanager.  The larger 
birds were hovering their wings just like the hummers only with  louder 
"hums".  I woke up almost laughing at the image.  Can you imagine a 
Scarlet Tanager zooming slow approaches and withdrawals and hovering 
around a hummingbird feeder?  Wow - what a sight!

Thomas Maiello
Spring Lake Park