What birds (are you/have you been) watching? What birds have been watching you?

[Vox Humana]

... of course I love birds. To look at.

But in recent days...

Three o'clock in the morning it seems relentless. In the gardens between these west London terraces we have (to my untrained ears) - chattering magpies - alarm calls of blackbirds (there is a tree with a nest just outside the bedroom window) - the bicycle pump noise of a great tit (I think).

So LOUD!

I'm a forgiving sort of chap, but a week more of this....
.

Don't worry. It will soon start to tail off. Personally I love it, 3 a.m. or not.

[Serial_Apologist]

'

So LOUD!

I'm a forgiving sort of chap, but a week more of this....

.

Some years ago, when I was mowing a large lawn, using a petrol-driven mower, I was quite certain that the birds - the blackbirds in particular - were raising their game in order to remain audible above the noise of the machine. I have been told that this can indeed be the case, and that birds in urban areas in general sing louder than they do in the countryside.

[Richard Tarleton]

Three o'clock in the morning it seems relentless. In the gardens between these west London terraces we have (to my untrained ears) - chattering magpies - alarm calls of blackbirds (there is a tree with a nest just outside the bedroom window) - the bicycle pump noise of a great tit (I think).

So LOUD!

I'm a forgiving sort of chap, but a week more of this....

.

An offering from the New Yorker...



© The New Yorker

Some years ago, when I was mowing a large lawn, using a petrol-driven mower, I was quite certain that the birds - the blackbirds in particular - were raising their game in order to remain audible above the noise of the machine. I have been told that this can indeed be the case, and that birds in urban areas in general sing louder than they do in the countryside.

Hmm...the New Yorker again...



© The New Yorker

[Serial_Apologist]

[BBMmk2]

Since the beginning of this month, I’ve been hearing a lot more bird songs. Always very gratifying.

[cloughie]

Don't worry. It will soon start to tail off. Personally I love it, 3 a.m. or not.

3am is somewhat early - is the effect of street lights or other artificial light a factor. Here the light of sunrise now has the blackbird leading the chorus at around 5am.

[oddoneout]

An offering from the New Yorker...



© The New Yorker© The New Yorker

Do they not have altos in New York?

[Richard Tarleton]

Do they not have altos in New York?

Perhaps I should have posted the drawing (they don't have cartoons at the New Yorker, they have drawings) at original size ....

[cloughie]

W

Do they not have altos in New York?

I’m sure the full sound spectrum of avian sound must include mezzos and baritones.

[Richard Tarleton]

W

I’m sure the full sound spectrum of avian sound must include mezzos and baritones.

I've always thought of blackbirds as contraltos. Ravens, which we get regularly over the house, are the John Tomlinsons of the bird world.....

[kernelbogey]

Do you get Red Kites yet?

I believe I saw a Red Kite yesterday, about four miles east of Winchester: a knowledgeable friend thought my description merieted that identification. I haven't previously seen one this far south.

[Vox Humana]

I've always thought of blackbirds as contraltos. Ravens, which we get regularly over the house, are the John Tomlinsons of the bird world.....

The late Eric Simms compared the Garden Warbler's song as the contralto to the Blackcap's soprano.

[Richard Tarleton]

The late Eric Simms compared the Garden Warbler's song as the contralto to the Blackcap's soprano.

I'd forgotten that - lots of E Simms books here . Much as I love and look forward to blackcaps, there's something special about the secretive garden warbler's mellifluous (and continuous) song usually issuing from the middle of a bush, with just the occasional glimpse or twitch of a leaf to give away exactly where they are. Lars Jonsson's "monotonous babbling of soft clear notes" doesn't do justice to how attractive it is, but I do like his painting (but is the bill fractionally too short?). They arrive later than blackcaps, of course, and blackcaps take exception to their presence when they do get here, there being habitat overlaps.

[gradus]

A house martin seen today jetting across the garden.

[Padraig]

I haven't heard a cuckoo in years, but today my wife heard one in Lisfannon near Inch Island. Some of her golf companions heard it too, and one of them who lives on Inch reported hearing a corncrake recently as well. Richard, are they pulling my leg?