[Tweeters] Edmonds Varied Thrush

[Dee Dee]

Hi, I’ve been following with interest the various reports of Varied Thrush (VATH) sightings  in the past weeks. 

In the 13 years we’ve lived here I have watched for one in our yard, but no luck…until this past Wednesday (12/21) evening. Just at sunset, noticed a male on the snow under our apple tree/feeders. 

To my surprise, it hung around in the yard through Saturday morning; then, though I watched for it, we didn’t see it again until late this morning (12/27). Am assuming it’s the same male as it seems quite familiar with the areas it had frequented previously. 

Yay, a new yard bird! It provided a bright and interesting diversion to watch out our windows while house-bound by the ice/snow.

Having heard/read that VATHs will sometimes join up with flocks of robins, I was a bit surprised that this fellow showed absolutely no inclination to “hang” with any of the individual or groups of Robins that were often in our yard and neighborhood between 20 - 24 December. It was foraging in the vicinity but avoided or ignored them even though alone. The first day, every time a group would come through the yard and fly off again, I was expecting to see it go with them. (I am glad it did not!) Wondering if anyone with more experience and knowledge about the VATHs, has any insights to share about this…realizing that individual birds have their own individual behavior at times. 

I posted a few pictures of the thrush on Flickr (as well as a pic taken yesterday of a goldfinch with a very white rump, for those interested in likely leucism) at:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/danenewarnock/

Dee Warnock
Edmonds