young birds, a switch singer and a cricket ID

The head of the marsh is filled with flocks of young Red-winged Blackbirds and, just a little bit further inland, flocks of old and young Common Grackles and Gray Catbird families bouncing around along with a brood --third of the season? -- of young Cardinals.

One of our Carolina Wrens has switched from the endlessly stereotyped 'teakettle' song to a medley mode where he changes his tune almost as often as a Mockingbird. Is this a courting maneuver? This might be one of the birds that was engaged in a song competition for the past few days -- but always with the stereotypical song. Does the switch to a more elaborate musical form serve to impress a female and set the stage for what is probably at least a third brood?

All four local woodpeckers -- Downy, Hairy, Flicker and Red-bellied -- were moving around the property, almost in sync. I'm still waiting for the Pileated to show up!

Here's my latest insect song ID: Tinkling Ground Cricket. The name describes the sound very well: a series of soft high pitched tinkles coming from the low woodland edge. I heard it in the daytime and, although Himmelman doesn't mention it apparently does sing day and night.

Eric Salzman