New Morning – A Mockingbird Singing in the Rain
October began with the song of a Mockingbird in a soft, steady rain, even in the dark, before the first hint of light began to appear. An easy rain continued to fall as a sleepy, misty, gray morning light became the day. An Eastern Towhee called chur-WHEE, a Tufted Titmouse sang peter-peter, a Carolina Chickadee fussed chick-a-dee-dee-dee. Crows cawed in the distance. Northern Cardinals peeped in the bushes. A Downy Woodpecker’s whinny sounded like a silvery echo of the rain.
A Carolina Wren began to sing, a full, rich cheer-a-LEEE, cheer-a-LEEE, cheer-a-LEEE, followed by the long trill of another Carolina Wren. Across the street, an Eastern Phoebe whistled. An Eastern Bluebird called a few blurry notes. A Red-bellied Woodpecker rattled. A couple of Blue Jays flew into the treetops in the front yard, with strident cries.
Crickets chirped, and the rain kept falling, quietly dripping, painting the background and filling the pauses between the few bird calls and songs. In the back yard, at least two Ruby-throated Hummingbirds – females or juveniles – took turns at the feeder, or seemed to, not battling or chasing, just perching there one at a time, looking a bit bedraggled, with drooping wings and head-feathers ruffled by the rain.