It´s February, the first songbirds are singing in the first warm shafts of sunlight.
After a few of month recording with hard conditions a friendlier time is about to begin.
To my surprise yesterday a flock of Common Starlings Sturnus vulgaris was sitting
in a apple tree and chatting. One of them gave a short lesson in what a Starling can achieve.

Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris, Imitation of: female Tawny Owl Strix aluco,
Eurasian Golden Oriole O. oriolous, Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major and
House Sparrow Passer domesticus, February 15th, 2009:
 

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Since one week a flock of 25 Hawfinches C. coccothraustes was straying around.
With a “contact call” the flock seemed to sync their activities. One by one was calling
till all individuals were together.

Hawfinches C. coccothraustes, calls and contact calls, flock of 6-8 individuals, February 13th, 2009:
 

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Last year I tryed to record their curious whispering song. Now with my new Telinga
parabola microphon i have better prospects. Here my first attempt:

Hawfinches C. coccothraustes, calls and (sub?)song, in background a
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor was looking for food, February 13th, 2009:
 

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During this winter were a lot of Long Tailed Bushtits´s Aegithalos caudatus flocks in Leipzig.
What i like about this recording is the contrast of the urban surrounding and the Bushtit´s
delicate voices.

Long Tailed Bushtits´s Aegithalos caudatus, calls, February 13th, 2009:
 

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A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor was looking for food, February 13th, 2009:
 

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