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.

15. February 2009 3.37pm
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.
 

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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.

13. February 2009, 3.20pm
Hawfinches C. coccothraustes, calls and contact calls, flock of 6-8 individuals
 

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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:

13. February 2009, 3.31pm
Hawfinches C. coccothraustes, calls and (sub?)song,
in background a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor was looking for food.
 

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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.

13. February 2009, 2.21pm
Long Tailed Bushtits´s Aegithalos caudatus, calls
 

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13. February 2009, 3.12pm
A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor was looking for food.
 

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