Varied Thrush

This Varied Thrush appeared at a local birding buddy's residence a few days before Christmas. She has gotten some good shots of it and I was able to get a few yesterday when the sun finally shone. Minnesota Ornithologists' Union records indicate five or less reported sightings of this species in our county in winter, the only time one might be expected. They are residents of the rainforests of the Pacific NW, but a few, for whatever reason, end up rarely but regularly in the mid-west and even the north-eastern US in winter. Oddly enough, one appeared at another birding friend's house a year ago and I was able to photograph that one too. They are a species that is very skittish and difficult to approach. But they surely are worth the effort to try as they are a gorgeous species.

Nice. My front yard has 3 or 4 foraging around as we speak.

A couple of great shots.

Very nice shots. I appreciate seeing the back of the bird in number two.

Beautiful bird-one showed up a few miles north of my house two years ago, in the same area I find snowy owls, but I was unable to find it(of course, people who went by five minutes later were able to find it). Of course, I was concentrating on the owls and didn't know how big a deal a varied thrush is for the area until after it moved on.

Tis a beauty Al, there is one that shows up here usually most winters in the same yard each year, never have made the trip before to try and find it. Beautiful work as usual.

N.V.M. wrote in post #18225705
Nice. My front yard has 3 or 4 foraging around as we speak.

dm1215al wrote in post #18225828
A couple of great shots.

Greg_8 wrote in post #18226078
Very nice shots. I appreciate seeing the back of the bird in number two.

Shackleton wrote in post #18226168
Beautiful bird-one showed up a few miles north of my house two years ago, in the same area I find snowy owls, but I was unable to find it(of course, people who went by five minutes later were able to find it). Of course, I was concentrating on the owls and didn't know how big a deal a varied thrush is for the area until after it moved on.

Oldjackssparrows wrote in post #18226294
Tis a beauty Al, there is one that shows up here usually most winters in the same yard each year, never have made the trip before to try and find it. Beautiful work as usual.

Thank you all for your kind comments. Wouldn't one love to know why these birds migrate so far east in winter, of all seasons? Apparently, if they have the right resources, they tend to stay all winter in a spot. So, we are currently keeping a group of MN County Listers in the loop who would love to come up and add it to their lists.

Pretty great Christmas present. Happy for your good fortune, nice shooting

What a beauty, nice shots Allan. Way to rise to the challenge, well done.

Well done Allan.

What a beautiful bird, and great to see a rarity.

CaptBob wrote in post #18226977
Pretty great Christmas present. Happy for your good fortune, nice shooting

Nighthound wrote in post #18227030
What a beauty, nice shots Allan. Way to rise to the challenge, well done.

Red Dexs wrote in post #18227478
Well done Allan.

cannylad wrote in post #18227488
What a beautiful bird, and great to see a rarity.

Thank you, guys; I appreciate your taking the time to comment. I think it would really be neat to see one of these birds in their more typical rainforest habitat in the Pacific NW. They have a very haunting call that apparently is well suited to that verdant environment.