Laurinda Anglin asks

> hard to find things and easy to miss others. I've noticed quite a few posts
> on these Hoopoe birds and am just curious as to what they are.

Colourful birds of the Old World, with a reputation for being untidy.
Peterson's Field Guide to Western Birds mentions them as strays (p.352).

The same page shows 2 other favourite birds of mine from Europe, the
Wryneck and the Stonechat. Both specialists for traditionally used
farming areas, too.

Reto Riesen
Dept. Chem.,UBC
Vancouver
riesenr at chem.ubc.ca