97-12-09, Rob Conway writes:

<< .....The lack of significant intense storms has also allowed a large
amount of the madrone berry crop to remain on the trees, accomodating the
fashionably late arrival ... of the [Varied Thrushes]. >>

"accomodating the fashionably late arrival" of Varied Thrushes. :-)) I like
the way you put that Rob, as I'm sitting here now smiling and visualizing the
'yard party' later on in the winter when all of a sudden the neighborhood will
be sprinkled with my favorite winter time pals, the bright and brilliant
"fashion conscious" Varied Thrush to spark up the shadowy wet dull gray green
gloom of winter and which on those really special occasions are even more so
(bright and brilliant) when (if) the yard is covered with a light fresh
blanket of new fallen snow. 'Tis a tough act to match.
Ding..ding..ding..ding..."Attention everybody; the Varied Thrush party has
just arrived." They always seem to show up a bit later than I think they
should or would like, then sticking around longer than the rest while tuning
up and becoming vocal for Spring and filling the early morning hours with the
long ringing tones of song. If they are going stay and party on, I just wish
they'd be a little more wary when the neighborhood cat's on the stalking
prowl. Each winter, way too many around here never leave the party alive.
Thanks Rob for creating a little smile and a pleasant jump start for the day
from at least one tweeter over here in Eastgate.

Richard Rowlett (Pagodroma at aol.com)
47.56N, 122.13W
(Seattle/Bellevue, WA USA)
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God was my co-pilot,
but when we crashed in the mountains,
I had to eat him :-))
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