Hi Tweets,

Out to Iona yesterday afternoon to find that heavy construction on the NE &
NW settling ponds had pushed all the high-tide shorebirds out to heaven
knows where. Also discovered I'd made a royal ID screwup. Mea culpa, and
know better next time.

>another very unexpected (and *very* rare for Vancouver BC in July) bird was
an adult *Lincoln's Sparrow* (July 10 1997).

Nope. Savannah Sparrow (SAVS, and very common for Vancouver BC in July),
seen in better light with the entire bird showing. The individual is
atypically grey on the face with a fine-streaked breast (the streaking much
sparser than on the average SAVS) with a small coalescent central spot and a
faint buff suffusion below the streaks. Seen face-on with the pink legs
obscured by vegetation, sure fooled me. Average southbound Lincoln's Sparrow
arrival for Vancouver BC is still Aug. 25.

I think it's one of a (late) nesting pair, SE corner of the NE pond with the
nest in the base of a red-elderberry bush. Though SAVS are abundant in
southbound migration throughout the area, I don't think they've ever nested
before in the ponds themselves. The odd location and lateness of nesting
suggests they've been displaced from Sea Island: there's more and wider
ditch- and road-shoulder mowing on Sea Island all the time: whoever's
letting the mowing contracts for Sea Island is gradually turning the entire
rough pasture and long-grass fields in the public area outside the airport
fences into mowed lawn and golfers' informal practice area. Goodbye to more
Vancouver BC wildlife.

Then off to see Men in Black with friends. Braincandy, but kinda sweet in
its premise that aliens are already among us and have been for some
time--the 1930's, actually--but just want a quiet, decent life like anyone
else. Well, most of them, or where's the story? Lots of sly humor (pun
intended: you'll see why) going on in the rest of the frame through what's
mostly a satirically underplayed chase/buddy-cop/cute-gross monster movie.
Great sightgag at the end that fans of 1940's science-fiction will
recognise. And check out the cool trailer of Godzilla, as well: more urban
renewal ahead in 1998!

Cheers

Michael Price When I found out that seven of my years
Vancouver BC Canada was only one of theirs,
mprice at mindlink.net I started biting absolutely everything.
-Max Carlson (Ron Carlson's dog)