Hi Tweets,

Rob Conway writes:

>I saw quite a number of birds including my first RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD
>(male) of the year (10 days earlier than usual).

Wow, a real gatecrasher!

That would make your average arrival date there February 10? Hoo doggies,
that means they cover the distance from their arrival sites in California to
mid-Washington State in almost nothing flat, then take three weeks to go
just 240 km (150 mi) further north to arrive--on average--in Vancouver BC in
Week 1-2 March. Hmm, not impossible.

>I had on a red shirt
>and he came right for me, then he scuttled off to a patch of
>salmonberries that had just a couple of blossoms coming on.

That, I think, is the main constraint on their northbound movement. So
everyone go out and get red shirts. '-) No, the rate at which salmonberries
open, but do they typically open in Bellevue WA three weeks ahead of
Vancouver BC?

I can imagine Rufous Hummingbird Selasphorus rufus being extraordinarily
early this year if this pattern of warm southern air being pumped up north
continues. Time to look for the first Tree and Violet-green Swallows
(Tachycineta bicolor and thalassina); been keeping an eye on the southern
state RBA's for a northbound swallow arrival, but nothing yet. But *anytime*
in the next week or two. "Made it through another on the northern range..."

>While I was walking I heard a terrible animal noise.
(snip)

Bwahahaa! Great story!

Michael Price A brave world, Sir,
Vancouver BC Canada full of religion, knavery and change;
mprice at mindlink.net we shall shortly see better days.
Aphra Behn (1640-1689)