The average arrival date for Clatsop Co. OR (Astoria) is Feb 21 and further
south (Coos Bay) about Feb 14. Brookings/Harbour has already reported
both Allen's and Rufous, but with the caveat that they were about 10 days
early.

This would Cougar Mt arrival dates singularly unusual.


>
>Hi Tweets,
>
>Michael Price writes (concerning my siting of a rufous hummer today):
>
>>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.
>
>This send me scrambling. Was my recollection that out of whack? I'd
>put Michael's knowledge of local birds up against almost anyones....
>So - I went and checked my records for first sitings of Rufous
>Hummingbirds. All of these sitings were in the same general location on
>Cougar Mountain.
>
>1990 - Feb 12
>1991 - March 1 (significant snow in mid-Feb if I recall)
>1992 - Feb 13
>1993 - Feb 10
>1994 - Feb 20
>1995 - Feb 16
>1996 - Feb 12
>1997 - Feb 14
>
>That makes ~Feb 16 as the average date. So this date is not 10, but 15
>days early - believe me, I was surprised as heck. In a previous house I
>lived right next to a big patch of salmonberries and could predict
>within a day or two when the rufous hummers would arrive by the date of
>the salmonberry flowers opening.
>
>Today I saw a purple plum (Prunus Cerasifera Altropupurea) completely
>budded out and with a few open flowers - something we usually see in
>this neighborhood the SECOND WEEK IN MARCH, when it isn't unusual for
>them to be dusted by a late snow. But then with temperatures in the mid
>to upper 60's for almost a week (with LOWS around 45) what plant
>wouldn't be confused - hope we don't get a blast of arctic air now.
>Another strange plant phenom that I noticed today was that pine cones on
>all of the ornamental plantings were "snap, crackle and popping" -
>warmish temps and low humidity with lots of wind were drying the cones
>out and they were opening and dropping seed.
>
>I also saw RUFFED GROUSE and RED CROSSBILLS after my earlier posting
>today - what a strange mix of birds.
>
>Rob Conway
>Bellevue, WA
>
>robin_conway at hotmail.com
>
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>
>

--
*********************************
* Mike Patterson, Astoria, OR *
* mpatters at orednet.org *
http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters