Subject: V.I. Brambling (was: Late Townsends Warbler)
Date: Jan 6 12:39:37 1998
From: Michael Price - mprice at mindlink.bc.ca


Hi Tweets,

Don Cecile writes:

>We have our first overwintering Anna's Hummingbirds and we have our first
>local record of Brambling. The brambling has been feeding at a chicken yard
>where the food is abundant and very reliable. If people are interested in
>seeing this bird, send me a note and I will provide you with directions.

I *love* these casual little toss-away lines: 'Oh, by the way, as well as
the overwintering Townsend's Warblers and Lincoln's Sparrows, and first-ever
wintering Anna's Hummingbird, there's an extremely rare Asian finch here ..."

But I'm aware of a schizoid reaction to this news: the lister part asks why
not trumpet the news of the Brambling from the skies, while the more
holistic part says that Don's phrasing of the original post is entirely in
proportion and balance.

Did it arrive with the cold weather, Don? Wonder if there's other Bramblings
showing up in other places along that Arctic front.

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)