Hi Tweeters,
I live at about the 300' elev. east of Tacoma. Our temperature is usually 5
to 10 degrees
cooler than sea level temps. I too, see signs of spring. I also saw early
signs of spring in 98. I was planning my garden in January! 98 started out
with rain and snow mixed for a couple of weeks. Than things changed! Daytime
temps. reached 50 for about a week, than rose to the upper 50s reaching even
60 degrees 1-31-98. February
that same year started out nice too! Highs, upper 50s reaching even 61
degrees on
2-7-98 {BALMY} !

I won't be fooled again! March and April that year had cold blowing winds,
low temps, snow in both months finally reaching 60 degrees on April 18.

That kind of weather effects both rates: Rufous migration and flower bud
maturity.
>From what I remember we saw a couple early arriving Rufous for a day or two,
than the weather hit and we didn't see them again for weeks.
I would love to see anyone's Rufous arrival dates in western WA. for 1998.
Compare those to a "normal " spring.
My son and I will keep an eye out for early arrivals here, but I still think
most won't arrive here until late March or early April.
We just have to get out and bird and take advantage of sunny days. It can
change real fast around here!

Gordon Wright
member7179 at aol.com
Sumner,WA