Date:         Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:02:39 -0500
Reply-To:     Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Re: Friday bird AKICIV (All Knowledge is Contained in Vandom)
In-Reply-To:  <9f4608e90911201838m240ef5c8tea5824a054be72f8@mail.gmail.com>
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Many years ago, I worked at a summer camp in WV. On one of our "survey" missions, I discovered an interesting salamander and brought it back for identification purposes. When we identified it as a Four Toed Salamander the local herpetologist was surprised, as we were in the wrong habitat for that species. He did, however, confirm our identification. And he accompanied me back to where I had collected it when we returned it. And reemphasized that it shouldn't have been there "by the book".

The Mid-Atlantic region of the US has more salamander species than just about any other place in the world (and a new species was found down Atlanta way earlier this year.)

Just goes to show that even in the US and in urban settings, that wildlife can surprise the experts.


On Nov 20, 2009, at 9:38 PM, Al Knoll wrote:

> He was lost on a trip to Papeete,  cocoanut lost all steering and he drifted
> and wandered for months until rescued by an itinerant sooty albatros....well
> maybe not months.
>
> Was visiting friends in Tewsahn when the lady of the house asked what route
> we were taking in Ruby the red brick, back to Califunia.  She new we were
> twitchers and said we should tour through Death Valley, Furnace Creek Ranch,
> Bldg. 609 to see the Purple Gallinule.
>
> Joe Morlan did a piece but the record can be found here:
>
> http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/iny.htm
>
> Right where the blue gecko said it would be.
>
> Out of range?  perhaps.  Never say it couldn't have made it here.  Teensy
> little bird caused quite a ruckus in SW Texas recently.  I seem to recall
> that Fred, a flamingo, spent a little time in DVNP too.
>
> A snowy owl was photographed a few years back near Sacramento.  Unlikely,
> sure, impossible, never.
>
> Photos of Bobwhite quail in our alleyway in Sacramento are available.
> Unlikely, sure, impossible, never.  That's some of the fascination.
>
> Birders like to watch.
>
> Pensionerd.
>
> On Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 4:36 PM, Aristotle Sagan
> <killer.jupiter@gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> Who said anything about migration? He was on holiday.
>>
>>
>> Speaking of which, where the hell have you been Bill?
>>
>>
>> tim in san jose
>>
>> On Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 12:45 PM, Bill Kasper <dragonlist@ubs.ucsc.edu>
>> wrote:
>>> no, no.  the african swallow's not migratory!
>>>
>>> On Nov 20, 2009, at 12:17 PM, Jeff Lincoln wrote:
>>>
>>>> No he's suggesting that it could be a migrating African Swallow. How
>>>> else
>>>> would they get coconuts in new england?
>>>>
>>>> On Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 2:20 PM, Rocket J Squirrel <
>>>> camping.elliott@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Are you suggesting that it drifted ashore on the back of a coconut?
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Thanks,
>>>>
>>>> Jeff
>>>> '90 Carat (Grover)
>>>> '86 (We call this one Parts)
>>>> '78 Bus (Melissa) Patty's Bus
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Where ever you are, there you be. Unless you're driving my van, in
>> which case, you ain't got there yet.
>>