Tweets, Must have a primitive phone line out here in the "Empty Quarter," I
received heaps of replies to my machine language submission. So thats what it
takes to be heard! Anyways, there were 30 Clark's Nutcrackers flying northwest
up the Yakima Valley over Wapato Wa at 1100 today, 26 June. My first record for
lowlands of Yakima County since 1978 and a summer record at that! Any
nutcrackers elsewhere in the region on long exploratory flights?

Interestingly, the species is mostly absent from its usual subalpine haunts in
the South Casvades this spring. A few in the ponderosa pine zone, but only a
few. Basically no crossbills except again in the ponderosas. A dearth of nuts
for the critters?

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato, WA