u]Jack: Thanks for your indepth analysis of western N. America's late summer
weather. I had surmised it was something in the upper air flow to cause the
appearance of these high arctic species in eastern Washington this fall, but
had been troubled by this Steller's Eider. Your analysis reveals its appearance
here is plausible. If your thoughts are correct, we should expect more
individuals of various mid and high arctic birds(that are unusual here) to be
noted in interior Washington over the next few weeks as they drift south. What
better place to look for them than at the bottleneck known as Wallula Gap (a
few kilometers south of the Walla Walla River delta). All we birders require is
proper management of water levels behind McNary Dam to expose mudflats at the
delta during this period. Call "Reservoir Control" at the BPA office in
Portland and insist on managing the 150 billion gallons per day of the Columbia
for the birds!!!

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA