Tweeters,

Confirming the possibility of a White-breasted Nuthatch mini-invasion, we
have heard of three sightings this month (May, 1998) in Clallam County,
where this species is extremely rare, and, as far as we know, has been
seen only once before during this century (in December, 1977).

A "White Nut" was reported at about 4000 feet along the road to Hurricane
Ridge on May 9, 1998, another at Hurricane Ridge itself a week earlier,
and one at Sequim Bay State Park a few days later. We, of course,
questioned these sightings, suggesting to the observers that, in fact,
they were ones who were nuts, and that they were probably seeing "Red
Nuts." The observers (all experienced) are adamant that they saw White
Nuts. White Nuts were apparently never seen by E.A. Kitchen, a local
ornithologist in the Port Angeles area during the 1930s and 1940s, as
discussed in his book "Birds of the Olympic Peninsula."

So perhaps all of us in western Washington should be on the lookout for
White-breasted Nuthatches.

Bob Boekelheide
Sequim

>
>On Sun, 17 May 1998, Joanne Schmitt wrote:
>
>> I just saw a White-breasted Nuthatch at my finch feeder! I didn't even
>> know we have them around here. I have seen many in the east, especially
>> Mass., but never one here. Does anyone know how common they are in the
>> Pacific Northwest? Am I freaking out over a common bird?
>
>They're common in some local areas, particulary in Oregon, east slope
>of the Cascades perhaps. Maybe I am the only Tweeter who
>does not know where you live Joanne. White-breasted Nuthatches have
>declined to perilously low numbers in the Puget lowlands. Here,
>virtually any sighting would be very noteworthy. Chris Chappell
>has informed me that there is one location in the Puget lowlands
>where they can still be seen each breeding season.