In regards to the question about driving on Washington State beaches. We
have an odd old law on the books that declares the ocean beaches to be
highways. This is a left over from the era when the only way to get up the
coast was to go by beach as the forest was impenetrable from a practical
standpoint. However, it was one thing to drive horse-drawn wagons up the
beach and another to hotrod in SUVs and pickup trucks. And, unfortunately,
most of the vehicles on the beaches are of that category and are not good
souls birdwatching. The damage to the beaches, the disruption to shorebirds
and particularly to the critters that live under the sand at the shoreline,
has been a major problem, but the law is still on the books. There are some
areas where driving has been restricted or eliminated, such as in the
National Park. I can't comment on tides and sand conditions that affect the
safety of beach driving.

Another issue: Where are the swallows? Usually we have small flocks of
Violet Greens and Barns well established by mid April. I have seen one pair
of VGs and one Barn to date and that has been within the last week. I live
in the Madrona neighborhood of Seattle. Has it been so cold that the bugs
are slow in materializing? Any clues?

Caroline Feiss
Seattle