Tweeters:

A Vashon WB Nuthatch is quite noteworthy, as are any birds reported from the
Puget Trough away from the local population associated with oaks southward.
As far as Kitsap County and the dry n.e. Olympic Peninsula are concerned,
I've often wondered if there is not a very discreet, small resident
population. Back in the 80s, the Kitsap CBC reported 1 or 2 birds at least
a couple times, although I don't know the details, a number of RB Nuthatches
were also reported those years. Back in the 70s, I used to bird the
Seabeck/Misery Pt. area frequently, and I lucked out and had a very
cooperative bird in a flock of migrant warblers at Misery Pt. Sept. 21,
1977. Oak habitat is scarce or lacking in the area here.

Moving west onto the Olympic Peninsula, I recall that we had two reported at
a feeder in Sunland on the Sequim CBC long ago, and more recently a bird was
found just outside the CBC count circle (near Dungeness Forks, about 1500')
by a party (this was also a December bird). We also have a May count report
(or two) from the 90s, either up the Dungeness or the Elwha drainage. In
all these cases, birds were reported from conifers, not oak, although
Sunland has remnant oak groves in close proximity.

Skagit County seems to have a mere two records, one from Rosario Beach and
the other from Sedro Wooley, both birds found at this time of year and
fitting a downslope movement.

Scott Atkinson
Lake Stevens
mail to: scottratkinson at hotmail.com