Bill & Nancy

Your report of aGreat Grey Owl on the Tiffany Ridge area is of great
interest. To my knowledge its the first in the Okanogan Highlands west of
the Okanogan River. Is MP 34 near a meadow edge? What kind of habitat is in
that area? I have birded 20-Mile and 30-Mile Meadows and thought a Great
Grey or two might find them suitable, but your observation is the first
evidence they may occupy these meadows, part of The Meadows which Mary Poss
and others are working so hard to maintain as natural areas.

The presence of Great Grey Owls plus all the other species of plants and
animals which extend south from Canada in this part of the Okanogan
Highlands makes this a truly unique area of Washington. I urge all those
Washington birders and naturalists who haven't visited this region to take
Mary up on her generous offer as a guide to this wonderful boreal highland area.

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA



>Since we figured we weren't going to be able to make the trip Mary is
>planning, we took a two day trip (traveled Friday and birded Saturday) and
>went to explore the area as best we could.
>
>>From Omak, we went along Forest Road 37 and things were quiet (our best bird
>was a porcupine!!) We turned on Forest Road 39 and stopped to walk the
>Freezeout Ridge trail. We walked as far as the open area and birded the
>margins of the trees/meadow. There were many Mountain Bluebirds, an
>Olive-sided Flycatcher, Townsend's and Yellow-rumped Warblers, and 2
>Kestrels. Bill was able to "pish out" a Goshawk (or at least one flew out
>as Bill pished).
>
>On the way back out (within 2 minutes of the car) we saw a male Spruce Grouse.
>
>Farther along FR 39, in the burn area we found 2 Three-toed Woodpeckers.
>
>As we descended toward Loomis we were startled to see a Great Gray Owl on a
>stump on the side of the road. (near MP 34) We got great looks at this bird,
>our first in WA.
>
>All in all a wonderful day of birding and scenery. Hope this helps
>encourage you to visit!
>
>
>Bill and Nancy LaFramboise
>Richland, WA
>wlafra at oneworld.owt.com
>
>