HAPPY NEW YEAR

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> From: Streiffert <streif at televar.com>
> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
> Subject: Re: WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS bonanza
> Date: Wednesday, December 31, 1997 7:37 PM
>
> Today we drove up to the Okanogan Highlands area so aptly described by
> our fellow-tweeter, and found the bonanza just as promised. We saw at
> least 150 white-winged crossbills.
>
> We saw a merlin who flew in just to check us out. Ms. or Mr. Proud
> perched in the tiptop of a tall spruce overhead and through the scope
> all I could see was talons and tummy, so I pished. Big, disconcerted
> eyes immediately looked down, and I was thoroughly looked-over for at
> least a minute. The best look at a merlin I've had.
>
> We also saw the following:
> red-breasted nuthatches, in abundance
> mountain chickadees, in abundance
> red crossbills
> rough-legged hawks, many
> hairy woodpecker
> red-tailed hawk
> ravens
> northern shrike
>
> We made a neat clockwise loop from the Hungry Hollow Road/Kipling Road
> intersection (were most of the action occurred) to Grange Road to Nealey
> Road and back to Kipling Road. We stopped at each bunch of evergreens
> and found birds every time. The cold, icy fog --especially at the
> snowpark -- drove us out by 3. To those making the EXPEDITION, make
> sure you are well-provisioned before you leave Tonasket.
>
> Kristi and Tom Streiffert
> Coulee Dam, WA