Hello Tweets,

My mother and I just got back from a rather quick 3 day excursion to the
Okanogan Highlands and vicinity where a total of 66 species were observed.
The weather was excellent at times with partly sunny skies,but dense fog
was prevelant at times also with a few snow/rain showers with temperatures
from 23L-45H.

My mother and I started out on Bridgeport Hill Rd., south of Bridgeport in
Douglas Co., accessed from Highway 17 south of Bridgeport or S.R. 172 west
of Mansfield. Along the north portion of the road 15 SHARP-TAILED GROUSE
were observed and photographed in a large clump of Water Birch along Foster
Creek on Feb.5th at 12:45pm. This was my mothers first Sharp-tail's for WA
and her first attempt! I observed up to 23 birds in 97' at this same
location. A Golden Eagle was also noted along this road as were several N.
Shrikes. We checked the mouth of Foster Creek, where we observed 2 Am.
Dippers along the shores of the Columbia River. Before heading into
Okanogan Co. an amazing large flock of Bohemian Waxwings(600+) and 1 Merlin
were seen in Bridgeport. Another large flock of Bohemian Waxwings(300+)
were noted in Tonasket. Our final destination was made at the Highlands
S.P., where our first 6 W.W. Crossbills were seen. We quickly decided to
bird along Kipling Rd. north of the Sitzmark Ski Area,where we saw 7 Am.
Tree Sparrows across the road from a large feedlot 2 miles north of the ski
area in a large brushy area. We soon returned to the Highlands S.P. as it
began to get dark, where we later joined by Robert and Elaine Taylor. After
dusk, 6 Great Horned, 2 N. Saw-whet, and 1 distant Barred Owl were heard
calling as we ended our day. The next morning(Feb.6), we started out at the
snow park, where I noted our first 2 C.REDPOLLS over. We then birded around
the Sitzmark Ski Area, where Robert noted 1 PINE GROSBEAK, then we all
observed W.W. Crossbills, with the largest flock containing 200+ birds, and
smaller flocks with 5-18 birds. We flushed 2 Ruffed Grouse as we walked
around the intersection of Hungry Hollow Rd. and Tonasket-Havillah Rd.,
while watching the W.W. Crossbills, with a few Reds in the many flocks. The
remainder of the day was spent checking other notable locations from
Chesaw-Curlew, but we didn't note any additional highlights, until we owled
that evening along Oroville-Toroda Creek Rd., where we heard up to 3 N.
Saw-whet Owls, as we attempted for Boreal Owl with NO luck, possibly due to
a fairly mild winter. The next and final day(Feb. 7th), we started out in
Chesaw, where 2 HARRIS' SPARROWS(spotted by Robert) and our only W.C.
Sparrow and "Slate-colored" Junco of the trip were observed at the feeders
along the east side of Myers Creek, where the creek and Oroville-Toroda
Creek Rd. intersect. A large, wandering flock(150) C.REDPOLLS were seen
flying over and to the north of town. We birded along Mary Ann Creek Rd.
west of Chesaw, and observed our only B.Kingfisher(male) of the trip, as we
searched unsuccessfully for the small, local population of SHARP-TAILED
GROUSE, before heading back to Chesaw for better look at the C.Redpolls,
only to experience dense fog! We stopped by the Sitzmark Ski Area one last
time, as we watched the W.W. Crossbills feed in the spruce trees, then
headed for Tonasket. When we arrived in Tonasket, the large flock of
Bohemian Waxwings were observed flying around town, then continued towards
home, stopping along Bridgeport Hill Rd., but NO Sharp-tailed Grouse. We
departed with the Taylors, then continued on our way home. Our last bird of
the trip was a Prairie Falcon located north of Withrow on S.R. 172 in
Douglas Co. Birding in the Okanogan can be good, but miles are often
experienced between locations and birds, but the scenery can alone be worth
it on a clear day!

If any mistakes, corrections, or additions were or are to be made by Robert
and Elaine Taylor, please do!

Good Birding!

Patrick Sullivan
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net