We headed for Omak today to buy a fan belt for the car and decided to
make a few stops along the way. The first stop was a three mile drive up
to Armstrong Mt. (DeLorme P101, B7) There weren't alot of birds to be
seen.

This area has been partial-cut. It is mostly fir and pine with some
scattered brush and grassy areas with wet areas in the draws. While near
the top we saw and heard a SWAINSON'S THRUSH. (lifer) In the same area
there was Warbling Vireo, Chipping Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, Ruffed
Grouse, and what we think was a HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER. This is based only
on the habitat it was in (according to Peterson's). The bird would not
make a sound, so we could not get a recording. We did not see any white
outer tail feathers, and the lower mandible appeared to be dark Is
there another Flycatcher that would be in this same kind of habitat?

We came back to the highway and at three other locations along the
highway we heard more Swainson's Thrush. Continued on to Omak. On our
return trip we drove about three miles up the Lyman Lake-Moses Meadow
road (DeLorme P101, A6) and on our way back down we saw a mature
NORTHERN GOSHAWK. It was flying at tree top level and when it got to
where we were it caught a small thermal and without a wing beat
it slowly started a vertical ascent. We watched it for over a minute
before it started getting really small. You know what--I think it did
that maneuver better then I can with my radio control glider. :-)

Back down on the highway about a 150 feet north (towards Omak) of mile
marker 57 there is a snag about 30 off the road and a pair of
RED-NAPPED SAPSUCKERS were feeding their young which were still in the
nest cavity. We could hear them peeping--cherping?? Actually I think
they were saying "feed me--feed me" We sat down on the bank on the
other side of the road and just watched them coming and going for about
30 minutes. What a way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

One last stop at Great Western Lake (DeLorme P 101 B8.) At this location
we saw--Common Nighthawk, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow Warbler and a Hairy
Woodpecker.

Our 100 mile round trip ONLY took 10 hours. Total species seen and or
heard was 29.

Jerry and Sandy Converse
Grand Coulee, WA