Tweeters & Inlanders,

We just returned from a holiday vacation, the first 4 days (12/27-12/30) of
which were spent in the Winthrop vicinity. This was primarily a skiing trip
but I was always looking for birds while skiing or driving between places.
Following are a few of the more interesting sightings.

Great Blue Heron - near the fish hatchery in Winthrop
Bald Eagle - ~7 adults along the Methow R. from Twisp to Mazzama
Pileated Woodpecker
White-breasted & Pygmy Nuthatches
American Dipper - on the Methow River, 1 observed floating along in shallow
water and diving (my fairly limited experience w/ dippers has been of them
feeding & "diving" from rocks)
** Lewis's Woodpecker - am reasonably certain of a flying bird seen from the
car a bit south of Twisp on 12/30. Seems unusual for this time of year but
I've heard of other winter Lewis's so far this winter (perhaps due to mild
autumn?)
** Pine Grosbeak - a group of 3 seen while skiing from Sun Mountain down
into Winthrop. Feeding in shrubs. I have not heard any other reports from
this area but there have been Pine Grobeaks around in northern/central Idaho
so far this winter.

BTW this is a great ski touring area and I'd be happy to provide information
on that aspect if anyone is interested.

Thanks, Charles.
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- Charles E. Swift ++ charless at umich.edu
- Moscow, Idaho (north-central Idaho)
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