Tweets--

I had a great day on Saturday with the Northern Hawk Owl near Colville, Stevens County (I think the area is within the jurisdiction of Addy). I didn't see it when I first arrived, but when I drove over to 1000 Old 12 Mile Rd. around 8:30 AM, a crowd had gathered and had it in scopes (nice yard bird). Around 9 it flew downhill toward the highway, and I went back to look for it there. Soon others followed, and we had a good two hours of scope-filling views along US 395 in the cottonwoods on both sides of the highway. A Red-tailed Hawk sitting nearby seemed to get it aroused, as several times it flew over (in flight, signs of tail molt are visible), buzzed the hawk, and gave a soft, dry twitter that reminded me of Burrowing Owl's alarm call in general quality, but faster and without the initial emphatic note. I had the feeling it was as interested in us as we were in it; it would periodically look down to see where we were, even while it was preening. I was the last to leave it a!
t 11:30; when I finally put my scope away, it flew back uphill. If someone can get permission from the landowner to collect it, there's a Northern Hawk Owl pellet at the east end of the row of cottonwoods bordering the east side of US 395 at MP 219.7 (I know because I saw the bird cough it up). It's a beautiful bird (all lifers are, but this one particularly so), I hope it sticks around a while. If people are thinking about staying north of Spokane, be warned that all hotels in Kettle Falls, Colville, Chewelah, and Loon Lake were booked solid over the weekend.

Mark Miller
Hillsboro, OR
miller97124 at lycos.com


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