Hello Tweets,

My mother and I birded December 22nd-23rd in three eastern WA counties in
Okanogan, Douglas, and Chelan Cos., with the main purpose of the trip being
the YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, which we were unable to located on the 22nd
after a 4 hour search from 9am-1pm. The bird was observed prior to our visit
at 8am on the 22nd, but was NOT located during our visit at the previous
location along Burgar Street, along with searching made by several other
birders, BUT was relocated by Kraig Kemper later in the day at another
location across the Twisp River in the Horseshoe Community Trailer Park at
62 Magers Street. This residence occupied by Dave Dunn has several tube
feeders, two suet feeders, and a large covered platform feeder, which the
Yellow-throated Warbler has been frequenting for over two weeks
now,according to Dave, but only recently found by birders. Dave is very
enthuased by this sighting, and welcomes birders, as the bird can be well
viewed with little difficulty, even by sitting in your car, IF the bird is
present. The activity overall at the latter location seems much more active
then the original location along Burgar Street, as the feeders are readily
used and occupied by several bird species including White-breasted Nuthatch,
Common Redpoll, and American Goldfinch just to name a few of the present
species. There are several residences in the general area that feed birds,
but it seems this bird has a regular feeding routine, and moves around the
town throughout the day.

Despite not seeing the warbler on the 22nd, my mother and I ventured back to
Twisp on the 23rd, after spending the night in Pateros, and arrived at 311
Bulgar Street at 7:45am making sure we were there in plenty time to set up
our camera, and get situated. We were soon later joined by Scott Downes, and
Andy and Ellen Stepniewski, then at 8am the warbler wa sfirst heard calling
from the southwest of the residence along the Twisp River at hearing range,
then soon observed flying in to an apple tree at the residence, where it was
well viewed by additional observers that showed up, and well photographed,
as it drank juices from the hanging apples on the tree, but it never fed on
the 3 seperate suet blocks that were offered. The bird was observed to
8:15am drinking juices from the hanging apples, as well as seen perched
motionless at times in closer trees to the driveway, then going back to the
apples, then flying off to the west, and reappearing at 8:20am and observed
foraging on the apples once again, before flying to the north to another
unknown location. Soon many of the birders headed in their own seperate
directions, but my mother and I went to the trailer park at the previous
location at 62 Mager Street, where we immediately observed the warbler at
9am, as well as spoke with Dave Dunn throughout our visit. We went back to
the Burgar Steet residence, where we met Dave Beaudette who followed us to
the tailer park, where within minuted of arriving the warbler was again
present in nearby trees, as well as foraging from the platform feeder, and
suet block, where additional photographs were taken before dispersing away
at 10:30am.

During our visit to northcentral WA both days my mother and I birded several
areas in the 3 listed counties at several locations, including the general
Twisp area. The weather both days was favorable, with NO precipitation, but
fairly cold temperatures known for the area at this time of year, at times.
The skies remained mostly cloudy on both days, with some partial clearing
late on the 22nd in the Bridgeport area. Areas covered included:

Hwy.153,Okanogan Co.(OK)(Pateros to Hwy.20 junction)
December 22nd(8:30am-8:55am, 1:05pm-1:30pm) December 23rd(11:15am-11:45am)

Twisp,OK
December 22nd(9am-1pm) December 23rd(7:45am-11:10am)

Bridgeport State Park,OK
December 22nd(2:30pm-3:15pm)

Central Ferry Canyon, Douglas Co.(DO)
December 22nd(4pm-4:20pm)

Columbia River from Pateros to Wenatchee along Hwy.97/Hwy.2, all three
counties
December 23rd(11:48am-2:30pm)

Confluence State Park,Chelan Co.
December 23rd(2:45pm-3:20pm)

A list of our highlights follows at selected locations:

PACIFIC LOON
2 at Bridgeport SP,OK on the 22nd
1 at Wells Dam, Chelan/Douglas Cos. on the 23rd
2 along the Columbia River at MP 237.7, Chelan Co.(CH)
1 along the Columbia River at MP 236.3,CH

Tundra Swan
9 over Confluence SP,CH on the 23rd

Eurasian Wigeon
1 at the mouth of the Methow River,south of Pateros,OK on the 23rd
1 along the Columbia River at MP 139.8, Douglas Co.(DO)on the 23rd

good numbers of Canvaback, Redhead, both scaup species, Common
Goldeneyes,and Ruddy Ducks observed at various locations along the Columbia
River north of Wells Dam, and in the Orondo area along Hwy.97/Hwy.2 on the
23rd.

SURF SCOTER
1 immature male along the Columbia River at MP 218.5,DO on the 23rd

Golden Eagle
3 along Hwy.153, south of Carlton,Okanogan Co. on the 22nd
1 at Bridgeport SP,OK on the 22nd
1 along Hwy.97 at MP 237.8,CH on the 23rd

Northern Goshawk
1 along Hwy.97, north of Brewster,OK on the 22nd

Rough-legged Hawk
1 dark-morph adult along Hwy.17,OK on the 22nd

Merlin
1 at Twisp,OK on the 22nd
1 at Bridgeport SP,OK on the 22nd

Prairie Falcon
2 at Bridgeport SP on the 22nd
1 along Hwy.97, south of Wells Dam,CH on the 23rd

SHARP-TAILED GROUSE
1 at Bridgeport SP,OK on the 22nd

Wild Turkey
55 along Lookout Mtn. Rd. at Twisp,OK on the 23rd

Red-breasted Sapsucker
1 at Twisp,OK on the 23rd

Townsend's Solitaire
4 at Twisp,OK(both days)

BOHEMIAN WAXWING
215 along Hwy.153, south of Methow,OK on the 22nd
102 along Hwy.153 at Carlton,OK on the 22nd
18 at Twisp,OK on the 22nd
4 at Twisp,OK on the 23rd

Cedar Waxwing
43 along Hwy.97, south of Orondo,DO on the 23rd

Nothern Shrike
1 at Central Ferry Canyon,DO on the 22nd
1 along Hwy.153, north of Carlton,OK on the 23rd
1 along Hwy.97, south of Pateros,OK on the 23rd

LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE
1 along Hwy.17 at MP 137,OK on the 22nd

Yellow-rumped Warbler
1 at the Horan Natural Area(Confluence SP),CH on the 23rd

SWAMP SPARROW
1 winter adult at the Horan Natural Area(Confluence SP),CH on the 23rd

WHITE-THROATED SPARROW
1 white-striped adult w/ 8 White-crowned Sparrows at the Horan Natural
Area(Confluence SP)on the 23rd

PINE GROSBEAK
1 male at Central Ferry Canyon,DO on the 22nd

COMMON REDPOLL
175+ at Twisp,OK on the 22nd
150+ at Central Ferry Canyon,DO on the 22nd
125 at Twisp,OK on the 23rd
18 along Hwy.97 at MP 237.7,CH on the 23rd
5 at Confluence SP,CH on the 23rd


Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net