Hello Tweets,

My mother and I birded September 22nd-24th in Okanogan Co., and nearby
associating counties, with our main highlight being an immature BROAD-WINGED
HAWK at Slate Peak on the 22nd at 3:05, while observing good numbers of
raptors including 13 additional species from 1:15pm-4pm. This was our first
unintentional hawkwatch, as we encountered 4 species of raptor upon our
arrival at Slate Peak, then more numbers kept flying by from the north, so
we continued to conduct our own personal survey until 4pm, as weather
conditions were very favorable during our visit at this location. The main
hawkwatching was made directly from the Slate Peak parking lot, with
additional watching made along the Pasayten Wilderness trailhead(below the
Slate Peak tower), as well as from the trail south of the parking lot which
extends onto an exposed ridge top. The Broad-winged Hawk was observed within
a close distance allowing great views of ALL the major fields marks
seperating this species from other hawk by the following:

*small, broad-winged,rather stocky buteo(stockier, more heavily built than a
Cooper's Hawk/Northern Goshawk, and smaller than a Red-tailed Hawk, with all
previous species noted during entire observation)

*wings were pointed, and underwings(flight feathers)were edged in black from
along the immediate outerwing to primary tips, contrasting to paler,slightly
barred/mottled underwings

undertail was rather dark as noted during our observation, and completely
white undertail coverts were noted.

fairly dark brown heavy streaks were noted on the immediate breast area(with
minor steaking futher below),contrasting to completely white throat, with
head appearing dark brown, as well as short glimpses of back coloration.

Flight pattern was not noted especially, as bird soared from over Slate Peak
southwest towards Hart's Pass into Whatcom County, as did several other
noted species, after following the main north-south ridge line south of
Slate Peak.

Weather conditoions throughout our entire trip was exceptional, with mostly
sunny skies and remaining warm temperatures, being coolest during the night,
and periods of strong winds at Slate Peak on the 22nd. We encountered a
total of 123 species, with 658 miles of driving, with the following notable
highlights listed at listed locations and times during our trip below:

Sepetmeber 22nd,2001

Slate Peak,Okanogan Co.(OK) 1:15pm-4pm

1 Turkey Vulture
1 Osprey
1 Northern Harrier
17 Sharp-shinned Hawks(9 immatures, 8 adults)
28 Cooper's Hawks(18 immatures,10 adults)
1 immature Northern Goshawk
1 immature BROAD-WINGED HAWK
13 Red-tailed Hawks(9 immatures, 4 adults)
1 adult FERRUGINOUS HAWK
1 immature light-morph Rough-legged Hawk
1 Golden Eagle
1 Am.Kestrel
2 Merlins
1 Prairie Falcon
1 Rock Dove
23 Horned Larks
32 Common Ravens(notable high count)
1 female Mountain Bluebird

Hart's Pass Campground, Okanogan-Whatcom Co. 4:20pm

1 dark-morph SWAINSON'S HAWK


September 23rd,2001

Meadows Campground,Whatcom Co. 6:30am-7:40am

2 BOREAL CHICKADEES
46 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS(despite lack of cones in the immediate region,
this flock was noted flying around the campground, then photographes of a
partial flock were taken atop an Engleman's Spruce, including 6 males, and
13 females.

FR 5400,OK 8am

1 Merlin
1 Northern Pygmy Owl
1 Am.Dipper
4 Hermit Thrushes
1 female PINE GROSBEAK
12 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS

Roger Lake,OK 11am-11:20am,1pm

2 Northern Three-toed Woodpeckers
1 Chestnut-backed Chickadee
2 Lincoln's Sparrows
16 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS

Freezeout Pass,OK 11:40am,12:45pm

4 Cooper's Hawks
2 Sharp-shinned Hawks
1 Golden Eagle

FR 39 north of Browns Meadow Creek,OK 11:52am

1 adult Northern Goshawk

FR 37 at Baldy Pass,OK 1:40pm

1 Turkey Vulture
2 Golden Eagles

Conconully Reservior,OK 2:15pm-2:30pm

1 Least Sandpiper
6 Baird's Sandpipers

Hess Lake,OK 2:50pm

27 Chukars(several photographed, and a few observed foraging along the
quickly drying lakeshore, as well as "dust-bathing" at the base of exposed
rimrock cliffs)

Cameron Lake Rd.,OK 3:20pm-7pm

28 Eared Grebes
3 Blue-winged Teal
1 Cinnamon Teal
4 Greater Scaups
48 Buffleheads
142 Ruddy Ducks
1 Golden Eagle
42 Gray Partridges
750+ Sandhill Cranes,observed flying in the evening over our head in to the
fields about the cliffs.A spectacler display keep comming for several
hours.First time for me seeing so many.Ruth

1 Greater Yellowlegs
2 Western Sandpipers
2 Least Sandpipers
12 Long-billed Dowitchers
45 Am.Pipits
15 Vesper Sparrows

September 24th,2001

Cameron Lake Rd. 6:30am-8am

1 Chipping Sparrow
1 Brewer's Sparrow
3 Lapland Longspurs

Fort Okanogan State Park/mouth of the Okanogan River,OK 8:20am-9:30am

26 Common Loons
32 Horned Grebes
2 Red-necked Grebes
7 Western Grebes
29 Am.White Pelicans
6 Double-crested Cormorants
1 GREAT EGRET
1 female SURF SCOTER
1 Merlin
3,500+ Am.Coots

Walla Walla Point Park,Chelan Co. 12pm-12:30pm

1 GREAT EGRET
1 first-year MEW GULL


Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
GODWIT at worldnet.att.net