Spent this past weekend in Okanogan County at a friend's ranch in the high hills (el. 4,350') about 15 miles east of Tonasket, off of Aeneas Valley Road/Bench Creek Road. The people there have an interesting name for COMMON NIGHTHAWKS (which haven't shown up yet this year, but are numerous in season): they call them Bull Bats. My guess is that it's because they have big mouths like bullfrogs and fly like bats. I love hearing about local bird names like that (although for all I know that could be a widespread name for them, but I hadn't heard it before).

Other avian highlights included a breeding pair of BARROW'S GOLDENEYE on their pond, along with one pair each of MALLARDS and WIDGEONS and several pairs of RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS; WESTERN BLUEBIRDS nesting in boxes put up by the residents; a SAY'S PHOEBE; two NORTHERN GOSHAWKS; WHITE-BREASTED and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES; MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES; GRAY JAYS; CLARK'S NUTCRACKERS; and HAIRY WOODPECKERS. I didn't hear any flycatchers, which surprised me somewhat (but then again it had snowed just a couple days before we got there). Heard but didn't see what I think were YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. Also present: RUFFED GROUSE, CAL. QUAIL, RAVENS, ROBINS, and RED-TAILED HAWKS.

Non-avian highlights included large COUGAR tracks, just over the ridge from their ranch. That kept me (justifiably or not) from wandering too far in search of birds!

Highlights from the trip home: Nesting (in boxes) TREE SWALLOWS next to lakeside camping spots at the Liar's Cove Resort at Conconully Lake (they would sit -- quite nonchalantly -- no more than ten feet above the back of our camper); and brilliantly bright RUDDY DUCKS cruising the waters of Alta Lake.

Andrea Grad
Alki/Shoreline
agrad at helsell.com