Pasayten Wilderness -Sunny Pass / Horseshoe Basin - (8/6/05) -- Opperman
p.451
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PRAIRIE FALCON seen on three occasions (perhaps same bird). Seen
skirmishing with N. HARRIER at one point.

6-7 AMERICAN KESTREL around Louden Lake, the northernmost point of our hike.
Quite a few seen all at once.

Many MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES . . . unfortunately for my life list, none turned
out to be Boreal. I guess they were all 20 miles south around Roger Lake
entertaining Stefan and Mike.

Very cooperative female SPRUCE GROUSE just off the trail on the way back to
the FR-500 trail head. A male seen further along as well, but he didn't
stick around for pictures or autographs.

A few THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS seen along the trail.

FR-3230 Highland Sno Park (8/6/05) -- Opperman p.456
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GREAT GRAY OWL -- *two* birds seen together at dusk on the northern edge of
the first woods you come to off of Tonasket-Havillah Rd. I also has success
here back on June 25th in the clearing just further south. What a fantastic
bird. Seeing two at once was double the fun. A GREAT HORNED OWL was on the
telephone pole nearby on Tonasket-Havillah Rd. (a repeat appearance from
June 25th as well)

FR-5400 down from Hart's Pass (8/8/05 ) -- Opperman p.433
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THREE-TOED WOODPECKER -- Mother and mature fledgling following up a tree
trunk north of burn, pecking away, being fed. Nice scene.

Female SPRUCE GROUSE along road with 6-7 chicks. After I settled in, I
practically had them foraging all around me . . . almost running across my
feet.



Ferry County
==============

Spent the night on 8/6 on Bangs Mountain Road FR-136 -- Opperman p. 469.
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Very quiet. No owls responded to recordings, though my non-birder buddy
said he woke up to a "strange creepy squeal" that was probably a Northern
Saw-whet Owl. On the way down in the morning, spied a HERMIT THRUSH.
Things sure are quiet now compared to late June when the Swainson's / Hermit
Thrush / Veery were all singing up a storm in their various habitats.

Amazon Creek March (8/7/05) -- Opperman p.478
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Three or four NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH heard after I played their song. It was
like hearing an echo of the Stoke's CD track.


______________________________________

Ned McGarry
Sammamish,WA