This is the report on a week of solo camping/birding
on the dry side, from June 9 to June 15, including the
Okanogan, Columbia Plateau, and Wenas regions. Trip
total - 165 species, including 2 lifers and 21 other
new birds for the state list. I relied heavily on the
Opperman book (to which page numbers in parentheses
below refer) and the many tips recieved from kindly
Whatcombirds and Tweeters members prior to the trip
(THANKS!). My major goals were my two "ultimate jinx
birds" which I have searched for so many times in
several states: the THREE-TOED and BLACK-BACKED
WOODPECKERS. Well, I sure got the former - but alas,
the quest for the latter will continue! Ten
Woodpecker species was nice, but it should have been
eleven! Sorry, there were no interesting owls to
report either - just a loud and rude Great-Horned that
woke me up at 3 AM at the Wenas campground.

Rather than an hour-by-hour report which might be
needlessly long and dull, I will offer specific
comments on those species which I think people will
most likely be interested in, along with a few notes
on selected sites.

CLARK'S GREBE - Two seen on Moses Lake from the Lower
Peninsula Park; none were seen at Montlake Park (both
sites p. 358). Lots of FORSTER'S TERNS at both sites.

CHUKAR - A covey of several birds near the tower in
the Beezley Hills Preserve (p. 377) north of Quincy,
west of Ephrata.

WILD TURKEY - Three seen near the Big Tree Trail near
the Lost Lake campground in the Okanogan.

BURROWING OWL - One easily found east of Othello along
Steele rd. (p. 368). But the poor thing, which was
banded on both legs, looked like he only had one eye!

COMMON POORWILL - Easily observed by the steep cliffs
below Ellensburg Pass (p. 299) and also by the cliffs
along the entrance road to the Wenas Campground, at
roughly 10 PM. Also heard distantly from the Wenas
Campground.

AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER: A total of 8 birds
were seen well (!) along rt. 39 in the Okanogan
Cascades. 1 pair below Baldy Pass, 1 pair at the
Tiffany Spring Campground (p. 450) (at 6PM feeding
right behind the outhouse), 1 more pair, and single
male and female birds along road within 5 miles or so
north of the campground. My method was this: stop,
look, and especially listen wherever the signs of this
species (ie flaked bark) seemed the heaviest. At
about 1 in 5 of these stops I heard faint tapping
sounds, which led to good looks at the birds.
Eventually I just pressed on, although the signs of
flaking continued, and I am sure I could have found
more. No other species of Woodpecker was seen along
this road.

BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER - None were found, despite a
ten-hour search of the Mud Lake Burn, including three
seperate patient visits to "the aspen grove." Perhaps
in BC there is somewhere where these birds can
reliably be seen? Seriously, I'm getting desperate
here!! Mud Lake road map p. 322.

WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER - An excellent, easy to
observe pair in the Wenas Campground (p. 300), nesting
halfway around the campground loop on the side facing
the hill. Another pair observed at the very far end
of the campground. One male observed about half a
mile up Dry Creek rd from the campground, and another
well past "Beaver Swamp" along the north fork of Wenas
Creek. Finally, one male seen well along the Umtanum
Road (p. 298) in the pines near nest box #41.

WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER - Several easily seen at the
Lost Lake Campground in the Okanogan (p. 458). Noisy;
it was these birds drumming atop tall larches that
woke me in the morning. Two also seen along the Big
Tree Trail nearby (a most interesting area!)

GRAY FLYCATCHER - Easily observed at the Wenas
Campground; DUSKY FLYCATCHERS nearby on the hillsides.

PYGMY NUTHATCH - One seen well in the Mud Lake Burn;
at least one at the Wenas Campground, and heard in
pines along the Umtanum road.

BOREAL CHICKADEE - Opperman states "hardest to find in
June" due to nesting shyness, but I was able to see
one briefly at the Tiffany Spring campground. Many
MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES observed in this area, and many
other areas.

AMERICAN REDSTART - A pair easily observed at close
range at the Whatcom/Skagit County Line ponds (p. 127)
along the North Cascades Highway. Time was very
early, just after 6AM. There are two accesses; one
with and one without a gate. The birds were at the
back end of the access without a gate.

TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD - I did not try to get all the
way out to the Texas Lake Road site. Instead, I
thought I'd try the Wilson Creek site (p. 388). I
arrived in mid-afternoon. The marsh overlook is quite
difficult without a spotting scope! Water levels are
very low, and the marsh looked quite crispy.
Nonetheless, there were a few blackbirds in it, and
after half an hour's work I was able to see at least
one male Tricolored to my satisfaction. On my way
back to Wilson Creek, just near the intersection of 22
and 28, I pulled off the road to check out a
Red-tailed Hawk nest. Imagine my surprise when
several dozen blackbirds burst from a patch of willow,
and I was able to pick out at least 2 or 3 Tricoloreds
amongst them! By the way, there really ARE
Rattlesnakes at the overlook, so be careful. I
observed one, but it sheltered in a crevasse before I
could take a photo.

BOBOLINK - A single male sitting far out in the middle
of a field at the site mentioned on p. 452 near
Loomis. This was at midday, and though other Icterids
were abundant in this area, there were no other
BOBOLINKS. Much more rewarding was the Aeneas Valley
Road for the first mile after its junction with rt. 20
between Tonasket and Wauconda. Here, at 7AM, I
observed 13 male and 1 female Bobolinks at close
range; singing on fenceposts, etc. What delightful
little birds! Who could dislike a BOBOLINK?!

SITES:

Grant/Adams County Line Ponds (p. 366): Easy to
observe AMERICAN AVOCET, BLACK-NECKED STILT, and
WILSON'S PHALAROPE.

Potholes Rookery (p. 358) SE of Moses Lake; a really
interesting area! Many GREAT EGRETS and BLACK-CROWNED
NIGHT HERONS were easily observed here.

Mud Lake Burn - This is where everybody has had such
luck with Black-backed Woodpeckers. Well, I worked
this burn area for ten hours, but never did find one.
Nor did I find a Three-toed or White-headed here.
Indeed, about twenty HAIRY WOODPECKERS(including many
young) and several FLICKERS were the only Woodpeckers
observed here that day. Still, the site was not
without its rewards. I saw three BLUE GROUSE, and
even got to watch one "booming" atop at tall pine for
the first time. And then there seemed to be a nonstop
parade of "colorful" passerines; both abundant and
easy to observe in the burnt-over woods. These
included MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS, WESTERN BLUEBIRDS,
WESTERN TANAGERS, BULLOCK'S ORIOLES (at Mud Lake
itself), LAZULI BUNTINGS, innumerable CASSIN'S and a
few PURPLE FINCHES. Also, I didn't think there were
so many Pewees in all of Washington! The tiny pond by
the "aspen grove" was a magnet for small birds seeking
a drink, and provides a good spot for photos. COMMON
NIGHTHAWKS were roosting on bare, burnt branches in
the open here, and then feeding high up in the bright,
hot noonday sun!

Sullivan Pond (p. 430) near Pearrygin State Park N. of
Winthrop is BONE DRY this year! Do not expect to find
ANY of the usual birds.

Well, after a week of birding and camping and
exploring, I could easily write ten pages. But I
think this summarizes the more useful info. the other
birds I had, while all enjoyable and fun, are
widespread enough. Of the birds I specifically sought
on this trip, I found over three quarters. The other
ones I missed (for the state list) were: Flammulated
Owl (as expected!), Ash-throated Flycatcher, Northern
Waterthrush, Sage Sparrow, and Anna's Hummingbird.(I
swung through Seattle's Discovery Park as an
afterthought on my way home, expecting to easily add
this bird. No such luck!)

Victor Burgett, Birch Bay WA, vicjenb at yahoo.com



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