Subject: [Tweeters] WOS field trip to Waterville Plateau
Date: Feb 13 14:33:52 2006
From: Ruth and/or Patrick Sullivan - godwit513 at msn.com


Hello Birders,

This past weekend(February 11th and 12th)we lead a WOS field trip to the Waterville Plateau consisting of 14 participants and 80 species. We encountered most of all our target species away from Bohemian Waxwing and Am.Tree Sparrow and good participation was made by everyone! We all stayed together in Pateros,which helped alot and enjoyed a nice dinner together Saturday evening at a local restaurant. Away from birding the panoramic views of the North Cascades was spectacular from our snowy landscape above Central Ferry Canyon Rd.,as well as from other vantage points! The weather was superb and conditions couldn't be better both days with temperatures ranging into the mid 40's during he day and far cooler during the evening with mostly clear skies! Ground snow conditions were fairly substantial on the Waterville Plateau from the Mansfield area west to near Lamoine,as well as along the upper portion of Central Ferry Canyon Rd. While these areas were heavily covered in snow other areas showed far less snowy areas including the lower portion of Bridgeport Hill Rd. Our main target species of the trip was Sharp-tailed Grouse and we made special efforts searching from 2 locations both days along Bridgeport Hill Rd.

On the early morning of the 11th after spending the overnight in Pateros our group traveled over to Bridgeport Hill Rd. by arriving at our first location at 7am. We all sat alert and patient in our vehicles without getting out and walking around. With all of us looking carefully in somewhat different the last vehicle in our group were able to spot 1 lone SHARP-TAILED GROUSE quickly flying west to east overhead,as they called out in their FRS radios! The sighting was quick,but definite as the Spokane group led by Gina Sheridan and Cindy McCormick were all able to see the bird! We all waited a short time after this sighting hope and crossing our fingers for any other Sharp-tailed Grouse to arrive or fly over,but everything remained quite and still on this cool,crisp morning. We soon ascended up Bridgeport Hill to another locations that has produced Sharp-tailed Grouse,but our efforts continued unsuccessful. We assume we were somewhat too late in the season for seeing this species due to the relative lack of snow along this route that often drives the birds down into the stands of Water Birch for food. Along with this theory we noticed that the remaining buds on these trees seemed dry,which may have resulted in the birds to look for food elsewhere,but these our only theories. We checked both locations along Bridgeport Hill Rd. on Sunday,as well as other birders we ran into in the field,but were unable to locate any Sharp-tailed Grouse. Even if most of our group didn't see the bird we were happy at least one bird was seen by the sharp eyes of the Spokane group!

The remainder of our trip continued very good,as we were able to locate up to 7 GREATER SAGE GROUSE on the 11th at an active "lek" near Leahy,where ample scoping views where made by everyone! We were able to notice 3 males beginning to partially display,but were unable to locate any females. This location also offered great distant of breath-taking views of mountainous scenery,including views of the snowy top of Tunk Mountain in Okanogan Co. Our first Northern Shrike of the trip was also located near Leahy followed by 9 additional birds noted both days at other various location on the trip showing no shortage of these birds in this area.

Continuing on our way to Mansfield on the 11th we located 6 LONG-EARED OWLS at an undisclosed location that al offered good ,close views for everyone then in Mansfield up to 3 EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES were observed and photographed amongst a small group of Mourning Doves. These birds were all present in 2 separate trees near houses just west of the grain elevators along the road going to the Mansfield Cemetery,where they have been previously reported by other birders. It was great to see these birds and compare them with nearby Mourning Doves for our group,which by several was a life bird!


The remainder of our day was spent in the Brideport area beginning at Bridgeport State Park in Okanogan Co.,where a single BARN OWL and NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL were located roosting at different locations within the park. The Northern Saw-whet Owl excited everyone,where it stood motionless in a small evergreen tree at very close range! With a good start of our trip with 3 species of owls at this point Great Horned Owl was soon added to our trip list by the evening of the 11th,as well as 2 locations on the 12th and our 6th species of owl included SNOWY OWL all noted west of the town of Withrow on the 12th. Our first Snowy Owl was noted along S.R.172 atop a rock outcropping immediately west of Division Rd. followed by our second bird being spotted on the ground further west along Hwy.172 just east of McNeil Canyon Rd. We continued south and westward toward Lamoine and a careful scan of snowy fields along Rd. 8 NW(Sprauer Rd.)yielded 3 additional Snowy Owls located west of the intersect of Rd. 8 NW and D NW! All the Snowy Owls were observed at a fair scoping distance,but we were able to get some photos of the 1st bird.

Further west along 8 NW we located our first SNOW BUNTINGS of the trip with a very large flock of 700+ birds noted atop telephone wires and in nearby snow-covered fields near F Rd. This was an impressive and fairly cooperative flock that allowed great views,especially in flight. When the birds lifted from the wires they formed a large tight flock a times and with the added reflection of the snowy ground looked like snowflakes in the pure blue sky above! The birds remained atop the wires for some time before moving into nearby fields. Small flocks of Snow Buntings were encountered from various locations along S.R.172 south of Withrow and along Hwy.2 to Atkins Lake. It was here the majority of our trip ended with one party that joined us to Vantage,where our day ended. On our way to this final destination we located a single CHUKAR along Hwy.17 at Lake Lenore in Grant Co. In Vantage highlights included a PRAIRIE FALCON pursuing 1 of 3 Rock Pigeons along Huntzinger Rd. just south of Wanapum Dam and a single LONG-TAILED DUCK near a large raft of Am.Coot(with Greater Scaup)immediately north of the I-90 bridge.

We have placed several photos from our field trip and more onto our website for viewing at the following link: http://www.pbase.com/godwit/recent_photos/


Other nice birds observed during our trip included the following from selected locations and dates:

Red-necked Grebe
1 at Pateros on the 11th

Eared Grebe
1 at Pateros on the 11th(with 2 there on the 12th)

Cackling Goose
3 birds(with Canada Geese)along Hwy.97 on the Columbia River between Brewster and Pateros on the 12th

good assortment of waterfowl at Pateros on the morning of the 12th(including along the lower partially frozen portion of the Methow River). Relatively good numbers of Canvasback,Redhead,Ring-necked Ducks other waterfowl species were noted from these locations. 4 Barrow's Goldeneyes were also noted amongst large numbers of Common Goldeneyes.

NORTHERN GOSHAWK
1 immature bird observed 3 separate times in a 10 minute period along the lower portion of Central Ferry Canyon on the 12th. This bird was fist observed perched atop a telephone pole before flying west then returned by flying over the road at close range then dropping down fast into an orchard. The bird returned with a presumed California Quail in it's talons as it flew westward before dropping down into thick cover. This bird made a nice,but brief showing,as well as making a 3 accipiter trip!

Golden Eagle
1 adult bird atop a rimrock cliff along Hwy.17 north of Leahy on the 11th

Merlin
1 bird observed along S.R.173 near Bridgeport in Douglas Co. both days with an additional bird noted at the south end of Brewster on the 12th in Okanogan Co.

Horned Lark
relatively few at various locations on the Waterville Plateau both days with most birds in small flocks or as single birds along main roads and in open fields.

Steller's Jay
1 along the upper portion of Central Ferry Canyon Rd. on the 12th

Clark's Nutcracker
1 bird along the upper portion of Central Ferry Canyon Rd. on the 12th

Pygmy Nuthatch
small numbers observed along the upper portion of Central Ferry Canyon Rd. on the 12th(with several Red-breasted Nuthatches nearby and a few distant calling Mountain Chickadees)

Ruby-crowned Kinglet
1 bird along the lower portion of Central Ferry Canyon Rd. on the 12th

Townsend's Solitaire
1 near Leahy on the 11th
1 at he Mansfield Cemetery on the 11th

Yellow-rumped Warbler
2 at Bridgeport State Park on the 11th

Red Crossbill
12+ along the upper portion of Central Ferry Canyon Rd. on the 12th




***Mammal highlights during the field trip***:

Mule Deer(including one herd of 30 animals in a partially snow-covered field along S.R.172 on the 11th
Coyote(various locations on both days)
Yellow-bellied Marmot 1 out from hibernation "sunning" atop a rock outcropping near Mansfield on the 11th
Mountain Cottontail 1 near Mansfield on the 11th
River Otter 1 at Vantage on the 12th




***In addition we wish to add a few sightings we wish to include in this list for the 10th of February en route to Pateros with Jim Pruske***. Highlights for this date from selected areas included the following:

4 Eared Grebes along Hwy.17 at Soap Lake,Grant Co.

125 Canvasbacks along Hwy.17 at the extreme north end of Lake Lenore,Grant Co.

2 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS amongst a small scaup flock along Huntzinger Rd. just south of Wanapum State Park,Kittitas Co.

Rough-legged Hawk
good numbers noted on the Waterville Plateau including 3 along Hwy.17(just north of Hwy.2)followed by 20+ noted near Leahy,Douglas Co..

2 Golden Eagles flying along a rimrock cliff side along Hwy.17 just west of Sun Lakes State Park,Grant Co. 2 additional Golden Eagles observed foraging with Common Ravens on a fresh Mule Deer carcass along Hwy.17 just south Bridgeport Hill Rd.,DO

1 Merlin at Soap Lake,GR

Great Horned Owl
1 along the lower portion of Bridgeport Hill Rd.,DO

Clark's Nutcracker
1 along I-90 east of Cle Elum,Kittitas Co.

2 Rock Wrens along Huntzinger Rd. south of Wanapum Dam

Ruby-crowned Kinglet
1 at Oasis Park at Ephrata,Grant Co.
1 at Bridgeport Bar,Douglas Co.

Varied Thrush
3 at Oasis Park,GR
1 at Bridgeport Bar,DO

Lapland Longspur
4+ birds amongst a scattered flock of Horned Larks near Leahy,DO



Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
Fircrest,WA
godwi513 at msn.com