Tweets - Sam Woods, Georgia Conti, and I birded the Waterville Plateau area,
then headed over to Gifford, Imchelium, and Davenport this weekend, covering
ground in Douglas, Okanogan, Grant, Stevens, Ferry and Lincoln Counties. We
had a great time, especially as we saw all of our target birds, and then
some!

Highlights:

Friday:
Northern Pygmy-Owl 1 on US-2 halfway up to the plateau
Chukkar 1 on the side of US-2 on the plateau
Snow Bunting Only 1, in one of the endless flocks of
HORNED LARK on SR-172
Snowy Owl At Division & 15th, WNW of Mansfield
Golden Eagle On rock along SR-172 east of Division St
Merlin 2 in Bridgeport

Saturday:
Sharp-tailed Grouse 2 at mp 10 on Bridgeport Hills Rd, 9:00 a.m.
Barn Owl 1 at Bridgeport State Park
Eurasian Collared-Dove 3 among houses near elevators in Mansfield
Gray Partridge ~40 at Simm's Corner east of Mansfield
Prairie Falcon 1 along US-2 in Grant County
Golden Eagle 1 along US-2 in Lincoln County
Wild Turkey 120 in one flock along SR-25, Stevens Co.
Northern Shrike 1 along SR-25 - not common in Stevens Co.
Black-backed Woodpecker 1 at Gifford Campground, Stevens County
(pair on Sunday)
Pileated Woodpecker 1 female at Gifford CG
Barred Owl 1 heard near Twin Lakes east of
Imchelium, Ferry Co.

Sunday:
Northern Shrike 1 near Imchelium - not common in Ferry Co.
House Sparrow Many in Imcheluim - not common in Ferry Co.
Wild Turkey 25 in Imchelium
Merlin 1 near Gifford CG
Townsend's Solitaire 1 at Hunters, Stevens County
Ruffed Grouse "Blue" in Hunters Campground
Northern Goshawk Immature hunting quail on Miles-Creston Rd,
Lincoln Co.
Ruffed Grouse "Red" male on Hawk Creek Rd, Lincoln Co.
Bohemian Waxwing 75+ in Davenport, Lincoln Co.
Great Horned Owl 2 at Davenport Cemetary
Prairie Falcon 2 (pair) near Lamona, SR-28, Lincoln Co.

Rough-legged Hawks in a variety of plumages were everywhere, and I think we
had Northern Shrike in every county.


This dry listing of species doesn't convey any of the wonder:

The SNOWY OWL, in bright sunlight over sparkling snow, on a pole and flying
and landing and taking off again.

WESTERN MEADOWLARKS lit to a lemony brilliance at Wells Wildlife Area, near
Bridgeport.

Finally seeing SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, and seeing them close up, flying, and on
sage through a scope.

Seeing 5 species of woodpecker, 3 species of nuthatch, 2 species of
chickadee, plus BROWN CREEPER all working over the burned trees at Gifford
CG, and knowing that they wouldn't be there if the burn had been
"salvage-logged".

Counting 20 species in Ferry County; I've now birded in all 39 counties.

Seeing the NORTHERN GOSHAWK fly down the road in front of us before landing
on a fencepost over a bush. It then waited for us to get good looks before
it dove into the bush, scattering California Quail in all directions. It
then flew directly at us in high speed pursuit, passing approximately 1 foot
off from the front left fender of the car. Then seeing it a quarter of a
mile down the road perched on a pine, in the exact pose shown in Sibley.

Finding a red male RUFFED GROUSE on the side of the road, pulling up
opposite to it, and watching as it walked V E R Y S L O W L Y down into
the ditch and up the other side over the course of 10 minutes. Oh, to have
had a camera!

Finding ~75 Bohemian Waxwings (lifer for Georgia) in Davenport atop a fir.
While Georgia got out her scope, a woman stopped to ask what good birds we
were seeing. I mentioned the waxwings, then pointed out to her the
approaching Sharp-shinned Hawk. Before Georgia could scope her birds, they
all fled the Sharpie. It took 10 minutes of searching before we found 2 for
Georgia, but we couldn't find the rest of the flock. Finally giving up, we
headed towards the cemetary, only to find Bohemians all over a Mountain Ash
on our way out of town.

I'm sure there were many more highlights to share, but it's time for bed.

== Michael Hobbs
== Kirkland, WA
== http://www.scn.org/fomp/birding.htm
== birdmarymoor at verizon.net