Hi Tweets -
I had a great weekend wandering around north-central & north east WA,
taking in the glimpses of Spring. Sorry it has taken a couple days to
write the message about it.

Basically, I spent Friday in Chelan county, Saturday mostly in
Douglas county, and Sunday in Stevens & Ferry counties.
All the main roads were snow-&-ice free, though at the higher
altitudes there were still side roads that remain snowbound or too
muddy for my little car to attempt. Despite repeated promises on the
radio that rain was imminent, I think I stayed dry from the moment I
crossed the pass until my return.

Here are some brief highlights: [Locations near bottom]
Saturday, March 25:
GREATER SAGE GROUSE - The Leahy lek was still active w/ at least 12
male GREATER SAGE-GROUSE displaying north of the road. This is the
latest in the year that I've gone, so I wasn't sure I'd actually find
them still there.
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE - the only one I saw this weekend was present at
the grouse lek site.

In Mansfield, near the grain elevators:
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE - I only had one of them, but I got distracted
by the signs of spring including:
WESTERN KINGBIRDS - 2
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS - several.

Central Ferry Rd. was very birdy, with all 3 nuthatch species,
Mountain Chickadees, Cassin's Finch, and several MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS,
most found near the top. Also, one Northern Shrike was near the
bottom of the hill.


GREAT HORNED OWL - 2 along Bridgeport Hill Rd., mp 7, at the Wells
WMA West Foster Creek entrance area.

LONG-EARED OWL - down west of Lamoine.

In the afternoon, I drove over towards Ferry & Stevens county. My
route was from Bridgeport to Coulee City, then north to Elmer City,
where I took Peter Dan Creek Rd. across to Keller [Ferry Co]. Just
north of Keller, I then took Silver Creek Rd. across Ferry County to
Inchelium. Both of these roads, especially Silver Creek, were new to
me and seemed full of spring & summer potential. Can't wait to
return...

At the Gifford Campground, in Stevens County, I enjoyed the
Woodpecker crowd reported by several others:
WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER - 2-4 easy to find
BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER - 1, maybe 2, scratching away.
Downy Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers & Northern Flickers too. Also
present were several Western Bluebirds and again all 3 nuthatches,
Cassin's Finch & Mountain Chickadees.

Across the river, in Ferry County, at the Campground in Inchelium
near the Gifford-Inchelium Ferry, I saw many of the same species
[except the woodpeckers] including Western Bluebirds, nuthatches &
Cassin's Finch. Added to the birds were a few Red Crossbills.

On Silver Creek Road:
TUNDRA SWANS - 50+ in the marsh at the east end of the road.
CLARK'S NUTCRACKER - a couple along the eastern slope, and then more
up by Wilmont Creek Rd.
WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER - several [6 maybe?] just east of the Wilmont
Creek Rd. intersection.
Again, all the nuthatches, Western Bluebirds, more Red Crossbills,
and 2 TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIREs.

Down near the [snowed in] road past Friedlanders Meadow, I saw one
RUFFED GROUSE.
And finally, at the intersection of Silver Creek Rd and SR 25,
outside Keller, an AMERICAN DIPPER was near the bridge.

Moving along SR 25 between Keller & Republic, I added a few more
ducks to the list, and had another look, this one lengthy, at a
RUFFED GROUSE - it was performing the trademarked 'if I move slowly
enough you can't see me' behavior, walking so slowly across the road
that I had time to park, get out, wander back and still spend a few
minutes watching it as it continued the slow trek across the road.

Last note, from the start of the trip - 2 GOLDEN EAGLES soaring a
little south of Lake Chelan above SR 971.

Locations:

Douglas Co., Waterville Plateau:
Leahy Cutoff Rd. [GRSG lek]: WA ABA , p. 385. Delorme, p. 85 A-5
Wells WMA, West Foster Ck. Unit: WA ABA , p. 386. Delorme p. 84, A-3
Mansfield, WA ABA , p. 382 [on map only]. Delorme, p. 84 B-3
Lamoine LEOW site, WA ABA , p. 383. Delorme, p. 84 B/C-1
Central Ferry Rd., WA ABA , p. 386-7. Delorme p. 100, D/E-2

Ferry County:
Silver Creek Road, WA ABA , p. 466-7. Delorme p. 102-103, p. D 3-6
Sanpoil River Valley, WA ABA , p. 463-6. Delorme p. 102 A-D 3

Stevens County:
Gifford Campground WA ABA , p. 472 [map], Delorme p. 103 B-7
[location, ~1/4 mile north of the Gifford side of the
Incelium-Gifford Ferry dock], woodpecker in N end of campground.

Chelan Co:
Lake Chelan area, WA ABA , p. 419. Delorme p. 83 B-7.

Can't wait to go back,

Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA

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