Tweeters,

Ellen and I headed north from Yakima mid-day on the 25th, our destination
the Okanogan Highlands east of Tonasket. We began at Jameson Lake in Moses
Coulee, the single birdiest spot on our tour. Though freeze-up has started
in the sheltered coves, the main lake was open. We spotted all of the 13
species of waterfowl we noted on our trip here. Overhead a Golden Eagle
soared in the brilliant sunshine against the coulee cliffs.

Because the fall weather thus far had been mild with virtually no snow, we
took a road up and east from near the south end of the lake, finding a
Loggerhead Shrike in the tall Big Sagebrush and the first of many (~15)
Northern Shrikes for our trip in weedy growth farther up towards the
Waterville Plateau. Atop the plateau, we drove the section line roads north
from H and 5 without seeing much. This area is great for Greater Sage-Grouse
but today these birds eluded us.

Then we drove west and south from Mansfield towards Withrow, then west
beyond the four-house hamlet of Lamoine, our target being Gyrfalcon. Having
no luck in this project on the highest parts of the Waterville Plateau, we
headed north, but not before noting an ominous band of gray clouds swirling
east from the Cascade Mountains.

We dined in Omak at the Breadline Caf?, a must stop on our itinerary in the
Okanogan. Here we enjoyed spinach crepes (cooked) and delicious bread and
wine before heading north to Havillah to car camp and hopefully hear or see
Great Gray Owl.

At Havillah, though the temperature was only 190F, we slept in comfort with
only an extra sleeping bag draped over our down bags in the back of our rig.
During the night a storm began and it began to snow on and off. We heard no
owls. The morning of the 26th we set out to search the forest edge and
X-country ski trails about the Highland Sno-Park hoping for owls, still
having no success. Instead we were rewarded with Pine Grosbeaks, a total of
seven. Four were atop a Western Larch, seeming to be nipping away at buds,
not cones, in the top most branchlets. It began to snow steadily on our
morning hike.

Next we headed up past the Sitzmark Ski Area, finding five Rough-legged
Hawks and more Northern Shrikes. Beyond Chesaw, Ellen's sharp eye caught
movement in the alders along the creek. Common Redpolls! There were more
than 100 in this flock. With our scopes, peering through a steady snowfall,
we scrutinized them closely for a Hoary, finding one male that seemed pretty
pale and rosy, but its upper back and nape coloration was typical for a
Common Redpoll.

The Chesaw General Store had hot coffee to warm us for our next area, along
Mary Ann Creek. Here we chanced on American Tree Sparrows in the dense
riparian growth. At another stop besides tall Engelmann Spruce,
Golden-crowned Kinglets came into our spishing. I'm always surprised to see
these tiny little mites wintering in this part of Washington, as this area
can experience really bitter arctic cold spells. All along the road, we kept
an eye out for owls as the forest edge habitat here looks perfect for Great
Grays.

Our last birding in this area was along Dry Gulch Creek Road in the Eden
Valley. Overhead, we watched an immature Golden Eagle flap and cart-wheel to
fend off marauding Common Ravens. A male Northern Harrier coursed over
grasslands south from Eden Valley In Water Birch at the south end of the
gulch, we spotted five more Common Redpolls.

Then we started our drive homeward. It snowed most of the way. We again
searched the Waterville Plateau for Gyrfalcon. What a contrast from the day
before; the entire plateau was a snowy winter wonderland. Though snowing
steadily, we found a few Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks, one Prairie
Falcon and American Kestrel, a few more Northern Shrikes and several hundred
Horned Larks.

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA
steppie at nwinfo.net