Subject: [Tweeters] Okanogan and Douglas Co. birding
Date: Apr 30 23:18:38 2007
From: khanh tran - khanhbatran at hotmail.com


This past weekend Micheal Dossett and I had a nice birding and scouting trip
to the Okanogan and Douglas Counties.

We were able to ascend up to Roger Lake on FR39 with no problems until
reaching close to Tiffany Mt. CG where there was quite a bit of snow. As a
result of last year's huge fire, most of the normal lush, habitat required
for specialized boreal species (i.e. boreal owl, spruce grouse, boreal
chickadee) is mostly gone. The area is severely burned and devoid of lush
vegetation. However, the lower areas and elevation near Long Swamp, Iron
Gate Trailhead, and Chopaka Mountain remain unaffected based on our limited
vantage point from gaining higher in elevation.

The previously reported DUSKY GROUSE near Winthrop were present in higher
numbers with more females noted. Males continue to hoot but were not
observed in full displaying form. Nevertheless, the birds are very neat and
the area is very beautiful with many flowers in bloom.

In the town of Havillah, we were lucky to find 3 different GREAT GRAY OWLS
on various roads closer to dusk. On two occasions, the owls were perched on
the telephone wires on surrounding areas near the Sitzmark ski lift area and
Havillah Rd. All three birds were close to the roads and extremely tame.
Other than that, it was very quiet at the Sno-Park besides a drumming RUFFED
GROUSE and one drumming female WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER. On West Fork Rd,
there were several RED NAPED SAPSUCKERS along the aspen groves. Other birds
in the surrounding areas included WESTERN and MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS, SWAINSON'S
HAWKS, and WESTERN KINGBIRDS.

Near Toats Coulee Rd, we saw two GRAY PATRIDGES on a field. En route to FR39
(Long Swamp, Pasayten Wilderness, and Chopaka Mt), we saw a soaring NORTHERN
GOSHAWKS, several DUSKY and RUFFED GROUSE. We did not see any boreal
chickadees but did not know the exact elevation of were we were. It was
very quiet in these areas except for good numbers of WATER PIPITS, WESTERN
BLUEBIRDS, and YELLOW RUMPED WARBLERS.

Our most productive birding was at Bridgesport State Park where numerous
migrants were noticed including: WESTERN TANAGERS, WARBLING VIREOS,
HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER, TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, ORANGE CROWNED WARBLERS, WESTERN
KINGBIRDS, and YELLOW RUMPED WARBLERS.

We had GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS on Soap Lake Rd and 4 NE near Mansfield. There
were several LONG BILLED CURLEWS on Soap Lake Rd as well.

Jameson's Lake had a nice display of REDHEADS, RUDDY DUCKS, and BARRON'S
GOLDENEYES.

Good birding,

Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon)