Charlie Wright and I birded Douglas and Okanogan Counties this weekend.
Things started off well with 2 SNOWY OWLS along F NW, one at milepost 4 and
another about a half mile south of 6 NW. We then found a GYRFALCON in the
immediate area around Lamoine. A few small groups of Gray Partridge were
seen along the road on the way to Mansfield. In Mansfield we ran into a
group from Central Basin Audubon who were watching 12 Eurasian
Collared-Doves under a feeder near 2nd & Morrow. Another was perched in a
tree for a minimum count of 13 but once they started flying around it
appeared that there were even more. A Prairie Falcon was perched near L NE
& 13th. At Bridgeport State Park we were able to find a Great Horned and 2
Northern Saw-whet Owls. It was snowing when we arrived at the snow park at
Havillah where it was disappointingly slow, though 2 Gray Partridge along
the road nearby were nice to see. There were 4 Great Horneds, a flyover
Common Redpoll, and several coyotes heard in the distance, but no Great
Grays or other owls.

The next morning we headed to the grouse spot along Conconully Road just W
of Happy Hill Road. We didn't see any there but soon after watched as 26
SHARP-TAILED GROUSE flew into the trees along Conconully Road near the
intersection with Happy Hill Road. We were able to get amazing views of
them as they fed, oblivious to our presence. Also nearby on Conconully Road
was an American Tree Sparrow and flock of 8 Common Redpolls. Two Northern
Pygmy-Owls and another redpoll were along Salmon Creek Road. A dark adult
Harlan's Hawk was at the intersection of Conconully and Kermel Roads.
Farther south in Malott there were several flocks of Bohemian Waxwings, with
at least 700 birds in total, and 2 more Harlan's Hawks: an adult and
immature. The last few highlights were an adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK along
Bridgeport Hill Road and an American Tree Sparrow at L NE & 8th.

Ryan Merrill
Kirkland, WA