Subject: [Tweeters] No Arctic Loon;
Date: Jan 25 21:02:23 2007
From: Art Wang - ArtNancy at harbornet.com


No Arctic Loon on Jan. 24 or 25. Lots of Common Loons, quite a few with white on the sides, including at least one with a white oval on its rear flanks. But Lake Pateros is a big area and the bird could be moving around.

OK, it wasn't a mixed flock of Sharp-tailed Grouse and Bohemian Waxwings. But it was a mixed flock of Sharp-tailed Grouse and Black-capped Chickadees, in the same binocular field of view and in the same tree and both calling. And it was a mixed flock of 250 Bohemian (75-80%) and Cedar (20-25%) Waxwings on the same branches with White-crowned Sparrows, House Sparrows, and House Finches.

The Sharp-tailed Grouse (at least four) were feeding in the willows along Scotch Creek next to Conconully Road just southeast of Happy Hill Rd. I arrived around Noon today at the U Bar U Ranch pull-off northwest of Happy Hill Rd. as described by the Sullivans. The fog closed in and by 1 PM visibility was down to about 50 yards. I had given up on that part of Conconully Rd. and had tried unsuccessfully on Happy Hill Rd. As I was starting to leave the area, I stopped 100 yards southeast of Happy Hill Rd. and found the grouse flapping around in the middle of the willows. A flock of Black-capped Chickadees came by and made quite an unique mixed flock.

The Bohemian Waxwings today were primarily in the poplar trees by the farmhouse at the intersection of Hwy. 97 and Hwy. 17, again as described by the Sullivans, but descended into other trees with the other species. I couldn't believe how hard I had to work to find Bohemians. I knew of at least 8 specific locations where flocks of 50 to 1000 had been seen in the last 10 days. I tried all of them yesterday without success. Five trips to the Brewster boat launch, four trips to the Pateros Bakery, three trips to the Brewster McDonald's, and driving virtually every residential street in Pateros, Brewster (three times) and Bridgeport left me still looking. It's not like Bohemian Waxwing is a bird that's easy to miss or easy to misidentify. Since I've been looking for Bohemians for 45 years off and on (mostly off), I guess they didn't want to make it too easy.

For those going to Brewster, there is a great feeder at the corner of 1st Ave. and Griggs Street. I watched a Merlin take a finch there while goldfinches and quail exploded in all directions.

Art Wang
Tacoma, WA
artnancy at harbornet.com