Subject: [Tweeters] Gyrfalcon & Sharp-tailed Grouse
Date: Jan 28 19:14:24 2007
From: Michael Fleming - michaellf at myway.com



I made the trip over to the Scotch Creek Wildlife Area this weekend in search of the SHARP-TAILED GROUSE and was successful. After about two hours of waiting and searching a few spots in the area I was at the large pullout on Conconully Road just to the NW of Happy Hill Road with two other birders when 15~ grouse flew into the birch and alders trees offering good looks with a scope. We watched them for about 1/2 an hour before leaving. I spent the rest of the day Saturday and most of Sunday birding Bridgeport and Waterville Plateau, finding some of the wintering birds that are special to the area. On my way home this afternoon I had a GYRFALCON near the intersection of US Hwy 2 Hwy 176. The bird was sitting on a telephone pole, less than 1/4 mile from the intersection, along HWY 176. Needless to say I quickly pulled over and got some great looks using the scope. Highlights of my trip included:

SHARP-TAILED GROUSE - 15~ of them at Scotch Creek Wildlife Area

GYRFALCON - US Hwy 2 Hwy 176 (Waterville Plateau)

NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL - Bridgeport State Park

SNOWY OWL - West of Mansfield - MP 16 (Waterville Plateau)

BOHEMIAN WAXWING - 50~ in a field a mile north of Daroga State Park Hwy 97; 125~ in trees in the city of Okanogan; 75~ at Bridgeport State Park; 100~ near entrance to Central Ferry Canyon Road (Brewster Area)

NORTHERN SHRIKE - 1 at Brewster, 1 at Bridgeport, 2 Waterville Plateau

MERLIN - 1 in Bridgeport

PYGMY NUTHATCH - a group of 10~ birds in the Ponderosa Pines along Central Ferry Canyon Road.

CLARK'S NUTCRACKER - a flock of 17 birds along Central Ferry Canyon Road

SNOW BUNTING - one huge flock about a mile south of Withrow on the Waterville Plateau

Cheers and Good Birding



Michael Fleming

Ballard, WA

michaellf AT myway.com

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