On a glorious July 4th, Kim Thorburn and I birded
Ferry County. Weather was lovely and birds were
generally quite active.

The water level of Lake FDR was so high, that our
crossing on Keller Ferry was delayed so that the
cables could be adjusted. Needless to say, there
wasn't any good shorebird habitat exposed.

Just north of the junction of Hwy 21 & Swawilla Basin
Road, we flushed a pair of GRAY PARTRIDGE. A bit
later, a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER flew across the road.

Near MP 122.5, a conspicuous RED-EYED VIREO was
singing from a snag. A NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH sang a
couple of phrases from the riparian thicket, and GRAY
CATBIRDs seemed to be everywhere.

Although we were looking forward to birding Devil's
Elbow, there was some noisy equipment working the
rocky base of the cliffs. We had to settle for a
family of six BELTED KINGFISHERs.

Around the junction of Bridge Creek Road, we heard an
AMERICAN REDSTART, and saw VEERY, YELLOW WARBLER,
WILLOW FLYCATCHER, and CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD.

Further up (MP 138.5), we found a pair of PILEATED
WOODPECKERs. One was calling from deep in the woods
and the other was invisibly drumming from one of the
snags closer to the road.

In order to see one of the Pileateds, I had to pick my
way through some very dense flood plain underbrush.
Discouraged by hawkthorn, tangles of snowberries,
etc., I almost turned back, but the loud woodpecker
drumming urged me onward. Using a couple of large
fallen trees as catwalks over the jungle-like
undergrowth, i finally reached a good position to
view one impressive Pileated Woodpecker climbing up a
snag. When I retraced my steps to the road, I was
able to get Kim on the bird too. The effort was well
worth it to view this county lifer.

Reaching the junction with Gold Creek Road, we were
greeted with VAUX'S SWIFT and a couple of
WHITE-THROATED SWIFTs. Turning westward toward the
West Fork Sanpoil River, we discovered that this
logging road was quite rough in places. In fact,
another vehicle from the opposite direction contained
some dazed and confused folks who asked us when or if
they would ever find civilization again.

Diligently working the Okanogan side for Redstarts
failed to produce any of our target species. However,
we did enjoy seeing RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, a family of
MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERs, YELLOW WARBLER, VEERIES,
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, and SWAINSON'S THRUSH. On our
return to the highway at midday, bird activity had
noticeably quieted down.

While trying a couple of spots west of Republic, we
found a PACIFIC -SLOPE FLYCATCHER, but the water level
at Mud Lake was too high for shorebirds. It was time
to head up to the mountains.

Above Curlew (Boulder Creek Road), we saw another
LEWIS'S WOODPECKER. Our goal was to look for high
elevation birds along this pretty route.

As part of our search plan , we headed up Day Creek
Road. In a couple of miles, we stopped and I did my
Pygmy Owl call. It wasn't long before we were mobbed
by MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE,
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, RED
CROSSBILL, CASSIN'S VIREO, CASSIN'S FINCH,
MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, and
best of all a CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE (county
lifer).

In mixed conifer habitat, 4.2 mile up the road, I
called in another flock that consisted of both
RUBY-CROWNED & GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETs, RED CROSSBILL,
MT. CHICKADEE, and a BOREAL CHICKADEE (county lifer).
The agitated Boreal Chickadee perched on top of a fir
tree for about a minute.

Just shy of the five mile mark, we were treated to
the sight of yet another flock of passerines.
TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, MT. CHICKADEEs, and another BOREAL
CHICKADEE showed up here. In the distance, An
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER could be heard, and a TURKEY
VULTURE sailed over. The habitat at this spot
contained much more Englemann Spruce and Subalpine Fir
that I generally associate with Boreal Chickadee.

Before we reached the summit of the Kettle Crest NRA
on Boulder Creek Road, we turned northward on Third
Creek Road. In this spruce-fir forest, I called in
GRAY JAY, MT. CHICKADEE, WILSON'S WARBLER (heard), and
this time a real NORTHERN PYGMY OWL (county lifer).
The Pygmy Owl would call, follow us around, and perch
at the top of a convenient conifer. At one point a
pair of TOWNSEND'S WARBLERs mobbed the Pygmy Owl.

On the Kettle Crest trail, we were hoping in vain to
find a White-winged Crossbill. However, this area
looks quite promising for this species. No doubt,
there are Spruce Grouse around too.

On our return, we saw displays of fireworks from
Chewelah, Loon Lake, Deer Park, and all the way in to
Spokane. It was certainly a nice way to celebrate the
4th.

Gina Sheridan
Spokane, WA



____________________________________________________________________________________
Boardwalk for $500? In 2007? Ha! Play Monopoly Here and Now (it's updated for today's economy) at Yahoo! Games.
http://get.games.yahoo.com/proddesc?gamekey=monopolyherenow