Hi Tweeters,

Like many others I trekked east ward for the past week
and then westward for a special bird. Some
highlights:

After a stop in Yakima post the Wenas campout I headed
to Conconully State Park to camp and look for Spruce
Grouse mainly and Sharp-tailed Grouse as a possible.
No luck on Spruce but did flush 2 Sharp-tailed and
left them be since it is nesting season. I found
those in one of the areas listed in the Wa State ABA
guide, p437-439.

Conconully Road was good for raptors, one immature
Northern Goshawk near Hess Road. Probable nesting
pair of Northern Harrier close to Happy Valley Rd.
One Short-eared Owl flying with the male harrier one
evening. Pair of Bald Eagles at Conconully State
Park, soaring. Great-horned Owl perched on irrigation
equipment on my early, early run for grouse.

I went up to Salmon Meadows mentioned by Kahn Tran,
also to Baldy Pass and around the other way to Long
Swamp to look for Spruce Grouse. No luck but had nice
looks at a Boreal Chickadee and saw both Mountain and
Black-capped the same day for a 3 chickadee day. I
found an interesting feather at Long Swamp and
couldn't help but wonder if it was Boreal Owl-let
feather. It was more than 3/4 downy with some brown
coloration at the tip. Of course a feather could come
from anywhere. I looked hard for a source but did not
see a bird at this spot. Part way down Toats-Coulee
Rd from Long Swamp the 2007 Washington State Pine
Sisken Convention was being held and what a turn out!
Possibly approaching 1,000 siskens in the area. It
was amazing, they were on the ground, in the trees, in
the air, everywhere. I spent some time just enjoying
them.

The fire damage is extensive and the human impact is
quite noticable in this area. Logging, roadwork and
mushroom picking were major activities. I heard
Williamson't Sapsucker drumming but was unable to pin
down other woodpeckers other than Flickers and Hairy
Woodpeckers.

In camp, at least 3 Calliope Hummingbird territories
around the park. Saw a Barrow's Goldeneye with a
bunch of fluffy babies on my last day there.

A pair of Great Blue Herons were attempting to nest at
the south end of Connors Lake on Sinlaheeken Road.
This was Thursday, they looked hot and it was hot. I
didn't see any sign of chicks. I didn't see any other
nests, this area probably can't support a lot of
herons anyway. I looked for Bobolinks in the
Sinlaheeken Valley and didn't see any but I did watch
a Long-billed Curlew fly in, land and begin calling
and displaying.

Some of this isn't Okanogan county but on the way over
to Mason County I went the long way so I could look
for some species around the Vantage area. Brief stop
at Bridgeport State Park heard a Barred Owl hooting in
the group camp area. Near Vantage on Huntzinger saw 5
White Pelicans near the railroad bridge downriver from
the dam. Even with a scope it was hard to see well
the far shore there but I think Caspian Terns could be
breeding there. I saw one fly by with a fish in it's
bill.

It was 67 degrees on the pass Friday evening around
6:30 so it had to be a hot one. Water levels were
high and they were letting a lot of water through the
dam on Huntzinger road.

I stayed at Belfair State Park and met Mary Hrudkai
Saturday am to try for Mountain Quail. Wayne Weber
from British Columbia drove down early that morning
and joined us. While we waited we enjoyed Mary's yard
birds including Band-tailed Pigeons side by side with
Mourning Doves. One immature Band-tailed showed up.
The main event arrived and we saw both male and female
Mountain Quail. Thank you Mary again for your
hospitality and wonderful yard. The quail visits are
beginning to become irregular due to nesting season
approaching so I felt especially fortunate to get to
see them. Fun to see a life bird on the first try.

Kathy
Roosting in Kent






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