I spent the past few days birding in North-Central Washington, mostly in
Okanogan County. Thursday night I headed up to Liberty where there were at
least 8 Flammulated Owls calling along FR1905.

Friday morning at Cassimer Bar there was a Least Flycatcher calling from the
parking area. Nearby I flushed a small owl that I believe was a screech.
Along Cameron Lake Road there were 2 Loggerhead Shrikes, 4 Greater
Yellowlegs at Duley Lake, and near a partly dried pond a Peregrine Falcon
and 2 Grasshopper Sparrows. A third Grasshopper Sparrow was another mile
down the road near a small lake that has an outhouse, and farther still was
a Gray Flycatcher.

Bobolinks were at Aeneas Valley Road at the intersection of Hwy 20 & along
Chopaka Road. A Three-toed Woodpecker was to the west of Sherman Pass along
Hwy 20. South of Republic along Hwy 21 a Northern Waterthrush and a Canyon
Wren were singing. Another waterthrush was along the West Fork Sanpoil
Road.

Singing Yellow-breasted Chats were at the north entrance to the Sinlahekin
WA & Champney Slough. At least 7 Lewis's Woodpeckers were along the lower
part of Toats-Coulee Road. Up at Long Swamp where the road becomes closed
off there was another Three-toed Woodpecker and a couple Pikas.

Heading up FR37 toward Baldy Pass from Conconully I had nice looks at 4
Williamson's Sapsuckers at three locations. It took some work but I did see
one Boreal Chickadee just a mile or two before the pass. The pass itself is
the end of the road, again due to the fires, but I did have great views of a
Three-toed Woodpecker while a Pine Grosbeak flew past.

Heading over the North Cascades Highway a Golden Eagle passed overhead,
disappearing behind Mt Hardy. The Common Grackle in Newhalem is still
present in the immediate vicinity of the store and was very cooperative.

Some pictures are online:
www.flickr.com/photos/rjm284

Ryan Merrill
Kirkland, WA