Subject: [Tweeters] 3 days E of the Cascades
Date: Mar 3 08:22:08 2007
From: Marv Breece - mbreece at earthlink.net


Tuesday (2/27/07) I left Seattle in the dark and arrived on the Waterville Plateau in Douglas County by mid morning. There were many SNOW BUNTINGS where Spraurer Road meets F, east of Lamoine. I found 1 PRAIRIE FALCON on Hwy 172 and one EURASIAN COLLERED DOVE in Mansfield. A GOLDEN EAGLE was perched atop a pole on Bridgeport Hill Road. From there I visited Central Ferry Canyon Road. A large flock of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS gathered near the orchards. Further up the road there was a flock of about 20 COMMON REDPOLLS. The road was soft near the bottom, but colder, harder and very slick nearer the top, requiring chains for safe passage.

Wednesday (2/28/07) I started the day near Conconully in Okanogan County, in search of SHARP-TAILED GROUSE. At 9:00AM, a flock of 20 or more was in the trees enjoying breakfast where Happy Hill Road meets Conconully Road. In the town of Conconully, I found a single TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE.

Then I decided to visit Central Ferry Canyon Road once more. A short distance up the road, I spotted an adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK. Then a SLATE-COLORRED JUNCO. On the way back to Bridgeport, I drove along Grange Road, by the Bridgeport Bar. BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were there in good numbers. A MERLIN was also perched along Grange Road. In Bridgeport was another MERLIN. A second visit to Mansfield was good for 2 EURASIAN COLLERED DOVES this time.

A trip down Heritage Road (L) produced a fine look at an adult gray GYRFALCON. The bird was perched on a bank 2 or 3 miles south of Hwy 172.

Thursday (3/1/07) I started the day looking for SAGE GROUSE at Leahy. >From first light until about 8:00AM I saw no grouse. At that point I noticed a large falcon perched atop an erratic to the SW. I drove closer until a scope view allowed a look good enough to confirm that it was indeed a GYRFALCON. Returning to the lek, I got a brief glimpse of 3 SAGE GROUSE in flight, heading west, away form the lek. I never did see one on the ground. The area was extremely cold with several inches of snow on the ground, barely passable in my Subaru.

Although temperatures at times were very cold, and in places snow was deep, the viewing was, for the most part, very good.


Marv Breece
Seattle, WA
mbreece at earthlink.net