On Saturday (5/26/07), Kim Thorburn and I ventured up
into Ferry County. Starting in the southern end and
working our way up to the Republic area, we managed to
see a very nice variety of birds.

Upon crossing over the Keller Ferry, we were greeted
on the dock by BANK SWALLOWs, BARN SWALLOWs, and CLIFF
SWALLOWs. In the shrub-steppe/Ponderosa Pine section
of Swawilla Basin, we had excellent views of GRAY
FLYCATCHER, BULLOCK'S ORIOLE, CHIPPING SPARROW, HOUSE
WREN, BREWER'S SPARROW, LARK SPARROW (quite common),
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, WARBLING VIREO, WESTERN
TANAGER, CASSIN'S FINCH, and LAZULI BUNTING.

Farther along the cliff narrows, we had ROCK WREN,
SAYS'S PHOEBE, TURKEY VULTURE, AMERICAN KESTREL,
RED-TAILED HAWK, NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, and
WESTERN KINGBIRD. At Swawilla Basin Beach, there was a
single BLUE-WINGED TEAL, CALIFORNIA GULLs - 20, BALD
EAGLE -2, KILLDEER, BANK SWALLOWs, and a couple of
RING-BILLED GULLs.

Back on Hwy 21, we saw OSPREY (nesting), LEWIS'S
WOODPECKER, CALIFORNIA QUAIL, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWs.
Another LEWIS'S WOODPECKER was on the perimeter of the
Keller Cemetery.

Lower Silver Creek yielded DUSKY FLYCATCHER, MOUNTAIN
CHICKADEE, and PYGMY NUTHATCH. At Friedlander Meadows,
we picked up VEERY, HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER, DARK-EYED
JUNCO, TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, NO.
FLICKER, HAIRY WOODPECKER, CEDAR WAXWING, CASSIN'S
VIREO, CASSIN'S FINCH, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT,
MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER, and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK.

On the lower end of Wilmont Creek, we found CALLIOPE
HUMMINGBIRD, YELLOW WARBLER, WILD TURKEY, BLACK-CAPPED
CHICKADEE, and TREE SWALLOW. Hoping to find Dusky
Grouse or Goshawk, we drove twenty miles of narrow,
sometimes rutted, partially overgrown, of the Wilmont
Creek Road up to Bridge Creek Road. Unfortunately, we
didn't see these target birds, but we did see VARIED
THRUSH and STELLER'S JAY, and heard or glimpsed plenty
of Orange-crowned Warblers, Townsend's Warblers,
Nashville Warblers, and MacGillivray's Warblers. By
necessity, we had to clear the road of numerous fallen
tree branches.

At Devil's Elbow, we saw a pair of WOOD DUCKs,
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, SONG SPARROW, and heard a
couple of PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERs.

On the Republic STP, a nice variety of waterfowl was
present. COMMON GOLDENEYE, GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON,
WOOD DUCK, NO. SHOVELER, CANADA GOOSE, REDHEAD, WOOD
DUCK, LESSER SCAUP, GREATER SCAUP - 1, HOODED
MERGANSER -1, RING-NECKED DUCK, SPOTTED SANDPIPER,
KILLDEER, and WILSON'S PHALAROPE -4 were among the
notables.

Near the Okanogan County line, we birded a one mile
stretch of Gardner Creek that is within Ferry County.
Along this area of mixed conifers, we found a male
WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER and an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER,
and we heard SWAINSON'S THRUSH. RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET,
and GRAY JAY.

By sunset, we reached Mud Lake. Here we observed
CINNAMON TEAL -2, WILSON'S PHALAROPE -4, RUDDY DUCK -
14, LESSER SCAUP, REDHEAD, GADWALL, MALLARD, MARSH
WREN, YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, and
KILLDEER.

Although we made brief attempts for owls at Sherman
Pass and Canyon Creek, we failed to turn up any owls.
At Sherman Pass, we heard HERMIT THRUSH and VARIED
THRUSH.

Since we had been up since 4:00 AM, we didn't have the
energy to stay out late enough for total darkness that
is necessary for Boreal or Saw-whet Owls, and still be
able to safely drive all the way back to Spokane..
Sadly, I still have zero owls for Ferry County.

Through out the day, we saw unusual optical phenomena
caused by the persistent cirrostratus clouds. In the
morning, there were bright sundogs present. Later,
there was a halo around the sun. At one point, there
were two halos around the sun, and tangential arcs in
the sky. After dark, there was a halo around the
moon..

Since the Williamsons' Sapsucker only gave Kim a
glimpse in flight, she only had half an ABA lifer. As
for myself, I finished the day with eight Ferry County
lifers.

Next time we want to find Redstart and Waterthrush in
both Ferry & Okanogan Counties, and we need to provide
Kim with a worthy lifer view of the Williamson's
Sapsucker.

Best of birding to all,

Gina Sheridan
Spokane, WA









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