Subject: [Tweeters] Douglas-Okanogan Co.
Date: Oct 26 08:41:50 2007
From: rfriesz - rfriesz at televar.com


I drove through the northern interior of Douglas Co. on Wednesday morning (via Rd.'L' NE), and returned through the same area on Thursday afternoon (via Hwy 172-Sage Brush Flat Rd.). Along these routes, four NORTHERN SHRIKES and one dark-morphed ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK were encountered; first fall records for me.

There were two EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES in Mansfield perched on utility lines.

Wednesday afternoon, Jerry King of Okanogan, and I drove up Tunk Valley to Crawfish Lake (4480 ft.). Bird activity was light, but we did find two immature SURF SCOTERS on the lake, the only water birds we noticed. The Western Larch had started to shed golden needles providing for outstanding views.

Thursday morning, we drove above Conconully to Salmon Meadows and found several small flocks of MT. CHICKADEES and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES with fewer BROWN CREEPERS mixed in. Other species were one small group each of RED CROSSBILLS and PINE GROSBEAKS, along with scattered CLARK'S NUTCRACKERS, COMMON RAVENS, and STELLER'S JAYS. No grouse were found.

The ground was bare up to the 5800 ft level except for the shaded north slopes where the road was packed with ice. Again, the golden larch and clear skies provided for outstanding views.

Take care,

Ron Friesz
Ephrata
mailto: rfriesz AT televar dot com