Hi Tweeters!

This past weekend, the talented photographer, Micheal Dossett explored and
birded the Salmo Pass and Okanagan areas. Despite dealing with hunters from
the ground and skies, we were extremely lucky to find good numbers of
elusive birds at several locations. It was one of the most productive
boreal birding trip.

Highlights of the trip included: 3 different flocks of WHITE WINGED
CROSSBILLS, 24 SPRUCE GROUSE, AND 5 GREAT GRAY OWLS. We missed the male
WHITE TAILED PTARMIGAN that I saw seen last week at Slate Peak. Perhaps
with the influx of raptors and hunters in the area, the bird decided to be
less conspicous and hidden. We also had great opportunities to study all
four species of grouse with their families and hear their vocalization.
Also, we had one close encounter with a rattlesnake!

Here is the breakdown of our sightings:

BUNCHGRASS MEADOWS:

1 beautiful, displaying SPRUCE GROUSE male
10 SPRUCE GROUSE subadults and hens
5 Harlequin ducks (Sullivan Lake)
7 Common merganser (Sullivan Lake)
Hairy woodpecker
Red crossbills
Cooper's hawk
Ruffed grouse
Dusky grouse
Hermit Thrush
Chestnut backed chickadees
Red breasted nuthatch
Mountain chickadee
Townsend's warblers
Yellow rumped warblers

SALMO PASS:

2 BOREAL CHICKADEES
1 American 3 toe woodpecker
1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK
Ruffed grouse
Sharp shinned hawks
Gray jays
Clark's nutcrackers
Pine siskins
Red crossbills
Black headed grosbeaks
Wilson's warblers
Townsend's warblers
Yellow rumped warblers
Ruffed grouse

ALBIAN HILL near Sherman Pass:

3 WHITE WINGED CROSSBILLS (near Deadman Creek Rd) Seen by Micheal D.
3 American 3 Toe woodpecker (Old Stage Trailhead)
Red crossbills
1 flock of WHITE WINGED CROSSBILLS (Old StageTrailhead) Heard only by both.

HART'S PASS:

1 PINE GROSBEAK
1 Peregrine falcon
1 Prairie falcon
Sooty grouse with chick
Dusky grouse
Horned larks
Water pipits
Mountain bluebirds
Hammond's flycatcher

CHOPAKA MOUNTAIN:

1 family of SPRUCE GROUSE with 5 young (1.5 miles from vista outlook)
1 family of SPRUCE GROUSE with 7 young (1.0 miles from vista outlook)
Pileated woodpecker
Say's Phoebe
Eastern Kingbird

HAVILLAH:

5 GREAT GRAY OWLS (several locations)
2 Swainson's hawk

RAINY PASS:

2 PINE GROSBEAKS
7 WHITE WINGED CROSSBILLS (Seen and heard)
1 female Williamson's sapsucker
1 Hairy woodpecker
2 Nashville warblers (Washington Pass)
Sharp shinned hawk
Clark's nutcracker

Website:

http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/updated_photos&page=all

It was a alot of driving and some hiking, but what a total adventure! You
can never have a bad time in the Okanogan. Boreal birding can be alot of
work, but the rewards can be gratifying.

Good birding to you,

Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon)