Whenever I make a trip over to Okanogan county it seems like I never have enough time to bird all the areas that I had planned on. This trip I was focusing on getting good looks at a BOREAL CHICKADEE since it has been a couple of years since I've seen one. I planned on driving FR39 and checking out Roger Lake and Freezeout Pass on one day, and maybe do Harts Pass or even the Highlands on another. Needless to say I did not have enough time to do either, but still got in some excellent birding in other areas of Okanogan county.

I left Seattle late Friday / early Saturday driving over I-90 and then Blewett Pass (quite a lightening storm going through the Cle Elum area) arriving in Brewster at first light. First stop was the Cassimer Bar Wildlife area (Okanogan River access) where I looked for LEAST FLYCATCHER (which I had missed on an earlier trip). There were a pair which I heard calling from the parking area as soon as I got out of my vehicle (this spot has been very reliable for me in the past). Also at this stop I had 5 WHITE PELICAN on the Okanogan River.

The next stop was Soap Lake Road which is about 5 miles or so north on US97, and about one mile up this road there were both GRASSHOPPER and LARK SPARROW. Next I was off to Salmon Meadows Campground which was full for July 4th campers so I continued on up the road another 3.8 miles from the campground and had BOREAL CHICKADEE (great views) and THREE-TOED WOODPECKER. On my way back down toward Conconully I ran into Stefan from Portland who was also birding the Okanogan along with Rebecca (I believe also from Portland). I then checked into my hotel, and decided to see what I could find up at Loop Loop campground. A male WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER was my prize at this spot, although I thought I heard a NORTHERN PYGMY OWL tooting in the distance, but could not be sure as it was so far away. Thought about doing some owling, but it had been a very long day, so I ended up just crashing.

Saturday, I had a hard time deciding which area to bird. I thought about Harts Pass and the Highlands, but decided to do the Sinlahekin Valley. Early AM I was in the small town of Loomis and found LEWIS WOODPECKER and a PEREGRINE FALCON having its morning breakfast. I then drove south on the Sinlahekin Road stopping at most of the lakes and camping areas. The best spot was Conners Lake (this place was really hopping). Here I found a male AMERICAN REDSTART and a RED-EYED VIREO for starters, along with a host of other birds that you would expect to see here. Something I thought as a bit unusual was a female AMERICAN WIGEON with several young. After my trek through the Sinlahekin I decided to finish the day by birding Rock Creek Road and Campground east of the town of Okanogan.

Sunday I had to head back to Seattle so I made a quick early morning stop in Winthrop and checked out Bear Creek Road where I had a male DUSKY GROUSE displaying - what a treat! Next, made a quick stop at Washington and Rainy Passes, and a final stop in Newhalem at the North Cascades Park Visitor Center where BLACK SWIFTS were circling overhead.

A very good trip - the Okanogan never disappoints!! Highlights of the trip included:

AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN - 5 at Cassimer Bar Wildlife Area

AMERICAN WIGEON - with young at Conners Lake

RING-NECKED DUCK - Forde Lake

BARROW'S GOLDENEYE - Conconully Lake

PEREGRINE FALCON - Toats Coulee Road near Loomis

DUSKY GROUSE - Bear Creek Road at Winthrop

CHUCKAR - hear calling while at the Scotch Creek WMA near Conconully

BLACK SWIFT - Newhalem

COMMON NIGHTHAWK - heard at Conners Lake

BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD - Conners Lake

LEWIS WOODPECKER - Toats Coulee Road near Loomis

RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER - Seen at several locations; but two places had calling young from within nest cavities

WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER - Loop Loop Campground

AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER - 3.8 miles north of Salmon Meadows Campground

PILEATED WOODPECKER - Conners Lake

BANK SWALLOW - Conconully

BOREAL CHICKADEE - 3.8 miles north of Salmon Meadows Campground

PYGMY NUTHATCH - Conners Lake

RED-EYED VIREO - Conners Lake

YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT - Conners Lake

TOWNSEND'S WARBLER - Washington Pass and 3.8 miles north of Salmon Meadows Campground

LINCOLN'S SPARROW - 2 miles north of Salmon Meadows Campground

GRASSHOPPER SPARROW - Soap Lake Road

AMERICAN REDSTART - Conners Lake

LEAST FLYCATCHER - Cassimer Bar Wildlife Area

EVENING GROSBEAK, NASHVILLE WARBLER, VEERY, and TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE seen at several places

Cheers and Good Birding





Michael Fleming

Ballard, Washington

Michael-Fleming AT myway.com



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