Subject: [Tweeters] Boreal Chickadee / Least Flycatchers & More - Okanogan
Date: Jul 6 19:36:11 2008
From: Michael Fleming - michael-fleming at myway.com
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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