Hi Tweeters!

This weekend, I went on a quest to search and satisfy my fascination for displaying grouse. With a combination of research, extensive scouting, and LUCK, I was successful at seeing four species of fancy grassland and forest chickens in displaying action. It was quite a treat.

Secondly, I was curious what would species would linger being that transitional period when most wintering birds are departing while some early spring migrants trickle in.

There are still good numbers of Rough-legged Hawks and Northern Shrikes. Scads of Mountain Bluebirds, Pine Siskins, Cassin?s Finches, several Say?s Phoebes, and a handful of Loggerhead Shrikes were noted. I love how the mountain bluebirds blazon the austere landscape with so much color and life.

Here are some other highlights. I was lucky to observe three male, Barrow?s Goldeneye fully display. The drakes emitted their soft, meow like call and did a heading bobbing gesture in hopes to woo the lone hen. They were quite stunning against the calm, dark water in stark contrast to their crisp, white plumage.

En route to Twisp via Hwy 20, I came about 3-4 feet from hitting a large flock of gray crowned rosy-finches (both forms). They were fearless as they actively feed near the road and cliffs while cars were cruising by and constantly flushed them. I got out and managed to watch them for 10 minutes before they disappeared over the cliffs. At one point, they were feeding about 10 feet from me.

I also had the pleasure of birding with Ron McCluskey who joined me on part of my trip while in the Okanogan Highlands. Lee Johnson's pad and along Bunch Rd. in Wauconda was hopping with birds.

A: Okanogan Highlands (including Chesaw, Bolster, Havillah, and Wauconda)

3 Great Horned Owl (heard only-pair dueting in Sno-Park)
4 Barrow Goldeneye (Beaver Lake)
2 Hooded Merganser (Beaver Lake)
1 GYRFALCON (near Chesaw/Bolster)
20 plus SHARP TAILED GROUSE
1 Dusky Grouse
3 Ruffed grouse (one active drummer)
1 AMERICAN 3-TOE WOODPECKER (Wauconda)
4-5 SNOW BUNTINGS
1 AMERICAN TREE SPARROW
1 GRAY CROWNED ROSYFINCH
1 COMMON REDPOLL
30 Evening Grosbeaks (Wauconda)
20 WHITE WINGED CROSSBILLS(3rd time is the charm in Wauconda)

B: Loup Loup Pass/Twisp/Winthrop in Okanogan County:

1 Northern Pygmy Owl (Loup Loup CG)
1 Williamson Sapsucker (Loup Loup CG)
2 Dusky Grouse (Sun Lodge)
2 PINE GROSBEAKS (near Patterson Lake)
150 GRAY CROWNED ROSYFINCHES (both forms near Hwy 20/153 insection)
3 Harlequin Ducks (along Hwy 153 south towards Methow)

C: Central Ferry Canyon, Leahy Junction in Douglas Co.

Pateros Lake had a nice collection of: 3 Red heads, 2 Canvasbacks, 3 Horned Grebes, many Ring-necked ducks, Lesser and Great Scaups, American Wigeons, Common Goldeyes, and hundreds of American Coots.

There was one displaying male Dusky grouse along Central Ferry Canyon Rd not far from the cemetery. I managed to flush a LONG EARED OWL near the Packwood Cemetery sign shortly before dawn.

I ended my trip with seeing about a dozen SAGE GROUSE doing their display at the Leahy Junction in the very early morning. There were about 8 males and 4 hens. An early SAGE THRASHER and singing BREWER?S SPARROW were also in the area.

On my way home, I was driving along Hwy 97 near Exit 11 (not far from Manatash Ridge)when I noticed a large bird with a lot of white on the chest on an elevated mount about 500 feet of the highway. Managed to safely stop not too far away off the shoulder and found 4 more SAGE GROUSE.

As always, I had a great time with doing something that I enjoy very much! There is a lot of driving (1500 miles) and little sleep, but the Okanogan fuels my adrenalin and passion for ALL birds and nature.

Good birding!

Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon



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