A problem with my old email application held up this post for a few
days. Send me a request if you'd like the trip list of 108 species. What
a great trip it was!

Tweeters,

Sagebrush buttercup became a new favorite as Alan Lincoln and I explored
the between-seasons offerings of northeast Okanogan over an extended
weekend. There were some last season birds, like a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK
along Hungry Hollow Road, and some next season birds, like the wonderful
CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD on Cameron Lake Road, and a wild-card bird, the
HERMIT THRUSH on the top of Timentwa Flats. All in all, this location in
Washington proved its productivity for birds at any time of year. The
timing was superb as unusually cold weather with a touch of hail and
snow greeted us, but the birding was sunny 70?s. When we left, it seemed
that spring had truly begun.

Aeneas Valley showed us both BLUEBIRD species we were so eager to see,
as well as our two Tachycineta swallows, and a RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER. Long
Lake revealed an OSPREY, RING-NECKED DUCK, AMERICAN WIGEON, and both
GOLDENEYE.

Havillah Road gave us our first SWAINSON?S HAWK of the year, VESPER
SPARROW, the MEADOWLARK and KESTREL.

On Hungry Hollow Road, I heard a DUSKY FLYCATCHER sing all the parts of
its song, but a little disjointed and not quite warmed up to the season.
Two TURKEY VULTURES were about, along with the Rough-legged Hawk.

Muskrat Lake gave us our first GREATER YELLOWLEGS of the trip.

The town of Molson provided YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS, and Molson Lakes
had REDHEAD, BUFFLEHEAD CANVASBACK, RUDDY DUCK COMMON LOON, COMMON
MERGANSER, LESSER SCAUP, and an Osprey catching a big Rainbow Trout!

Our decision to follow Ninemile Road down to Oroville was rewarded with
PYGMY NUTHATCH, our first SAY?S PHOEBE, and a NORTHERN GOSHAWK! The
prime rib at Hometown Pizza was wonderful and we picked up a good
Cabernet Sauvignon at the brand new Lake Crest winery.

Bonaparte Lake Road was beautiful and all but abandoned on the sunny
Saturday that caused Round Lake in Aeneas Valley to be overflowing with
people fishing. We saw WILSON?S SNIPE, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, and
LESSER YELLOWLEGS. The campground gave us VARIED THRUSH.

Virginia Lilly Nature Trail Road was somewhat snowy higher up, but we
enjoyed the GRAY JAYS, Mountain Lion and grouse tracks, and singing
WARBLING VIREO.

The PINE SISKIN and BROWN CREEPER at Big Tree Trailhead were a treat,
but slushy packed-ice snow was impassable at Lost Lake and north on 34
(Myers Crk. Rd.)

Our first TOWNSEND?S SOLITAIRE appeared at the base of Bolster Rd., also
snowy, and we didn?t have to go far on Mary Ann Creek Road to find
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS fighting over territory.

Toroda Creek Road added CLIFF SWALLOW to the list. We had dinner at
Wauconda with live country music.

We birded Cameron Lake Road on Sunday, April 27. The weather, sunny and
warm (Tonasket 75?) while we were in the highlands, was now slightly
cooler with mostly cloudy skies. In other words, perfect. Our journey
down Highway 20 produced two TURKEY VULTURES off the cliffs on the edge
of Tonasket. A SAGE THRASHER was up, then flying just long enough for me
to feel convinced of it on US 97. We had CALIFORNIA QUAIL and WESTERN
KINGBIRD in Okanogan.

We?d ascended about a mile on Cameron Lk. Rd. when Alan spotted a flock
of about 60 SANDHILL CRANES undulating and circling as they made they?re
wonderful flight toward us. Two FORSTER?S TERNS followed a bit in the
rear and then broke off for their own destination. Balsamroot was
blooming everywhere with shooting stars and a host of blooms I?ve not
yet come to know. We had an excellent look at a quiet ORANGE-CROWNED
WARBLER. On top, HORNED LARK were about, and we drank in a look at
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, which we?d not seen since a trip to the Midwest. A
marshy pond surprised us with a HERMIT THRUSH showing us unmistakable
dark spotted breast and rufous tail. Soon after, a PRAIRIE FALCON zoomed
past.

No snow was visible as we past Greenaway Road. Duley Lake gave us our
first EARED GREBE, RING-BILLED GULL, and GREATER SCAUP. A gorgeous
CINNAMON TEAL couple held court at a nearby pond. BREWER?S SPARROW and
SAGE THRASHER inhabited the big sage.

Timentwa Road produced PIED-BILLED GREBE and a brief look at our first
CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD.

We couldn?t resist at least turning in a short way on Cameron Loop Road
and it was a fortunate decision. AMERICAN AVOCET, NORTHERN PINTAIL, and
LEAST SANDPIPERS all made it so worth our while.

An aspen grove just after the main road descended from Cook Lake gave us
WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER, CASSIN?S FINCH, a fabulous look at Calliope
hummer, and sighting-less sounds of RUFFED GROUSE, CEDAR WAXWING,
CASSIN?S VIREO, and WESTERN WOOD-PEEWEE.

A short glimpse into Moses Coulee on the way home added GOLDEN EAGLE,
CHUKAR, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, and the song of COMMON YELLOWTHROAT.

Patricia S. Lott
Seattle, WA
mail to: VariedThrush at comcast.net