My plan was to have a look at the Williamson's Sapsuckers at Highland
Sno-Park. They had been reported around a week ago by Terry Little.



7:30 AM: Just out of Tonasket were 10-12 California Quail. On
Tonasket-Havillah Road were several calling Western Meadowlarks, as well as
multiple Mountain Bluebirds of both sexes. I noted an extremely dark
Red-tailed Hawk, as well as a pair of very light immature Rough-legged
Hawks.



8:00 AM: The Gray Jays dropped down to check me out as I arrived. I could
hear Williamson's Sapsucker in the distance, by the characteristic drumming
and the call. Eventually I found about 8 of these birds (a life bird!),
probably equal numbers of males and females, taking turns drumming, mostly
on the same dead tree. Both males and females drummed. The bellies of
these birds are a luminous lemon yellow. This, in combination with the
scarlet throat patch on the male, makes for a spectacular flash when the
male rotates his lower side in your direction. An ominous sideshow was the
pair of European Starlings sitting quietly watching the proceedings in the
neighboring tree. I suspect they are looking for the earliest opportunity
to evict a sapsucker pair and use the nest hole for their own breeding.



10:00 AM Along Grange Road, a female American Kestrel, more Mountain
Bluebirds, and a Clark's Nutcracker. The Nutcracker seemed out of place to
me, but I also photographed one later along the Chesaw Road. I circled
Mary Ann Creek Road, hoping for the Redpolls that had eluded me in two
previous trips, but I think I may have exceeded the expiration date on these
critters. I saw Barrow's Goldeneye, Canada Goose and American Wigeon, as
well as lots of Ruby-crowned Kinglet. On the way back to Tonasket, a male
American Kestrel and more Mountain Bluebirds and light Rough-Legged Hawks.



A quick trip, but the area was surprisingly birdy, based on my prior
experience.



Marvin S. Hoekstra

Sammamish, WA

marvin dot hoekstra at verizon dot net