Your comment on Rough-legged Hawk numbers made me recall the trip I took to
the Okanogan/Waterville Plateau in early January with Marv Breece, John
Tubbs and Evan Houston. Over the course of three days this year we saw
perhaps 5 or 6 Rough-legged Hawks. During our trip in late 2007 where we
covered the same basic route over two days we must have seen.just guessing
without my notes.25-30 Rough-legged Hawks. We certainly noticed the
differences in numbers.



Perhaps the food sources are better elsewhere? I'm guessing these types of
fluctuations aren't particularly unusual but would be interested in hearing
from old-timers to confirm/refute.



Mason Flint

Bellevue, WA



From: tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Steve Pink
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 7:38 AM
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: [Tweeters] Okanogan Trip



Hi,

We had a great day in the Okanogan yesterday. Started off in Conconully
area - where we had two Sharp-tailed Grouse at the Happy Hill area plus 3 Am
Tree Sparrows and a Northern Shrike. On the road into town we had Red
Crossbills and Pygmy Nuthatches. Clarke's Nutcrackers were all over the
town.

On the road from Tonasket to Havillah we had a superb Golden Eagle perched
long enough to get some reasonable photos. Only a few Rough-legged Hawks
all day - which seems low to me. On Nealy Road we had two flocks of
Grey-crowned Rosy-finches - mostly Hepburns but a few of the interior race.
Just outside Chesaw - the highlight of the day - a flock of 30 Pine
Grosbeaks - in all shades of plumages. There were a few few red males. On
Mary Anne Creek we a small flock of Redpolls.

Previously on Sunday - Meredith Spencer kindly showed us the tree where a
Saw-whet owl was in Bridgeport SP. At Bridgeport Bar we had the Harris'
Sparrow. On Waterville Plateau we had several large flocks of horned Lark
and a flock of c150 Snow Buntings (Sims Corner- Highways 17/172).

On the way home we will take another look for the Snowy Owl which we missed
on Sunday.

On a different subject - we stayed in inexpensive motels but to our surprise
they both had free Internet Wifi.

Cheers and Good Birding

Steve Pink Edmonds, WA mailto: pirangas at hotmail.com





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