Subject: [Tweeters] Four days in the Okanogan and Ferry Counties (mostly)
Date: Jun 14 10:15:55 2009
From: Byers - byers345 at comcast.net


Hi, Tweeters,

Husband Bill and I spent June 10 through 13 birding in eastern
Washington, mostly in Okanogan and Ferry counties. Overall we saw 126
species, among which I'll report our most memorable here. We crossed the
mountains on the North Cascades Highway. Since the overlook at Washington
Pass is still snowed in, we ate lunch at Lone Fir CG, 1000 feet or so below
the pass. The usual birds were there, but fairly close over the treetops
was also a flock of Black Swifts, up to 20 at a time. What a treat! Later,
as we pressed on toward our day's destination at Omak, we stopped at Loup
Loup CG. Here we failed to find the Williamson's Sapsucker that we have
located many times in the past. But while we were looking around, and this
was about 3 pm, a Barred Owl whooshed over our heads and landed in a tree
about 25 feet in front of us. It sat, apparently very relaxed, looking at
us and everything else. Bill had time to take lots of photos, then it made
a few noises and flew off. I have seen Barred Owl at Loup Loup before, but
not for many years. Another treat!

Next day we were up early to eat breakfast and watch the sun
rise over Tunk Canyon just north of Omak. At that hour there was
practically no human noise, just many bird songs. On the Tonasket-Havillah
road, just where Siwash Creek Road comes in from the south, we located
Bobolinks where we have seen them several times before. Somewhat later we
arrived at Molson Lake. Here as at all the lakes and ponds in the area, the
water level was significantly lower than in previous years. The reed bed
where the Black Terns usually nest was dried up, so we found no terns there
at all. Notable, however, was the variety of dabbling ducks and other
waterfowl. We found Barrow's Goldeneye, Widgeon, Redhead, Canvasback,
Scaup, Ruddy Duck, Gadwall, and Bufflehead. There were also Coots, Wilson's
Phalarope, Red-necked Grebe, Common Loon, Spotted Sandpiper, and Killdeer.
We decided to try some of the other lakes in the area to see where the Black
Terns had gone. Not far away is Fields Lake. It was also low, but also
full of many waterfowl. Here we did find five or six pairs of Black Tern as
well as all three teal, practically side-by-side, and Ring-necked Duck. Add
in all the other birds such as blackbirds, flycatchers, sparrows, etc. that
you would find around a lake and it was a really busy place!

Later in the day we arrived at Conconully State Park. Although we found few
waterfowl except many Canada Geese, we did enjoy watching White-breasted
Nuthatches, Red-naped Sapsuckers and Red-breasted Nuthatches all feeding
young in holes in adjacent Willow trees there. Additional birds were
Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak and Calliope Hummingbird. I will add
to everyone else's observation that everywhere we went in Okanogan County we
heard and saw many Evening Grosbeaks.

On Friday we drove from Republic down the Sanpoil River and then
across Silver Creek Pass, up to Inchelium, across Roosevelt Lake on the
ferry and up to Colville. Although the drive was very interesting, here too
I suspect that lack of water in the river may have contributed to our
failure to find some of our target birds (I have to blame something!). We
stopped and listened and looked many places, but failed to find either
American Redstart or Northern Waterthrush. We did hear many Veerys and see
many Catbirds. I was also pleased to be absolutely certain that I had
identified a Dusky Flycatcher.

Yesterday was basically a driving-back-home day. On Hwy. 395
southeast of Colville, we located a very cooperative Golden Eagle sitting on
a fence post not far from the road. It had three apparently unconcerned
Brewer's Blackbirds perched around its feet. We detoured slightly to drive
down along Banks Lake. In the canyon leading down to Grand Coulee, we found
two very vocal Yellow-breasted Chats. Later we detoured up Moses Coulee to
Jameson Lake where we had very satisfying looks at Lark Sparrows and Prairie
Falcons.

At Blewett Pass it started to rain and at Cle Elum we were
engulfed in one of the worst thunder-lightning-rain and hail storms that
I've encountered since birding along the Rio Grande a few years back. Most
cars on I-90 pulled off the road, then turned on their hazard lights and
crept forward at very reduced speeds. After two miles we were out of the
worst of it, but now I'm worried about all the baby birds there that may not
have fared well in such awful weather.

Happy birding trails, Charlotte Byers, Seattle