Another beautiful day in the Okanogan Highlands. Great weather and great birds.

Driving by the roadkill dump - there was an adult and an immature Bald Eagle on the way north and 3 immatures on the way back.

Nealy Rd. still had many Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches with at least one inland form. A resident of the area told me that it got down to 15 degrees there last night.

Bolster Rd. had a flock of about 40 Common Redpolls that almost immediately flew away to the east. On my way back, I was looking at a Hairy Woodpecker when the flock flew back across in front of me. I was able to get some good photos including a couple very pale ones. They were foraging on the ground where the snow had melted and when spooked would fly across the road to the trees. That is where I got the photos. At least once they were spooked by a chickadee alarm call.

The field where they were foraging has a unique fence as seen here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31035468 at N03/3347956893/

Pale Redpolls here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31035468 at N03/3348808606/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31035468 at N03/3347973923/

See what you think. :')

I have only processed half of the photos I took up there Sunday, so the rest from today will have to wait. But, I wanted to get those to you in case you are headed that way.

Heading west on Mary Ann Creek Rd., I had a Rufous-sided Towhee. Then, just past where the road crosses the stream and the road is on the north side, a large bird flew up into the top of a tree by the creek - a Sharp-tailed Grouse. I drove far enough so I could get my tripod and camera out and get some photos. Two birds joined it and then they flew toward the east and four others joined them. A total of 7 Grouse seen.

This was the first time that I did not see any Pine Grosbeaks, but there was a Northern Pygmy Owl in the same area as the one I saw Sunday. Probably the same bird. I drove past it far enough to not spook it by getting out of the car. As I was getting my tripod set up, it flew across the road to the ground and stayed there. I was able to approach and get some good photos. Then, when it flew back to its original perch, it was carrying a vole.

Heading back east, I was watching for the grouse again when at the same spot a flock of Common Redpolls flew from the creek side across in front of me to the bank above. They were foraging on the ground. The flock seemed to be about the same size as the one on Bolster Rd. Probably not the same group, but possible.

All in all, some good birds.

Ron McCluskey
Cheney, WA
rmcclsky at mindspring dot com
http://birdsoftheworldonline.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31035468 at N03/