Hi all,

This Memorial Day Weekend, I had a wonderful trip spending time in the Okanogan
with some top notch souls and birders.? I joined forces
with Mark Houston, Lee Johnson, and Ron McCluskey for the first part
of my trip and then met with Tom Mansfield for the latter.

We birded a
bit in Ferry County but didn't see anything out-of-the ordinary except for the gorgeous breeding plumaged female on a nest.? We
couldn't ask
for better weather, chemistry and karma. As a result, the birding was FANTASTIC and we had a GREAT time!
I
finally got a good photo of a GREAT GRAY at night and decent photos of
BOBOLINKS.? Forgotten how cool the males are when they sing!!

http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/okanogan_june_2009&page=all

Sorry if there are grammatical errors in my writing.? I am a bit tuckered from all the driving:)

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS:
There were many but collectively and individually I saw almost 180
species including 6 species of Owls, 10 species of Woodpeckers, raked
in 11 species of Tyrant? Flycatchers, and a COUNTY FIRST RECORD for a WHIMBREL in Okanogan.

One of the real treat was hearing a wingclap sound from a displaying male SPRUCE GROUSE and one bubbling hen in response.? The male was strutting and displaying on a spruce tree and later, the female was seen in superb
light as she fed on some spruce needles.? Of course, watching several GREAT GRAYS hunt in the open fields was awesome!!

Others
good finds included a late BAIRD's SANDPIPER, a cooperative CLAY
COLORED SPARROW, and seeing six magnificent GREAT GRAY OWLS in the
Okanogan Highlands.? A record for me and the young haven't fledged yet!

My curse of seeing these spectacular owls in the Sno-Park was finally broken when a hunting bird landed 5 feet from me!?
Another bird was seen nearby and vocalized. It was a great night for Mr. Bowties!!? I
got to watch one bird hunting for 40 minutes before it was successful!.
Looks like a good year for these birds in the Highlands.


Other general notes included abundant numbers of EVENING GROSBEAKS
in almost every location.? It sounds like a good year for these
beautiful birds. Several first of the year birds such as Eastern Kingbirds, Gray Catbirds, and Empids were also conspicuous. However,? we dipped Veery and Red eyed Vireos (a bit early perhaps).
?

COMMON LOON: One gorgeous female on a nest near Swan Lake



RED NECKED GREBE: One bird on Molson Lake

BLUE WINGED TEAL: Several birds on Okanogan Highlands and Cameron Lake Rd.

GOLDEN EAGLE: Good looks of one adult on Toroda Creek Rd.



SWAINSON'S HAWK: Several different morphs birds on Havillah Rd, Ninemile and Chesaw Rd. One of the most cooperative hawks to photograph.

DUSKY GROUSE: Two hooting males on Mary Ann Creek Rd and Nealy Rd.


SPRUCE GROUSE: One breeding pair near Salmon Meadows Campground.? Wingclapping and displaying male in spruce tree.


RUFFED GROUSE: A few birds on Davies Rd and Sno-Park.


WHIMBREL: One bird near Sidney Lake along muddy edge.? County
first, well seen and heard.? Grainy but identifiable photograph on my
site. Not fun to sink in the stinky mud with swarms of bugs.


LONG BILLED CURLEW: Several on Soap Lake Rd near Monse, WA. One bird on Fancher Rd near Tonasket.


BAIRD'S SANDPIPER: One bird on first lake on Soap Lake Rd near Monse, WA..


BLACK NECKED?STILT: One pair on Cameron Lake Rd (south end).? Must be nesting very territory constantly calling and I saw the pair two weeks ago. A rare bird for Okanogan Co.


RED NECKED PHALAROPE: Several birds on Cameron Lake Rd and Soap
Lake Rd. One responded strongly to ipod on while attempting to get
photos.? The bird buzzed by Tom and I within ten feet!!


AMERICAN AVOCETS: Several birds on Cameron Lake Rd Loop and Cameron Lake Rd.


BONAPARTE'S GULL: 3 adult birds on Molson Lake


BLACK TERN: On Molson Lake and Beaver Lake.? Nice to see five resting birds on a dead branch.


FLAMMULATED OWL: One calling bird at Rock Creek Campground near Loup Loup Pass


GREAT HORNED OWL: One at entrance to Rock Creek Campground;


NORTHERN PYGMY OWL: One calling bird near upper elevations of Salmon Meadow.


NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL: Heard only on Bunch Rd in Wauconda.



GREAT GRAY OWL: Six birds total along Havillah Rd near Sno-Park, Nealy Rd, and
Hungry Hollow Rd. Surprising how these birds blend in with the boles of
the trees during the day when they are not hunting and perched higher up.


LONG EARED OWL: One hunting bird near Muskrat Lake on Havillah Rd.
?
COMMON POORWILL: Flushed one bird near Fish Lake and heard another in the hillside.


AMERICAN THREE TOE WOODPECKER: One pair near a burn along Hwy 20 en route to Republic.


BLACK BACKED WOODPECKER: Several birds near burn along Hwy 20


WHITE HEADED WOODPECKER: A pair near burn area along Hwy 20 en route to Republic


WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER: Several birds in Okanogan Highlands



SAGE THRASHER: Several birds near Cameron Lake Rd:

LEAST FLYCATCHER: One calling bird along cottonwoods or aspen grove near? Swainson Mill Rd not far from Sno-Park


GRAY FLYCATCHER: Several birds along Cameron Lake Rd and loop road.


CANYON WREN: One singing bird along Riverside Cutoff Rd near Conconully, WA.


BOREAL CHICKADEE: Three birds along upper elevations of Salmon Meadows


AMERICAN REDSTARTS:? Several birds on Bridge Creek Rd near Hwy 20 (Ferry Co.)and one adult male on Bolster Rd near Chesaw, WA)


NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH: One bird on Bolster Rd near Chesaw, WA.

YELLOW BREASTED CHAT: One bird bursting into song while flying.


GRASSHOPPER SPARROW: Several birds on Cameron Lake Rd and one near Dry Gulch Rd extension near Havillah.

LARK SPARROW: Several birds along Soap Lake Rd and Cameron Lake Rd.? One of my favorite sparrows and I got a good photo!


CLAY COLORED SPARROW: One bird along Nine Mile Rd. There are other
intermediate birds along with many Brewser but lower very buzzy song is
distinctive.? Photographed and seen well by all others.


BOBOLINK: Several males on Havillah Rd along the grassy, lush fields.? Forgotten how gorgeous they are!

You got to love this time of year and good birding to you,

Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon)

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