Subject: [Tweeters] Whatcom Co. Prairie Falcon and other Harts Pass birds
Date: Oct 5 18:12:09 2009
From: Jim Flynn - merlinmania at comcast.net




Hi Tweets,



Marissa Benavente and I are doing a little birding this week from our base at a friend's place in Mazama. The first place we hit was Hart's Pass/Slate peak which we birded from around 11 to 5 today.



Highlights around the pass included:



3-4 Sharp-shinned Hawks

1 Cooper's Hawk (probable ID according to Marissa)

1 dark morph, adult Red-tailed Hawk

1 imm. Rough-legged Hawk

1 Prairie Falcon

1 Gray Jay

6 Mt. Bluebirds

20+ Pipits

1 possible Lapland Longspur heard



These were all in Whatcom County - in addition to more common fare like raven, junco and white-crowned sparrow. Not a bird was to be seen on the Okanogan side of things while we were there.



Overall things were a little slow but the Rougie and Prairie Falcon were very nice highlights. There is a dusting of snow around the pass and Slate Peak and trails into the Pasayten Wilderness had 1-2 inches of snow, although its patchy yet.



Closer to Mazama (near Lost River) we saw a Ruffed Grouse doing its best to survive hunting season despite its tiny cranial capacity.


good birding,


Jim Flynn
Seattle, WA