Hi all,

Just returned from a great 3 day WOS trip to the Okanogan area and Waterville Plateau. Ruth and I led the trip and would like to thank everyone that joined us. We could not have found all the birds we did without the excellent eyes in the other cars. The weather was not too bad with only a little rain, but we all were wishing for snow. The lack of snow as reported by other trips is not concentrating birds in their usual spots. Despite that we encountered some great birds and some definitely some unexpected ones.

We had at total of 83 species in 3 days.

Here are the highlights:

Cackling Geese - 3 near Cassimer Bar on 2/14

Gray Partridge - small flock of birds at Withrow near the highway on 2/15

Ruffed Grouse - 5 birds in the Okanogan Highlands - on Havillah Road and Mary Ann Creek Road on 2/13

Eared Grebe - scattered on the Douglas county side of the Columbia River on 2/14

Bald Eagle - simply everywhere in the Okanogan valley and highlands on 2/13 (approximately 20 individuals)

Merlin - one bird in Bridgeport on 2/14 and another west of Mansfield on Division on 2/15

GYRFALCON - gray phase bird seen east of Mansfield a couple miles west of Heritage Road - sitting on a rock - on 2/15 (life bird for many including me!)

PEREGRINE FALCON - one speeding along River Cut-off road on 2/13 (not seen by the whole group)

Prairie Falcon - one in the middle of Mansfield on the high tower on 2/15

KILLDEER - 6 birds on some mud at the Bridgeport Bar on 2/14 and one more on the Okanogan River mud flats near the mouth on 2/14

WILSON'S SNIPE - 2 birds flushed in the small wetland behind Chief Joseph Dam on 2/14

Great Horned Owl - several seen with a pair on a nest near the Okanogan River mouth

Northern Pygmy-Owl - 4 birds total on 2/13, all near Chesaw

GREAT GRAY OWL - heard only on 2/13 by some of the group at the Highlands Sno-Park (thanks to Guy and group to helping us with this one!)

Short-Eared Owl - one bird flushed from the Heritage Road thicket on the Waterville Plateau on 2/15

Northern Saw-Whet Owl - continuing bird in Bridgeport State Park on 2/14 (see note at bottom regarding the park's status)

Belted Kingfisher - the Chesaw bird was seen by all on 2/13

LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE - one seen on Cameron Lake Road at the first wetland on top coming from the south end on 2/14

Horned Lark - seen just about everywhere with hundreds on the Waterville Plateau on 2/15

Ruby-crowned Kinglet - one in Central Ferry Canyon on 2/14

Towsend's Solitaire - one in Tonasket on 2/13

Bohemian Waxwing - at least 300 birds seen flying in out of the orchards by the Bridgeport Bar on 2/14 (a few Cedars were mixed in)

American Tree Sparrow - one bird near Scotch Creek Wildlife area on 2/13 and 3 birds along Heritage Road on 2/15

LAPLAND LONGSPUR - rattle calls heard in a couple different spots on the Waterville Plateau (Division Road and on C NE Road) - at least 20 birds with some great scope views of one in breeding plumage on 2/15

Gray-crowned Rosy Finch - 30 birds coming to a feeder at a house along Grange Road in the Okanogan Highlands on 2/13

COMMON REDPOLL - a small flock of 30 just south of Chesaw (amazing views of these birds!) on 2/13

Our big misses included Sharp-tailed Grouse, Snowy Owl, and Snow Bunting.

Bridgeport State Park - the construction crew was working on Sunday and we were allowed into the park because we had a big group. However, the guard at the gate walked us in and out due to liability issues with the construction. He asked us to let everyone know the park is CLOSED until further notice. No one will be allowed in until they are doing drilling wells for the new fish hatchery.

Thanks again everyone for a great trip!

Tim O'Brien
Cheney, WA
mailto: kertim7179 at yahoo dot com