Saturday I spent in the Okanogan highlands and today (Sunday) spent in the Waterville Plateau and Cameron Lake Rd. I won't go over things that I'm sure others will report in more detail but will cover some highlights.

Yesterday morning early I had a single SHARP-TAILED GROUSE perched on Mary Anne Creek Rd. Later in the morning a flock of about 75 SNOW BUNTINGS were seen on Nealy Rd. about a mile south from the rosy-finch spot. Despite my efforts, no luck on Common Redpolls or White-winged Crossbills yesterday, though know others had luck on redpolls. Near Beaver Lake on Toroda Creek Rd. I had 3 PINE GROSBEAK. NORTHERN PYGMY OWLS were in good supply with a total of 4 seen during the day in various spots.

The evening was capped off with looks at GREAT GRAY OWL in the dimming light at Highlands Sno-Park and then later while trying to call in Barred Owl, we had Great-gray respond to the Barred Owl calls, a first for me (and might I add a very puzzling first)...

This morning I started out on Cameron Lake Rd. In general quite slow, but at a usual white-headed woodpecker spot in the Ponderosa Pine zone I hit the jackpot! In one spot I had WHITE-BREASTED, PYGMY NUTHATCHES and 4 species of Woodpecker (WHITE-HEADED, HAIRY, DOWNY and FLICKER) all flying around me in response to owl toots.

The rest of the road was fairly slow, though did manage to pick up an immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 4 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS and most unusual was a male SAGE GROUSE flying in front of my car (at about 50 foot away) just as the road was beginning its decent down to US 97. I was not aware of this species being present here, maybe it is or maybe it was just a wanderer.

Upon reaching the intersection of US 97 and HWY 17 a large flock of BOHEMIAN WAXWING ~250-300 was perched in the poplar trees. The NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL was present at Bridgeport Hill St. Park. I spent the rest of the afternoon trying to track down snowy owl and Gyrfalcon on the Waterville Plateau to no success. A very interesting sighting however, was an adult LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE at the corner of Hwy. 172 and H NE that allowed distant but identifiable photos. An odd sighting of a wintering bird that far north!

Having struck out on Snowy Owl on the plateau, I acted upon a tip from Stan and Lori Isley that they had seen a Snowy Owl Friday night in the dark perched at the corner of Hwy. 17 and US 2 near Dry Falls. Knowing this must mean there was a snowy owl around here somewhere I took a gamble and started to explore the surrounding area. I found the SNOWY OWL resting on the nearest island to the WDFW boat launch in Banks Lake. This bird can be viewed fairly easily from the Dam. The bird was resting with its back to me, but appeared to probably be an adult female by plumage.

I did strike out on redpoll, white-winged crossbill and gyrfalcon for the weekend, but otherwise a great weekend interacting with great birds and great people!

Scott Downes
downess at charter.net
Yakima WA