Hi Ho Tweets

Here is the second part of our EAS three day trip to the Methow-Okanogan.

In the first part of our trip I meant to say that the AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER nest is near the Forest Service restrooms. It is above the parking lot on the north side of the restrooms and near two picnic tables. I also neglected to mention that we heard a VEERY and saw CALIFORNIA QUAIL on the way into Campbell Lake. We wound up the first day with 83 species.



We started our second day with the promise of much warmer conditions. Outside our motel in Winthrop we had VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, BREWER'S BLACKBIRD, RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, and EASTERN KINGBIRD. We pulled into the fishing access at the bigger of the Twin Lakes with nice looks at NORTHERN FLICKER, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, CANADA GOOSE, MALLARD, COMMON GOLDENEYE, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, EASTERN KINGBIRD, and CEDAR WAXWING.



We then immediately went up to Sun Mountain Lodge in a quest for Dusky Grouse. On the way up we found VESPER SPARROW, SPOTTED TOWHEE, and AMERICAN ROBIN. Within a minute of getting out of the cars we had a rather bedraggled, wet male DUSKY GROUSE cross the entrance drive to the Lodge in front of us. I have made several trips to the Lodge but had always missed the grouse before. We then had a CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD working over some purple flowers. We walked around the grounds to see what else might be there and saw BARN SWALLOW, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, STELLER'S JAY, RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, BULLOCK'S ORIOLE, HOUSE WREN, CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD, BREWER'S BLACKBIRD, and CEDAR WAXWINGs building a nest.



As we were watching the Waxwings we saw three female DUSKY GROUSE and a chick. These birds proceeded to work their way up toward us getting quite close. We then noticed a full breeding plumage male Grouse coming toward us. He had his air sacs fully inflated, his tail was spread wide and he was strutting trying to attract the attention of the females (who were not interested). The males attention was fully focused and he paid us no attention. He finally wound up about 10 feet away giving quite the performance, including deep whoops. We watched this for at least 15 minutes, taking lots of pictures (I will need to find a way to get some available). An unbelievable experience!



We then made our way down to the Beaver Pond. The OSPREY were on the nest, PINE SISKIN argued with each other, several WESTERN WOOD-PEWEEs were along the trail, a CASSIN'S FINCH flew thru, and we also saw AMERICAN ROBIN, WOOD DUCK, RING-NECKED DUCK, NORTHERN HARRIER, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, YELLOW and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERs, BLACK-HEADED and EVENING GROSBEAKs, WESTERN TANAGER, COMMON GOLDENEYE, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, VAUX'S SWIFT, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD chick, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERs were visiting their nest tree right along the trail.



At Patterson Lake we found BELTED KINGFISHER, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, AMERICAN ROBIN, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, BULLOCK'S ORIOLE, HOUSE WREN, MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD, WESTERN MEADOWLARK, WESTERN BLUEBIRD, TREE SWALLOW. On the way down from the lake we picked up RED-TAILED HAWK, and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH.



Going into Winthrop we saw AMERICAN CROW, 5 flying and 19 perched TURKEY VULTURES.



We drove over Loup Loup Pass and on down to N. Cook Mountain Rd. We searched for the Black-backed Woodpecker that had been seen at the burn, but could not locate it. We did see COMMON RAVEN, TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, CHIPPING SPARROW, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH (with nest).



Back up to Loup Loup Pass and into the campground. We saw DARK-EYED JUNCO, RED CROSSBILLs, WESTERN TANAGER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, HAIRY WOODPECKER, NORTHERN FLICKER, GRAY JAY, WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER, LAZULI BUNTING, WARBLING VIREO, TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, PILEATED WOODPECKER, and heard MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER.



After lunch we drove FR42 north toward Conconully. Along this most interesting drive we saw RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, DOWNY WOODPECKER, PINE SISKIN, an unidentified Empidonax flycatcher (too quick a view to make even an uncertain judgement), EVENING GROSBEAK, BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD, NORTHERN FLICKER, AMERICAN ROBIN, NASHVILLE WARBLER, and OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER.



In Conconully SP we saw VIOLET-GREEN and BARN SWALLOWs, (a possible BANK SWALLOW), KILLDEER, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, CEDAR WAXWING, TREE SWALLOW, BALD EAGLE, and RED-TAILED HAWK.



On the way back to Omak we saw EASTERN KINGBIRD and AMERICAN KESTREL. In Omak we added HOUSE SPARROW, ROCK PIGEON, RING-BILLED GULL, and COMMON NIGHTHAWK. Since we spent most of the day at higher elevations with the temperature never above 79 it was always comfortable. The 95 degrees down in Omak was something we were glad we had missed. It was a great day, particularly with the show that the Dusky Grouse put on for us. We finished with 84 species.



Good birding,



Brian H. Bell

Woodinville WA

mail to bell asoc at iso media dot com