Hi Ho Tweets

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

Our third day again started out clear and hot. We knew we were in for a hot day. We started out at the motel in Omak with HOUSE SPARROW, ROCK PIGEON, SAY'S PHOEBE and RING-BILLED GULL. As we made our way south along Hiway 97 we saw EASTERN and WESTERN KINGBIRDs, BARN and CLIFF SWALLOWs.



As we turned onto Cameron Lake Road we saw RED-TAILED HAWK, EASTERN KINGBIRD, SAY'S PHOEBE, MOURNING DOVE, CALIFORNIA QUAIL, KILLDEER, NORTHERN FLICKER, EUROPEAN STARLING, and WESTERN KINGBIRD. Part way up the road we stopped for sage birds and saw and heard LARK, BREWER'S and VESPER SPARROW, COMMON RAVEN, BREWER'S BLACKBIRD, BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, AMERICAN ROBIN, BULLOCK'S ORIOLE, SAGE THRASHER (at least three singing like crazy), LAZULI BUNTING, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD. At the big turn just as you enter the Ponderosa forest we stopped and picked up: CEDAR WAXWING, HAIRY WOODPECKER, RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD, WARBLING VIREO, AMERICAN KESTREL, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, HOUSE WREN, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD, WESTERN BLUEBIRD, PYGMY NUTHATCH, GRAY FLYCATCHER (a pair at a nest). A ways up the road at the ponds we saw AMERICAN COOT, PIED-BILLED GREBE. We turned onto Cameron Lake Loop Road and at the second pond we found PIED-BILLED GREBE, PILEATED WOODPECKER, RUDDY DUCK, STELLER'S JAY, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, AMERICAN COOT, REDHEAD, NORTHERN PINTAIL (with lots of young), GADWALL, SONG SPARROW and TREE SWALLOW. On the way back down Cameron Lake Road we got close looks at a TURKEY VULTURE and a perched SWAINSON'S HAWK. We saw 53 species between 6:20 and 8 a.m.



Along US 97 we saw OSPREY, WESTERN MEADOWLARK, and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH. At Cassimer Bar we saw WESTERN GREBE, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, CASPIAN TERN, GREAT BLUE HERON, BANK SWALLOW, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, MARSH WREN (heard), RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, WOOD DUCK, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, CALIFORNIA GULL, YELLOW WARBLER, CEDAR WAXWING, MOURNING DOVE, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, PIED-BILLED GREBE, CLIFF SWALLOW, BARN SWALLOW. Just at the southern boundary of Okanogan County we had 2 COMMON LOONs.



We stopped for lunch at Lake Chelan State Park, with rising temperatures, and had RED-TAILED HAWK overhead, CEDAR WAXWING, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW and AMERICAN ROBIN. Back on US 97 Alternate we saw OSPREY. At Swakane Canyon we had WHITE-THROATED SWIFT, VIOLET-GREEN and CLIFF SWALLOWs and COMMON MERGANSER out on the river.



A super trip with good people and lots of great birds. We saw 80 species for the day, and 126 for the three days.



Good birding,



Brian H. Bell

Woodinville WA

mail to bell asoc at iso media dot com