WATERVILLE PLATEAU AND OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS
9-11 DECEMBER 2011

Six intrepid birders set off to Washington's Okanogan Highlands this past
weekend: Ike and Josie Steve and Lois, and Ellen and I. We based at Eden
Valley Guest Ranch in the Okanogan Highlands, staying in their cozy and very
nice cabins. These are very convenient for birders, located right smack in
the midst of great Okanogan Highlands habitat. Robin, the proprietor, is
super nice, too, and appreciates birders. Our target birds were Great Gray
Owl, followed by winter finches and several "chickens."

9 December. We began birding by cruising the Waterville Plateau for a couple
hours. Our best find was a SNOWY OWL on SR-172 not far west of J. This was
an exciting start to our trip! Lack of snow probably resulted in the very
low numbers of Horned Larks and lack of Snow Buntings. Raptors, however,
were conspicuous: Northern Harrier (4), Red-tailed Hawk (5), Rough-legged
Hawk (6), and American Kestrel (3). Eurasian Collared-Doves fairly swarmed
(80) at the Mansfield grain elevators.

Our first try for Great Gray Owl was at Moses Meadow, reached by heading
east from Omak, then north on the Moses Meadow-Lyman Lake Road. We gave it a
good effort, closely scoping all the meadow edges. Birds of any description
eluded us, save a "heard" chickadee.


10 December. In the Okanogan Highlands, we began well before dawn trying for
the elusive Great Gray Owl, with no luck. Great Horned Owls, though seemed
easy to come by. We tried, too, for Sharp-tailed Grouse, but dipped,
probably because snow cover was too sparse. An American Tree Sparrow was
consolation, though, along Mary Ann Creek.

We were treated to a stunning panorama of the lunar eclipse. As dawn
approached, Ellen first noticed a partial dusky smudge on one shoulder of
the moon. This darkening gradually spread over the rest of the full moon.
See video of what we saw by going to: http://shadowandsubstance.com/.
Coyotes serenaded in the distance. Their yappings along with the beautiful
eclipse in the
crisp, cold dawn made for a magical start to the day.

We returned to the cabins at by mid-morning for breakfast and a warm-up, a
good idea as temps were in the teens.

The rest of the day we hit various sites in the highlands (Mary Ann Creek
Road, Sitzmark Ski Area, Hungry Hollow Road, Davies Road, and Fletcher Road.
We bumped into a nice flock of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS (80), plucking rose hips
and downing them whole. Other northern "specialties" included SNOW BUNTINGS
(30), a few COMMON REDPOLLS (5), and GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCHES (10).

Cruising the highland roads during the day, raptors were the most visible
birds:
Bald Eagle (3, near feedlot, early calving?), Northern Harrier (2),
Red-tailed Hawk (6), Rough-legged Hawk (12), Golden Eagle (3), and
Prairie Falcon (1). Northern Shrikes, too, were noted.

Dusk found us trying for the big gray fluffy again, this time on Pontiac
Ridge Road. Again, we had no luck. Towards dusk, I heard a mild-mannered
"chew" coming from the spruce, a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL! This and another
bird launched into full-fledged tooting after a bit of prompting.

Chickens such as Sharp-tailed Grouse, proved elusive except for Ruffed
Grouse and California Quail.

11 December. We started before first light along Mary Ann Creek, hoping for
a calling Gray Partridge. We again failed to hear any chickens but did
manage a moaning or two from a LONG-EARED OWL. Liking the "feel" of Pontiac
Ridge Road for Great Gray Owl, we returned for a fourth try at this elusive
species. Once again, we had no luck. We did hear Great Horned Owls at a
number of stops, though. Our best find of the morning was four WHITE-WINGED
CROSSBILLS in spruce at a meadow edge on this road. Beaver Lake had but a
tiny stretch of open water. Here, a lingering Virginia Rail might be
tempting fate. A Pacific Wren kipped, probably more likely to survive
winter's rigors in this cold and dark chasm. On Nealey Road we stopped to
view four PINE GROSBEAKS, apparently chowing down on rose hips.

By now, having cruised many of the Okanogan Highlands roads, it was obvious
a major insect epidemic is affecting Douglas-fir forests (and Western
Larch?) seemingly throughout the region. I suspect one culprit may be Spruce
Budworm. Lack of winter cold, summer heat and drought may be the reason. As
in the White Pass and Chinook Pass area, a couple of cooler and wetter-than
average summers seem like a good recipe to suppress this outbreak.

After another mid-morning break for breakfast and warm-up at Eden Valley we
hiked up the hill behind the cabins, hoping for a Dusky Grouse. The only
evidence of chickens was a set of Wild Turkey tracks. Species of the
Ponderosa Pine forests we noted included: Clark's Nutcracker, Mountain
Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, and our only Red Crossbills of the trip.

Homeward, we detoured from Omak on Cameron Lake Road. At its south end, we
hit pay dirt. First, a SNOWY OWL flew across the road, not far west of the
entrance to Abel Ranch, looking very much like a buteo in flight. Not long
afterwards, we spied a GYRFALCON, an immature bird, dark brown above, and
streaked below, perched atop a pole. We were excited! Later, we watched this
gyr rocket after a SHORT-EARED OWL. The two raptors flew high, engaging in a
brief aerial dogfight. Shortly, the owl fled the area.

Andy and Ellen Stepniewski
Wapato WA
steppie at nwinfo.net