Hi Tweeters -

I want to thank Cary (?) for the information that was posted on the birds found on the Waterville Plateau from 2/18 ([Tweeters] E WA: waterville plateau and okanogan highlands).

After seeing a number of raptors that I would love to photograph in the posting, I visited the Waterville Plateau and Okanogan Highlands on Sunday and went back to the Plateau today (Monday).

On Sunday, I got a brief sighting of a GYRFALCON as the sun was setting off WA-172 near Mansfield, but was unable to get a picture. I decided to try again today and was rewarded with a photograph within the first 30 minutes of my visit to Mansfield.

The GYRFALCON was perched on a telephone pole near the intersection of WA-172 and Harper Road just east of Mansfield. I was very fortunate to have absolutely beautiful weather today and I'm very excited as this is my first Gyr sighting ever!

I was also able to photograph a PRARIRE FALCON, but it's too hard to identify given the distance between me and the bird. Aside from the two falcons, there were numerous ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS flying about, as well as a couple RED-TAILED HAWKS, a male NORTHERN HARRIER, and an AMERICAN KESTREL. (There were many other birds as well - this is just a summary of the raptors that I saw.)

Here is a link to the photograph of the GYRFALCON.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rparsons/5466538443/

Thanks again to Cary (?) for the information.

Raymond Parsons
Issaquah, WA
rayshome1 AT hotmail.com