Happy New Year and Best Wishes for birding list!

Bill Bradford and Lora Minty (Portland, Oregon) just returned from a great, 3.5 day trip to the Okanogan and Waterville Plateau. Couldn't ask for better weather in terms of sunny skies but it was extremely cold with single digits on several occasions. This may have suppressed some bird activity but we were very pleased with our results and number of birds seen. We had quality looks at all of the birds so that made it special.

Overall birding was productive. Noticeably absent were redpolls, Evening Grosbeaks, Pine Siskins, and crossbills of either species. Winter is just starting and with more birder coverage in the next several weeks, I am optimistic that those species may be found.

Always a treat to bird in the Magical Okanogan. It's tough not to have a fun time even if you dipped on a few target species. Scenery, sunrise and sunsets are so vibrant and amazing.

HIGHLIGHTS from Trip: A cooperative adult Goshawk allowing prolong looks in glorious light, 200 Bohemian Waxwings feeding and buzzing with a few feet of us, and hundreds of snow buntings swirling and feeding in snowy field close-up. Brightly colored pine grosbeaks males glowing against the blue skies and sunny light.

More VIDEOS to come as time permits.


********************************LIST OF SPECIES**********************************


CLARKE"S GREBE: One bird near Chief Joseph Dam near Murphy Rd (Douglas County)

Sharp Shinned, Cooper's Hawk: Several birds on the Okanogan Highlands and Waterville Plateau.

NORTHERN GOSHAWK: (2 birds total): One gorgeous adult near Sun Lodge in Winthrop. Perched for 20 minutes in good light. Immature on Cameron Lake Rd.

Rough legged Hawk: (Less than 12 birds) Mostly on Waterville Plateau and a few on Okanogan Highlands.

Golden Eagle: (6 birds total) 1 on Bolster Rd, 3 Havillah, 2 birds on Hwy2 near town of Douglas.

Merlin: (2 birds total) One pursuing songbirds near town of Okanogan and perched in Mansfield.

GYRFALCON: One gray morph along Cameron Lake Rd.

Prairie Falcon: One bird near Hwy 97 near Selah Exit

Gray Patridge: (62 birds total): 28 on Mary Ann Creek Rd, 13 near town of Withow, 12 on Davies,7 on Cameron Lake Rd, 2 along H NE.

Ruffed Grouse: (7 birds total): 5 along Mary Ann Creek Rd, 1 Bolster, and one Davies

SHARP TAILED GROUSE: (30 birds total) 22 birds along summit of Brideport Rd, 6 on Happy Hill Rd, and two along lower end of Bridgeport Rd. Neat vocalization.

SNOWY OWL: 1 cooperative bird on G NE.

NORTHERN PYGMY OWL: (7 birds total): 3 birds in 20 minutes on Bolster Rd, 1 Havillah, 1 Sun Lodge, 1 Buzzard Lake Rd, and one near Limebelt Rd near Conconully.

NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL: (2 birds total) At Bridgeport State Park. Cripping views of one bird perched in open.

Great Horned OWL: (Up to 6 birds total): Okanogan Highlands and Conconully with Sharp tailed Grouse feeding close by.

RED BREASTED SAPSUCKER: A brightly colored male feeding on Crabapples on Nealey Rd. A rare, winter and code 5 bird for Okanogan Co.

Pileated Woodpecker: One up high in Mary Ann Creek Rd

Northern Shrike: (About 30 birds total) on the Okanogan Highlands, Waterville Plateau, and Hwy 97.

Townsend's Solitaire: One aggressive bird chasing a flock of 200 Bohemian Waxwings near Riverside.

HERMIT THRUSH: One bird along Riverside Cut-off Rd.

BOHEMIAN WAXWING: (About plus 400 birds total in several flocks) 200 near Riverside feeding, 70 near Tonasket along Hwy 97, 60 at Bridgeport State Park, 80 birds along Crumbacher Rd, 20 near town of Bridgeport.

AMERICAN TREE SPARROW: (4 birds total) 2 birds along Cameron Lake Rd and 2 near Havillah Rd

SNOW BUNTINGS: (About a 1000 birds total): Some in large flocks and allowed prolong close up views: 600 near Cameron Lake Rd, 350 near Nealey Rd, about 50 birds on Waterville Plateau near G NE. A few close to breeding plumage.

GRAY CROWNED ROSYFINCHES: (About 20 birds total): Staked out feeders were empty but found several small groups along Nealey Rd and Mary Ann Creek Rd.

PINE GROSBEAKS: (Up to 25 birds total): Vociferous flock, feeding 5 feet from us along Mary Ann Creek Rd. About 10 males in the bunch anda few russet forms. Easily one of our favorite birds of the trip!

Good birding,

Khanh Tran
www.ktbirding.com