With unseasonably warm temperatures for most of the time, 12 participants and the leader crew of this winter's WOS trip to Okanogan and Douglas counties on January 15-17 found 66 species.

On Saturday, Jan 15, we headed up to the Okanogan Highlands and observed a flock of 50 some GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCHES at/near the newly discovered Grange Rd feeders, only a short distance from the more familiar Hungry Hollow Rd feeders. The birds were already on the move at around 9am. An ermine was also playing around at this new site. Flocks of PINE GROSBEAKS were seen both along Davies Rd (about 12) and Mary Ann Ck Rd (about 20). Mary Ann Ck Rd also held a large covey of about 25 GRAY PARTRIDGE, a somewhat unusual site for this species. Interestingly, this fast-moving flock was feeding out in the open. The Nealy Rd feeders and the traditional roost site a little further towards Havillah had more GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCHES. The "Alder Flycatcher riparian area" just short of where Havillah Rd tees into Chesaw Rd yieded a single AMERICAN TREE SPARROW late in the day. We dipped on Great Gray Owl at the Highlands Sno-park at dusk, but had a total of 3 NORTHERN PYGMY-OWLS at different locations (Havillah Rd, Hungry Hollow Rd and Davies Rd).

Sunday morning we first dipped on SHARP-TAILED GROUSE at Scotch Creek WA while en route to Conconully, but when we returned a little while later, we had 2 birds perched up nicely near the intersection of Happy Hill Rd. Conconully was very slow, but 2 Varied Thrushes were noteworthy. We then proceeded up the south end of Cameron Lake Rd, where we had a hard time clinching the id of an immature Golden Eagle, but eventually did. The road conditions were awful, so we didn't make it further than just beyond the crest. Thanks to a tip from Mike and MerryLynn Denny we instantly found a NORTHERN SAWWHET-OWL at Bridgeport State Park. We then proceeded to the Bridgeport Bar at Grange & Moe, where we found 1-2 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS, but they were tough for the whole group to get on. After a long while of searching, at last in the fading light we found a large flock of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS (~300) at Lower Central Ferry Canyon where lots of the orchard trees still have fruit. A final stop to look for Long-tailed Duck along Hwy 173 just upsteam of Brewster didn't yield the target, but we had up to 10 Eared Grebes at that location (8 of which were in the same flock).

Monday was slow early. We briefly tried for the Clark's Grebe off Murphy Rd above Chief Joseph Dam in Bridgeport, but the fog was too thick and only lifted just after we had left. No Sharp-tailed Grouse were seen at the two spots along Bridgeport Hill Rd as we drove up to the Waterville Plateau. We searched hard for the SNOWY OWL, but didn't find it until about 2pm at Rd H & Rd 15. We all got good scope looks from long range, but as we decided to move closer, two ravens chased off the owl and it was not seen again. About 75 SNOW BUNTINGS were in/near the manure piles just north of Hwy 172 & Division Rd. A few lucky folks also caught glimpses of a single LAPLAND LONGSPUR at this site, and everyone got to see a Prairie Falcon perched up on a large boulder. A short unsuccessful stop at the Withrow grain terminal for partridge concluded the trip.

Interestingly, we had NO Clark's Nutcracker on this trip. Again, no redpolls were found anywhere.

Thanks to the great group for the sharp spotting!

Stefan Schlick, Hillsboro, OR
Michael Fleming, Ballard, WA