Hi all,

Sorry for the delay posting but here it is.... I combined a few back-to-back trips covering mostly Okanogan, Douglas, Kittitas, Lewis and Yakima Counties. Birding activity in terms of numbers seemed lower than previous spring trips but for the most part, we saw some fun target species.

There were some fun highlights despite working to find some of our target species. Both groups of out-of-state birders were blown away by magnificent GREAT GRAY OWLS. We had crippling looks at all three birds hunting and feeding. We did well and had excellent close-up looks at fancy chickens and woodpeckers. Evening grosbeaks and Cassin's finches were plentiful and eating grit along the gravel and dirt roads this past holiday weekend.

I will post videos as time permits. It finally feels like SUMMER!!!

*********Species of Interest*************

Clarke's Grebe-- Several birds at Pothole Reservoir on 6/5 and 7/4
Golden Eagle- adult near Riverside Cut-off Road on 6/4 and one pair along Hwy 12 near Naches on 7/1
NORTHERN GOSHAWK-Nealey Rd on 6/4
FERRUGINOUS HAWK-4 birds along Hwy 28 near Wilson Creek on 7/4
PRAIRIE FALCON-Conconully Scotch Creek Wildlife on 07/3
Chukar-12 birds along Riverside Cut-Road on 6/4 and 7/4
GRAY PATRIDGE-1 bird Havillah Rd in the middle of road on 6/5 Tougher in spring than winter to find.
Ruffed Grouse-Mary Ann Creek Rd on 6/5
GREATER SAGE GROUSE-near Withow, a hen crossing the main highway on 7/4
SHARP TAILED GROUSE- few birds along Byers Rd
Dusky Grouse-displaying males and several hens with chicks in Winthrop on 6/5 and 7/3
Sooty Grouse-3 birds along Mt Rainier, one displaying male in tree 7/1. Several displaying males on 6/26

Barn Owl-3 birds near Kittitas on 7/1
FLAMMULATED OWL-2 birds heard with one visual Rock Creek Campground along Hwy 20
Great Horned Owl- 8 birds in Havillah on 7/2
NORTHERN PYGMY OWL-1 Near Morton 6/26, one pair in Bethel Ridge 6/26
Burrowing Owl-7 birds in Othello on 7/4
GREAT GRAY OWL- 2 adult birds at two locations in Okanogan Highlands on 7/2 and 7/3. One devouring a rodent a few feet from us! Another hunting bird at dusk on 6/4.
Long Eared Owl-hunting bird near Sno-Park in Havillah 6/5
Short Eared Owl-2 birds along Mary Ann Creek Rd on 7/3
Common Poorwill--Rock Creek Campground and Havillah Rd 6/3
Common Nighthawk--Withow and Central Ferry Canyon Rd on 7/4

Lewis Woodpeckers-common along Naches area, Twisp, and Loomis area on both trips
WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER-several at Loup Loup and Okanogan Highlands with chicks 6/4 and 7/2
WHITE HEADED WOODPECKER-a few birds along Cameron Lake Rd and Bethel Ridge 6/4 and 7/1
AMERICAN 3-TOE WOODPECKER-Sno-park near Havillah 7/3
BLACK BACKED WOODPECKER-Sno Park near Havillah and Bethel Ridge Road 6/4 and 7/1
Gray Flycatcher-Several along Cameron Lake Rd 6/4 and 7/4
Loggerhead Shrike-several along Central Ferry Canyon Rd
Red eyed Vireo-near Winthrop
Townsends Solitaire-Mary Ann Creek Road on 7/3
AMERICAN REDSTART-several near Winthrop 6/4 and 7/3
Yellow breasted Chat-a pair along Central Ferry Canyon Rd near Brewster on 7/4

CLAY COLORED SPARROW-Nine Mile Rd and Sun Mt Lodge 6/3.
BLACK THROATED SPARROW-two birds at reported Vantage site on 7/4.
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW-a dozen birds strewn along Scotch Creek Wildlife, Okanogan Highlands, and Cameron Lake Rd 6/3 and 7/3
BOBOLINK-Fancher Rd and Havillah on 6/4
TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS-several birds near Wilson Creek on 6/5 and 7/4
PINE GROSBEAK-two birds near Washington Pass 6/4
Evening Grosbeaks-many along all counties this holiday weekend
Cassin's Finch-many along North Cascade Hwy and Liberty area 7/2
Red Crossbills-dozen birds Packwood Cemetery near Brewster, QA on 7/4

Good birding,

Khanh Tran (www.ktbirding.com)