Hi All,
My wife, my son, and I enjoyed birding the Okanogan County area on Friday
and Saturday. Photography was a real challenge, with gray skies, fog, and
constant snow on Saturday.Some of the Highlights included:

Friday 12/28- At Bridgeport State Park We had a Juvenile NORTHERN GOSHAWK
in the trees and we were able to find a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL roosting at
eye level in the evergreens.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikecharest/8328021028/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikecharest/8328042702/in/photostream

A drive through Cameron Lake Road yielded a nice variety of birds and two
groups of GRAY PARTRIDGE. One of 7 and one of 29.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikecharest/8328031002/in/photostream

At dusk we drove a ways up Havillah Road and found 4 GREAT-HORNED OWLS and
one BARN OWL.

Saturday 12/29- At the junction of Concully Road and Happy Hill Road we
found one SHARP-TAILED GROUSE high in a treetop.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikecharest/8328028100/in/photostream

In the highlands we came across another 19 GRAY PARTRIDGE on Havillah
road. 35 COMMON REDPOLL and 48 GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH were feeding on
Hungry Hollow Road.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikecharest/8326965405/in/photostream

Chesaw was not too birdy, but on Mary Ann Creek road we saw our second
NORTHERN GOSHAWK of the trip as well as a flock of 38 PINE GROSBEAKS on
the wires. My inexperience had me believing that these were white-winged
crossbills, but I came to my senses after getting better looks and
thinking a little. We all enjoyed driving around in the snow and seeing
the birds.

Have a great day,

Michael Charest
Tacoma, Washington
mcharest at wamail.net