Tweeters,



John Gatchet and I had a nice trip to NE WA last week
finding many of the winter speciality species sought. We focused much of our time exploring Pend
Oreille, Stevens and Ferry Counties. We
also enjoyed some of the best weather in the state, avoiding much of the winter
storm problems throughout the rest of the NW. There was snow coverage and it did snow
several inches, but we experienced what would be expected as normal Jan.
weather.



In addition to many expected species, some of our
highlights were as follows:



1/17 Stevens
Co., 8 Common Redpoll, two separate locations along Red Marble Rd., 29 Bohemian
Waxwing in Chewelah, 1 second winter Glaucous Gull at the mouth of the Colville
River and also observed flying across river into Ferry Co. (making an apparent first
record for that county?)



1/18 Pend
Oreille Co., 80 Common Redpoll visiting a feeder along the river in Cusick
including one possible Hoary that showed a white rump but very brief and insufficient
views did not allow for other field marks to be obtained. 25 Bohemian Waxwing just north of Cusick in a
tree on east side of road.



1/19 Ferry
Co., 67 Bohemian Waxwing in Barstow, 21 Western Bluebird and 1 Townsend?s
Solitaire at French Rock, 4 Common Redpoll in Inchelium, 7 Pine Grosbeak at
Sherman Pass and 1 Northern Pygmy Owl east of the pass.



1/20 Okanogan
Co., 48 Gray-crowned Rosy Finch and 5 American Tree Sparrow on Cameron Lake Rd. 7 Gray Partridge provided excellent looks
half buried in the snow along Dyer Hill Rd., northwest of Mansfield in Douglas
Co.



1/21 Chelan
Co., the Northern Hawk-Owl continues along Union Valley Loop Rd. north of
Chelan 3/10 of a mile past mile marker 6.
2 Golden Eagles just north of Lincoln Park along SR 97 in Douglas Co, Yellow-billed Loon continuing looking north from north side of Walla
Walla Pt. Park in Wenatchee and 1 Prairie Falcon just west of Vantage along I-90.



Michael Willison

Stanwood