Hi Tweets,
Long overdue, I wanted to post a (long-winded) report of my trip to the Okanogan area the weekend of 7/13-7/15 to see the Painted Bunting.
It ended up being a longer drive over than I expected. Arriving in Wenatchee after Friday evening traffic out of Seattle, I was surprised to see my GPS telling me I still had over two hours to go! But it was a relaxing drive through beautiful territory. And shockingly warm after the extended winter temperatures we'd been having in Seattle. I especially enjoyed the perfume of sagebrush in the evening air of dusk, a beautifully painted sunset, and COMMON NIGHTHAWKS swooping and swooning in choreographed style over the roadway as I drove into Omak.
I got up early Saturday morning, loaded the dog in the car, and made my way to Tonasket and then to Havillah Road and Siwash Creek Road. It can be hard to get to a specific place to see a specific bird by a specific time when you're like most of us, easily distracted by other birds along the way. So I didn't make it to the Painted Bunting sighting area until about 8:15. There were several other groups of birders already there when I arrived, and we all enjoyed a few views of the PAINTED BUNTING. I wasn't able to get any great photographs, but here are shots taken from waaaaaay far away that at least prove I was there. http://www.flickr.com/photos/18600129 at N05/7587369898/in/set-72157630613072746http://www.flickr.com/photos/18600129 at N05/7587369898/in/set-72157630613072746/
With my dog in the car, it was too hot to stay too long with the Buntings (Painted and Lazuli), so I continued up Havillah Road. A few Tweeters folks had generously emailed me with suggestions for where to drive, so I was checking out the Snow Park area when Josh Adams happened by and told me about the SNOWY OWL. I left the Snow Park and went back to Havillah Road, where I encountered a couple of other birders (Tom and Kevin, I think?) and we enjoyed view of the Snowy together. Thanks to Tom for letting me use your lens for a few closer images! Sadly, this Snowy Owl did not survive. I had a request to post my images of the Owl here on Tweeters anyway, so you can see them here if you wish:http://www.flickr.com/photos/18600129 at N05/7587372862/in/set-72157630613072746/
After leaving the Snowy, I went back to the Snow Park area, which was very quiet so I didn't stay long. I then continued on Havillah Road, photographing EASTERN and WESTERN KINGBIRDS, MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS, BARN SWALLOW, some very photogenic horses (http://www.flickr.com/photos/18600129 at N05/7588204790/in/set-72157630613072746/), and other ranch scenery. Without any printed maps and no GPS signal, I ended up getting turned around and a little lost after turning on a few side roads (I got a little too into the birding and forgot to pay good attention to direction).
After getting myself turned back around, I encountered an active MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD NESTING BOX on Havillah Road, so I spent about 45 minutes at that location. It was fun to watch the FEMALE going back and forth every few minutes to bring beakfuls of different bugs to the nest. I couldn't get sharp images of her other than on the nesting box, but I've posted some to Flickr anyway because it's clear she has a different kind of bug in her beak each time she returned to the nest. She had a very specific routine of tree, tree branch, barbed wire, nest that she followed each time she came in for a feeding. Her industriousness and success at catching food and bringing it to the nest was truly admirable! The male hung out nearby, grooming himself. I think only one other vehicle passed the entire time I was there so it was very tranquil. http://www.flickr.com/photos/18600129 at N05/7594975350/in/set-72157630613072746/
I encountered numerous hawks, mostly RED-TAILED HAWKS, in the air and on fence posts as I drove. I'd appreciate ID help on this particular image, as I'm curious as to whether it's a Red-tailed or a Swainson's Dark Morph or something else? http://www.flickr.com/photos/18600129 at N05/7588212180/in/set-72157630613072746
After staying up late Saturday in my hotel room looking over Saturday's photographs, I allowed myself a sleep-in on Sunday before heading back out into the heat. Then I followed the suggestion from another Tweeter (thanks, Ron!) and went to Cameron Lakes Road. This is a great birding location and another very quiet road, allowing for slow driving and pullouts. I had the windows down and was hearing phantom LAZULI BUNTINGS every few feet, so I pulled over for a long while to stalk this bird - though I think the bird was stalking ME, flitting from place to place and taunting me with its call. I finally was successful in getting a few images (from far away), which was a thrilling first for me. http://www.flickr.com/photos/18600129 at N05/7588540870/in/set-72157630613072746/
I continued to the top of the hill and encountered the first of several lakes. At the first lake on the RIGHT, I spotted a MARMOT (or maybe a Beaver) watching me. Within five minutes of exiting my car, as I was trying to get my bearings on all the many species of birds that were flitting around, I suddenly was startled by a pair of WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS in the small stand of trees to the left of the lake. One Woodpecker actually landed on the branch of a bush hanging out over the lake, but because I was so surprised, I was slow to raise my camera to get a good shot (I have a blurry shot of the woodpecker flying out of the frame).
I stayed in the area for quite a while, watching and photographing YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS with disgusting large bugs in their beaks, CEDAR WAXWINGS, a WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, an adult AMERICAN GOLDFINCH tending to a JUVENILE GOLDFINCH, and the WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS again. There was also an adult PIED-BILLED GREBE with a couple of JUVENILES. The juveniles had a shocking riot of color and markings on their faces! http://www.flickr.com/photos/18600129 at N05/7588616056/in/set-72157630613072746
It was time to head home toward Seattle long before I was ready to go. I stopped at Osprey Road outside of Tonasket on my way out of town for a few minutes of watching and photographing an active OSPREY NEST. While I was there, the sky opened up in a drenching downpour, followed by lightning and thunder in the distance. I drove home through the most incredible thunderstorm. The road was quickly flooded in places, raindrops were leaving fist-sized splatters on my windshield, I went through several patches of hail, and I ended up watching a whole lot of firefighting vehicles eventually going the other direction.
It was a really nice birding trip overall and I definitely want to return to the area. Much thanks to all the kind folks I met in person or through email who shared their love of birding and their tips with me!
Cheers,Christy JobeKenmorechristyrj at hotmail