Ryan Abe, Randy Hill and I did some scouting for my upcoming Okanogan/Douglas Co WOS trip in January the last 3-4 days. We generally saw few birds away from the rivers. We missed many species we normally get. There were no redpolls, crossbills, Pine Grosbeak or rosy-finches and we also struck out on all the more uncommon owls and raptors. The biggest disappointment was the Okanogan Highlands. It is however a great year for American Tree Sparrow and Bohemian Waxwing.


12/26: Drive from Portland to Omak via Grand Coulee


1 Northern Pygmy-Owl near Satus Pass

4 American Tree Sparrows at Steamboat Rock SP, also an owl candidate but we didn't get on the bird when it flushed

1 Porcupine at Steamboat Rock SP

25 Bohemian Waxwings, 1 Prairie Falcon, 4 Barrow's Goldeneye in Electric City


12/27: Scotch Creek WA, Conconully, Washburn Island, Bridgeport SP, Bridgeport town, 173 pullouts


~40 Sharp-tailed Grouse at Scotch Creek WA

2 Golden Eagles along Conconully Rd

Pygmy Nuthatch, Clark's Nutcracker in Conconully, but nothing else even though there is a lot of fruit

Red-breasted Sapsucker in Conconully near feeder at 48.553086, -119.756553

600 Bohemian Waxwings at the "Weigh Station" near Cassimer Bar

Swamp Sparrow (48.093740, -119.677751), 200 Bohemians at Washburn Island

1 Sawwhet-Owl, 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler, 4 Ruby-crowned Kinglets at Bridgeport SP

Merlin, White-throated Sparrow and Slate-colored Junco in Bridgeport

No Long-tailed Ducks off 173


12/28: Okanogan Highlands


Bohemian Waxwing (30 at Nealey Rd feeders, 30 at Chesaw Cemetery)

American Tree Sparrow (2 in Chesaw)

Gray Partridge (7 along Havillah Rd just uphill from Havillah)

2 Northern Pygmy-Owls (Bolster Rd, Mary Ann Ck Rd)

1 Golden Eagle (Davies Rd)


12/29: Waterville Plateau


Tried again for Long-tailed Duck off 173, but dipped

5 American Tree Sparrow at Foster Creek

4 Snow Buntings, 1 Lapland Longspur at Rd H

Also dipped on the Blue Jay in Mansfield

9 American Tree Sparrow at Lamoine Woods

1 Prairie Falcon near Lamoine


Stefan Schlick

Hillsboro, OR