Okay, maybe not for the year, which was the goal, although I did find my 200th life bird in the county yesterday!

I struck out on Barn Owl Sunday morning on a beautiful but slick and muddy drive at Horse Lake Preserve. Chukar and California Quail were the only birds I heard!

The entire Columbia produced no new birds, although I was given plenty of Common Loons and Eared Grebes to hunt through. Highlights included six Barrow's Goldeneyes at Powerhouse Park, and a Surf Scoter from across the road at Lake Chelan State Park.

I got all the way up to Wells Dam sitting at 196 for the year, and decided to follow what I thought was the best lead, Tronsen Ridge for Black-backed Woodpecker. My fingers were crossed, as the mud had been bad to the point of dangerous twice on the trip, but the drive up from Blewett Pass on 9716 and 9712 was all in all quite passable. The trailhead I took was the Tronsen Creek Trail, which immediately leads into Chelan. Got a woodpecker immediately - a Hairy- then walked a little farther playing a round of Black-backed Woodpecker from my phone. Completely unnecessary as I turned it off and heard the drumming above me and saw that gorgeous black back.

This was 197 for the year and 200 for my life list, which may count as satisfying enough in the end! I usually don't make December trips, as the holidays have other very important demands. That said... Brown Creeper, Bohemian Waxwing and Red-Breasted Sapsucker may become an easy enough trio of birds to inspire a quick run over!

I'm like... Four blog entries behind and swamped with school work, but will get pics and stories up soon! Thanks to all of the birders from Chelan that helped along the way: Deb Sutherland, Ken Hemberry, Ginny Palumbo, Mary Willard Gallagher, Dan Stephens, Janet Millard and Sue Ballinger. One of the most gratifying parts of the whole process is getting to spend time with local birders and get a better understanding of the places and the birds.

Happy birding!

Tim Brennan
Renton

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