Hi,

We had a quick trip through Waterville Plateau and a day visiting Okanogan Highlands last weekend. Highlights included Prairie Falcon on 172 while driving through the Plateau and many light adult Rough Legged hawks. We also had a small flock of Horned Larks.

On Saturday and Sunday we drove a lot to try to find birds. The winds were high and blustery and the birds were absent. We did manage to find a few highlights that made our day. A flock of about 500 Gray-crowned Rosy Finches on Mary Ann Creek Road and a smaller flock of about 50 on Nealey Road. A few Gray Partridge at Fancher Flats, a Ruffed Grouse on Cameron Lake Road (at dusk). Red crossbills in Conconully and a Northern Pygmy Owl on the road in (which flew into the rear passenger side door but did right itself and fly back up into the trees. We stopped to check on it and had great views but it was unnerving to say the least - probably more so for the tiny owl). Chukar at the junction of Conconully Road and Riverside Dr.

On Conconully Road before and opposite Scotch Creek overlook in water birches, a small flock of Sharp tailed Grouse feeding at the top of water birches.

The trip was exhausting but we managed 3 lifers for my visiting California friend.

Other highlights were a muskrat meandering down the center of Chesaw Road and a group of bighorn sheep on the railroad tracks as we drove out on 97. Never saw a muskrat out of water so very interesting - it was not happy as I approached it to gently coax it off the road and oncoming traffic.

Happy birding,
AKopitov

Seattle
AMK17