Subject: [Tweeters] A few photos from Okanogan and Douglas Counties
Date: Fri Jan 28 19:39:26 PST 2022
From: byers345 at comcast.net - byers345 at comcast.net

Hello Tweeters,

We spent 4 days last week and early this week trying to see
birds in Okanogan and Douglas Counties that we hadn't seen in a while. We
had some success, though we always dwell on the birds we missed! Our main
problem was the fog which has dogged all of us all over the state. When we
got high enough, we escaped it. And then the scenery was brilliant and
photography a pleasure. But otherwise, it was omnipresent and, for
photography, gave everything a blue cast.

Golden Eagles favored us with two observations. One was as
we were driving along Hwy. 97 toward Pateros-a juvenile eagle interacting
with Ravens. The other was at Field's Lake in the Okanogan highlands-an
adult eagle that we had been watching in a tree, took off and flew over our
heads. We did pretty well with our Gallinaceous birds, seeing Sharp-tailed
Grouse, Gray Partridge, Chukar, and quail. We found 2 Saw-Whet Owls, but
couldn't find any other owl, extending our losing streak in this category.
We located both Bohemian Waxwings and Pine Grosbeaks. The grosbeaks were
another bird we hadn't seen in many years. Overall the temperatures were
about 10 degrees colder than the forecasts had indicated. Good thing we had
our long johns and hand warmers!

On the Waterville plateau we missed every bird we had hoped
to see because the fog was particularly dense and kind of ominous. Better
luck next time, I guess. So I have put together a small collection of our
best bird pictures from this trip in case you haven't all been over to north
central Washington to try to see them yourselves. As usual, most of the
photos are Bill's. A few of mine are tucked in here and there. I hope you
enjoy them.



https://www.flickr.com/photos/29258421 at N07/albums/72177720296288262



Happy birding, Charlotte Byers, Edmonds