***************TRIP REPORT FEB. 19-21ST IN NORTHCENTRAL WASHINGTON*****************

Mike Marsh and I had a fantastic trip to the Okanogan and Douglas Co. this weekend. Great weather, super birding, and meeting several fine individuals in the field made it all FUN.

It was definitely a pleasant surprise to end it with a successful trip despite a unseasonably, warm winter and slow birding early on.

It was hard to top this trip for the quality of birds seen. I missed the reported Gyrfalcon, Boreal Owl, and Hoary Redpolls.

As always, the Magical Okanogan always rewards those who go with an open mind. Let the beautiful country and birds take over and teach you what field guides and text don't. Explore and expect the unexpected--that's my motto.

There were too many highlights to list but finding three GREAT GRAY was quite unreal! Getting some clean shots of SHARP TAILED GROUSE was satifying. My favorites are the flocks of swirling SNOW BUNTINGS against the blue skies. These striking Escher snowbirds are so mesmerizing to watch fly.

Finally CROSSBILLS of both species after months of absence! Fewer numbers on Rough-leggeds and Northen Shrikes. Heard some Pine Siskins for the first time.

I got pulled over for speeding in Toppenish. I played innocent and batted my eyelashes at the cop and it somehow worked!! Playing the mellow Sarah McLachlan in my car help unlabel me as being some bad AXX!!

I am probably forgeting something after the long drive and having to be at the grind at 6 AM this morning. Hope to process some scant photos later on. Most are not of high quality but for documentation purposes.

****************LIST OF NOTABLE SPECIES************************

SANDHILL CRANE: Two dozen flock flying over Dudley Lake on Cameron Lake Rd.

NORTHERN GOSHAWK: Two birds. An immature in Mansfield Cemetery and seen hunting EC Doves in town. An adult bird on Bolster Rd.

PRAIRIE FALCON: Two birds: Downtown Mansfield and Cameron Lake Rd.

GOLDEN EAGLE: 3 Birds Waterville Plateau, Tonasket, and Hwy 20 East.

MERLIN: One bird in Waterville. Charming seems like the Paris of Douglas County.

GREAT GRAY OWL: Three birds with two seen at dusk. A magnificent one seen on Mary Ann Creek Rd in good light but the forest phantom still prefers a shady roosting spot. We got to see it hunt for more than 30 minutes.

Majority of my sightings are out of the Sno-Park in the winter. Lots of good habitat up there.

GREAT HORNED OWL: Up to five birds in the Okanogan Highland.

LONG EARED OWL: Three birds; Heard only on Central Ferry Rd and two visuals near Lamoine.

SHORT EARED OWL: Flushed two probable birds near ground along Mary Ann Creek Rd before first light.

NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL: Two birds heard only in Central Ferry Canyon Rd and Sno-Park.

NORTHERN PYGMY OWL: Two visuals on Mary Ann Creek Rd and Havillah Rd. Two other heard only one near Hungary Hollow Rd and Sno-Park.

SNOWY OWL: En route home and speeding like a demon, I flushed one skittish bird on top of telephone pole on F NW and 6th. First time at this location this year after a couple tries this season.

SAGE GROUSE: Two dozen birds on Leahy Lek on 2/19 some displaying vigorously at 630 AM.

SHARP TAILED GROUSE: A dozen birds in flight and 2 cooperative birds feeding on aspen trees along Mary Ann Creek Rd. Finally got a decent photo of these chickens.

RUFFED GROUSE: Ten birds along Mary Ann Creek Rd, Bolster, and Toroda Creek Rd.

GRAY PATRIDGE: Three groups of up to 20 birds on Toroda Creek and Davies Rd.

CHUKAR: Roughly a dozen birds along Fancher Rd.

LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE: One bird along Cameron Lake Rd.

AMERICAN THREE TOE: One bird along Davies Rd.

BLACK BACKED WOODPECKER: One bird along Hwy 20.

WHITE HEADED WOODPECKER: Three birds along Cameron Lake Rd and near Sno-Park.

PILEATED WOODPECKER: Four birds on Okanogan Highlands and Hwy 20.

BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS: Largest flock on 300 birds along Hwy 97 near Tonasket. They were sallying for something in the air. Cool phenomenon to watch. Another flock of 50 birds near Riverside.

TOWNSENDS SOLITAIRE: One bird on Nealey Rd.

AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS: 3 birds on Heritage Rd and 6 birds on Cameron Lake Rd.

LAPLAND LONGSPUR; Two birds: One visual bird with small flock of Snow Buntings and Horned Larks near Havillah Church and one heard only on Heritage Rd on Waterville Plateau.

SNOW BUNTINGS: Largest flock of 300 birds on Nealey Rd, three other sizabled flock of 60 or less on Davies, Havillah, and Chesaw Rd.

GRAY CROWNED ROSYFINCHES: Roughly 40 birds on Nealey Rd and another dozen along Hwy 2 heading down from Waterville near the summit.

PINE GROSBEAK: A flock of a dozen or more up high on conifers on Fields Rd.

COMMON REDPOLL: Several flocks with a group of 200 birds on Bolster Rd and Mary Ann Creek Rd. Lots of variable plumages amongst the birds. Some striking males in the bunch.

No definitive HOARIES without seeing the white rump but there are other structural field marks. It can be challenging with these jittery, active birds. Was hoping for smaller flocks cooperative flocks to zone in on.

RED CROSSBILL: Finally, six birds along Bolster Rd with one male in good view.

WHITE WINGED CROSSBILL: A dozen flock birds along Sitzmark Ski area and Hungary Hollow Rd. Most were distance views.

Good birding,

Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon)

www.ktbirding.com