Today we took pretty much our usual routes for Day 2 of the 3-day MLK weekend North Central WA winter specialty trip, and had a spectacular day. We started by rallying for a potty stop in Tonasket after leaving the Omak Inn at 7 AM. We headed straight for Fancher Road and got the expected birds, just more numbers than usual. An estimated 80 Chukar, 8 Gray Partridge, and the Golden Eagle were the highlights.
Next on the way to the Neeley Feeders we had another Golden Eagle, 2 Bald Eagles, two Northern Shrike, and at the feeders were the anticipated Gray-crowned rosy finches, and the hoped for but not necessarily expected Common Redpolls. In addition were Hairy Woodpecker, Am. Goldfinches, Mountain and BC Chickadee, RB Nuthatch and a chance to again thank the owners for their hospitality.
The ride to Chesaw to look for WWCB there was uneventful, but once there we found out the Seahawks were behind 31-0 at halftime (score from the TV at the bar while the women paid to use the toilets). In town we had yet more Gray Partridge, CA quail, heard a Belted kingfisher by the creek, and looked for WWCB in town, just out of town by the Chesaw Cemetery, and then drove out Bolster Rd to look more. After a while Susan Boynton in my car, in the 6th car of a 6-car caravan noted possible movement at the top of a tall spruce tree. By the time she said it may just be falling snow I was out of the car and had a flock of White-winged crossbills. We were all able to get great views, some photos, and an accurate count of 28 as they flew off to another tree. About the same time we got a N. Pygmi Owl.
Next we took off for Mary-Ann Rd to look for Pine Grosbeak. After a while we found a nice flock of 10 PIGR including 3 nice red males. Shortly after we had a long fly-by of an adult Goshawk on Chesaw Oroville Rd almost to Davies Road. After turning onto Davies Rd Joe spotted a Short-eared owl roosting under a large clump of grass right beside the road. Photo op for everyone and a county bird for me. Shortly after that Richard slid off the road into a ditch and we spent the rest of the day and part of the evening getting the local church men to pull him out. Home, Mexican dinner and off to bed ended the day. It was fun to see Ken talking to Scott Downes and his daughter, 8 yo Sierra, at an adjacent table. She didn’t miss a word of the conversation and beamed when I reminded Ken that of course she had to have had Redpoll before today as she had 320 WA listed birds last year.