Date: 2/18/26 7:51 pm From: Shep Thorp via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] WOS Winter Trip to Okanogan Highlands and Waterville Plateau 2/13-2/16/2026
Dear Tweets,
Twelve of us had another very nice WOS Winter Trip to the Okanogan Highlands and Waterville Plateau over the President's Day Weekend. As you may know, no snow fell until Monday 2/16 when the Waterville Plateau received several inches. This was super helpful for observing large flocks of HORNED LARK. All chickens and winter specialties were tough to find, but there were good numbers of RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and RED CROSSBILLS (2,4). We observed 82 species. I've pasted our eBird Trip Report below for your reference.
On Friday, our going over day, we stopped by Debbie Sutherland's home in Cashmere and got great looks at LESSER GOLDFINCH, MERLIN, and two COOPER'S HAWKS hunting CALIFORNIA QUAIL. Walla Walla Point Park in Wenatchee had over 1000 AMERICAN WIGEON which were flagged due to their number, but no Eurasian Wigeon. Although we spotted our only BARROW'S GOLDENEYE through the scope on the other side of the River, there was little diversity of ducks on the water. We ascended Badger Mountain and spotted a NORTHERN SHRIKE. The summit was good for numerous RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and RED CROSSBILL. We also observed WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH and MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE. From Waterville we took SR 2 to L Road SE/Woods Road NE/Heritage Road NE/Road L NE. Along the way we had nice views of a PRAIRIE FALCON just east of Farmer. We unsuccessfully searched for Snowy Owl in the Atkins Lake area. Good news: we had several nice sightings of AMERICAN TREE SPARROW in the bramble lining the different roadways along Heritage Road NE. We also spotted several ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKs and near 10th Road we had two SHORT-EARED OWLs and a ghost or male NORTHERN HARRIER. We spent the late afternoon unsuccessfully looking for Snowy Owl reported three weeks earlier on H Road NE and Road G NE, northeast of Mansfield, but we did manage to observe a breeding pair of GREAT HORNED OWLs.
On Saturday we headed to the Okanogan Highlands. At our first stop along Fancher Road Loop we observed two GOLDEN EAGLEs restoring their nests on the cliff face with sticks. Thanks to a local hunter, this reminded me to scan for a sentinel male CHUKAR keeping watch for its covey. Sure enough, we spotted a single male watching the eagle and us as well. We did not see any Chukar on our scout two weeks previously, and without snow this species is tough to locate in the winter. The cows are calving at the farm so there are plenty of BALD EAGLE, COMMON RAVEN and BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE foraging on the afterbirth. South Siwash Creek had no snow so we did not see any Sharp-tailed Grouse, but there were plenty of RED CROSSBILLs, CASSIN'S FINCHs, Chickadees and Nuthatches to enjoy. We also got great looks at a RUFFED GROUSE feeding on Water Birch and a quick look at TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE. Where the road turns away from Siwash Creek, just above the area of water birch usually visited by Sharp-tailed Grouse in the winter, a human resident living in a yurt resides on the south side of the road. This resident asked us not to birdwatch near his home. He thinks watching birds is cool, but dislikes people pointing binoculars in the direction of his home. Siwash Creek north was equally good for Crossbills, Cassin's Finch, Chickadees, Nuthatches and HAIRY WOODPECKER. We also spotted three EVENING GROSBEAKS in an ornamental tree next to one of the homes immediately adjacent to the road. The Highlands Sno-Park was good for CLARK'S NUTCRACKER during the day and both GREAT HORNED OWL and NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL at dusk. On Havillah Road some of our group observed 6 GRAY PARTRIDGE flush as ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK flew from its power pole perch just south of Nealy Road. We could not relocate the Snow Bunting on Windermuth Road, but we likely observed a SHORT-EARED OWL just before dusk. The north side of the Sitzmark Ski Hill on Havillah was good for NORTHERN PYGMY OWL, where on my scout trip we observed a pair breeding. I dropped off seed at the Nealy Road Feeders or Highland Meadows, but the feeders only had DARK-EYED JUNCOs. Mary Ann Creek Road provided a sighting of Khanh Tran and PILEATED WOODPECKER. We also had a wonderful look at two NORTHERN-PYGMY OWLs breeding where Mary Ann Creek meets Fields Road. As we started out on Davies Road, the back half of our caravan observed a few SNOW BUNTINGs. Davies Road offered good additional views of NORTHERN SHRIKE and RUFFED GROUSE. We did not reach Chesaw, nor did we observe any waxwings, redpolls, grosbeaks, white-winged crossbills, three toed woodpeckers or great gray owl.
There was a good amount of snow along Mary Ann Creek Road, so I toyed with the idea of heading back to the highlands first thing Sunday morning but decided instead to stick with my standard route of birding Scotch Creek, Happy Hill Road, Salmon Creek Road and Conconully. Again, there is no snow, so we did not see Sharp-tailed Grouse at Scotch Creek Wildlife area. We observed a GREAT HORNED OWL on Happy Hill Road as well as a dead GRAY PARTRIDGE hit by a car that I will take to the University of Puget Sound Natural History Museum. Salmon Creek Road was good for AMERICAN DIPPER and offered great views of PYGMY NUTHATCH. With additional sightings of RED CROSSBILLs and CASSIN'S FINCHes. Some of the group were able to get on and have decent looks at a low flying adult AMERICAN GOSHAWK. I hate to say it, but things were slow in Conconully. We observed a TOWNSEND's SOLITAIRE in town and located a Hairy Woodpecker on the North Fork Rd. The butte at Riverside Cut-off was spectacular for CANYON WREN, the showiest bird of the trip sang from the talus, came right in for playback, and posed and sang for an extended time. Meanwhile GOLDEN EAGLE, BALD EAGLE, RED-TAILED HAWK and AMERICAN KESTREL flew overhead. Cameron Lake Road was productive for good observation of HAIRY WOODPECKER, PYGMY NUTHATCH, small numbers of SNOW BUNTING, HORNED LARK and GREAT HORNED OWL. On the south side of Cameron Lake Road, just above SR 97, we had distant scope views of TRUMPETER SWAN, CANVASBACK, REDHEAD, BUFFLEHEAD, LESSER SCAUP, RING-NECKED DUCK all on the south side of Monse Bridge. We did not try to relocate the Swamp Sparrow we observed at the boat launch on the scout trip as we were short on daylight. We finally made it to Bridgeport State Park where we observed NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, GREAT HORNED OWL, NORTHERN FLICKER, and plenty of CALIFORNIA QUAIL. After dinner in Brewster, we did some owling at got some decent looks at LONG-EARED OWL and WESTERN SCREECH both in Okanogan County.
On Monday, our going home day, we finally had snow with a heavy blanket covering the Waterville Plateau. We had distant looks at GREATER SAGE GROUSE that were already displaying despite the heavy snowfall. Following a tip from Nathaneal Swecker, we checked a report of Snowy Owl near Atkins Lake, at Rd 1 NE and Woods Rd NE, but could not relocate it. We had wonderful, up-close views of a PRAIRIE FALCON. Again, the snowfall made for wonderful observation of HORNED LARK. While enjoying a large flock on Rd I SW south of SR 2 we had nice scope views of a non-breeding LAPLAND LONGSPUR.
We observed 82 species for the trip and really missed the snow. Overall, species like Bohemian Waxwing and Redpolls are much harder to find and we did not see them this year. Without the snow, chickens were really tough to get on and Snow Bunting are much less abundant. I did not have time to try and relocate the Harris Sparrow reported on Washburn Island, and as usual, I ran out of daylight to get to several spots like Chesaw, Bolster Road, Hess Lake, Washburn Island, Monse Bridge, Heritage Marker lake Pateros overlook, Lake Pateros Overlooks, Bridgeport Bar, Central Ferry Canyon and the North West section of Waterville Plateau. Aside from that, the birding in the group was really good. We observed some specialties, such as the Lapland Longspur, Snow Bunting and Northern Saw-whet Owl. We also observed a Golden Eagle and breeding Northern Pygmy Owl. With the new snow and a recent report of a Snowy Owl, there is still time to see plenty of cool stuff on the Plateau and in the Highlands. Thanks to all the awesome birders that joined this WOS trip, they were great spotters and a lot of fun to bird with.
