As my previous post mentioned, I spend all afternoon birding in the Okanogan highlands of Okanogan County, Washington State, USA.
In the same area as the dead bird, I found a flock of 6 American Goldfinches.
A few miles north of there, I saw the first of two ‘now there is something different’s of the day.
I had this Gray Jay fly across in front of me. That is a first for me in Okanogan County. It is one that is labled as Rocky Mountain form in Sibley.
I went on to Chesaw and north from there on Bolster Rd. It was very quiet along there.
From there, I worked Mary Ann Creek Rd. There, just before the end of the ponds, I had another ’something different’ fly across in front of me. It was very cooperative sitting quietly - if too far away - so that I could get a picture. Not great, but good enough for ID. A Snow Bunting. This one sat still longer than any I’ve ever seen.
The only other indication that winter is on the way were a total of at least 6 Rough-legged Hawks. I stopped counting when I started back-tracking so there may have been more.
Note: these photos are certainly not suitable for framing and are only included for ID purposes.
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