|
2006 WOS Conference
Republic - June 16-19
Photos from
Conference

Great Gray Owls. Okanagon County. Photo by Bart Whelton.
The 18th Annual WOS
conference will be centered at the Ferry County Fairgrounds
Pavilion located about one mile east of Republic, Washington
on State Highway 20/21 from Friday, June 16th through
Monday, June 19th, 2006. The Pavilion will serve as a
meeting place for all meals, evening program/festivities,
and starting point for all field trips. The conference will
feature a local speaker who will address topics relevant to
the natural history of northeast Washington on Saturday
evening. Daylight field trips, led by local and experienced
birders, will be conducted on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and
Monday and commence at 5:00 AM; owling trips will be
conducted on Friday and Sunday evenings and commence at 7:15
PM.
Motel accommodations
can be found in Republic along Clark Avenue (known locally
as “Main Street”); National Forest Service campgrounds are
located 12-13 miles south and west of Republic along the
Scatter Creek drainage and at Ten Mile on Hwy 21; and, RV
and State campgrounds are situated along the east and west
shorelines of Curlew Lake some 8-9 miles east and north of
Republic.
Republic can be reached from Spokane either
by traveling north from I-5 (Exit 281) on Division
Street/Highway 395 to Kettle Falls, then west on Hwy 20 over
Sherman Pass to Republic, or by traveling west from I-90
(Exit 277B) on Hwy 2 to Wilbur, then north on Hwy 21 via the
Keller Ferry (free; operates from about 6 AM to midnight
daily). Due to traffic considerations on Division or
crossing the Columbia River via the Keller Ferry, both
routes require about 3 hours driving time (distances: ~118
and ~129 miles, respectively). Republic can also be reached
from communities west of the Cascade Crest in part by either
utilizing Hwy 97 north from Wenatchee to Tonasket, then east
on Hwy 20 (~159 miles) or I-90 east to Hwy 21 (Exit 206)
then north on Hwy 21 via the Keller Ferry (see above ~170
from Ellensburg); or from communities near the Tri-Cities
area in part via Hwy 395 to north Eltopia, Hwy 17 north to
Coulee City, Hwy 2 east to the outskirts of Wilbur and then
north on Hwy 21 (~212 miles).
The 2006 Conference is
timed to intersect with the terminus of north-bound, local
song-bird migration and the peak of vocalization/breeding
activity, and to avoid conflict with other annual,
Republic-sponsored events such as Prospector Days (weekend
of June 10th) and the Republic Birding Festival (third
weekend in May). A large selection of trips are being
offered; space is limited to 10 individuals in 3 autos for
daylight trips and 6 in 2 autos for owling adventures—so be
forewarned—register early!!! Regarding the REGISTRATION
FORM, be sure to indicate alternative choices for trips and
designate the menu items you prefer (the latter include
boxed breakfasts and lunches, as well as catered hot
dinners)—all from the Pavilion; if you wish alcoholic
beverages with dinner, bring your own. The Conference
Committee hopes you enjoy your visit to the Republic area.
FIELD
TRIPS
In order to optimize
the birding experience for participants, car-pooling will be
utilized for all field trips. WOS will reimburse field trip
drivers who carry at least three people in addition to
themselves at the current federal government mileage rate.
Unless noted in the description, all daylight field trips
will depart from the Ferry County Fairgrounds Pavilion at 5:00 AM and all owling trips will depart from the same
location at 7:15 PM. Trips and trip leaders may be subject
to change. If you possess a Washington State Parks pass, a
WDFW parking sticker, or a Golden Age pass, please bring
it/them. Also, if you have an FRS radio, please bring
it/them. Coming or going, if you wish to travel across the
U.S./Canadian border, be sure to bring your passport.
SANPOIL RIVER VALLEY TO
FROSTY MEADOW
[Day Trip 1] We will bird the Sanpoil River
Valley south to Keller utilizing the East Sanpoil Road from
Thirty Mile Road south to Keller to avoid traffic and lack
of pull-outs along Hwy 21. The riparian habitat along the
Sanpoil from ~14-38 miles south of Republic (Gold Creek to
Lime Creek Roads) is dominated by Black Cottonwood, Quaking
Aspen, and various willows and hosts passerines of
distinctly “eastern” distribution including Northern
Waterthrush, American Redstart, Veery, Gray Catbird,
Red-eyed Vireo, Least Flycatcher and Eastern Kingbird.
Other species of a more “western” distribution include a
variety of woodpeckers/sapsuckers, flycatchers, swallows,
nuthatches, Cedar Waxwing, warblers including
Yellow-breasted Chat, finches including Black-headed
Grosbeak, and Bullock’s Oriole. Raptors including both
eagles and osprey can be seen south of Keller on the Sanpoil
arm of Lake FDR (grebes, ducks, Caspian Tern from the Keller
Ferry). East of Keller, the Silver Creek Road climbs
through Ponderosa Pine/Douglas Fir forest where woodpeckers
such as White-headed and Hairy may be found [an alternate
route to Frosty Meadow via the Copper & Cook Creek Roads has
also produced White-headed Woodpeckers].
At about 14 miles,
the northern terminus of the Ninemile-Hellgate Road
intersects the Silver Creek Road from the south. From that
junction, the first two miles of the Hellgate Road flank the
west side of Friedlander Meadows. Owls have seemed to
segregate themselves along the meadow as follows: Great Gray
(rare) on the north end, Great Horned and N. Pygmy- in the
Ponderosa on the west, Barred in the Lodgepole on the east,
and Saw-whet on the south – not to mention occasional
White-headed Woodpecker or Williamson’s Sapsucker in the old
snags just south of the meadow system. Proceeding east ~5
miles on the Silver Creek road from the Hellgate junction
and then north ~7 miles on Ninemile Creek Road eventually
brings one to Frosty Meadow where a short system of beaver
dams found along the creek once provided “habitat” for an
unbelievable Sage Thrasher! The riparian habitat and
Ponderosa-covered hillsides along this narrow valley hold a
variety of passerines, raptors, jays, Clark’s Nutcracker,
Barred Owl and Northern Goshawk; Great Gray Owl has been
heard at Frosty. Over the whole of this route, and
particularly along the southern stretches of the Sanpoil,
chances of observing wildlife such as Mule & White-tailed
Deer and Black Bear are pretty good. Return to the Sanpoil
Valley via Bridge Creek Road some 5-6 miles north of Frosty
[pp 463-466; 286-289].
SCATTER CREEK TO AENEAS
VALLEY
[Day Trip 2] From Republic, proceed south about 7
miles on Hwy 21 to Scatter Creek Road; follow this road as
it runs west then south to a complex of lakes: Ferry, Fish,
Long and Swan Lakes. Scatter Creek and the coniferous
forest surrounding these lakes hold Swainson’s Thrush,
Black-backed Woodpecker, and other interesting species; the
lakes provide breeding habitat for Barrow’s Goldeneye as
well as a variety of other waterfowl, possible Common Loon,
and Osprey. Return to Hwy 21 and proceed south some 7.6
miles. After turning west on Gold Creek Road, pull over and
scan the cliffs overhead for Golden Eagle, White-throated
Swift and Clark’s Nutcracker. Take Gold Creek Road about
2.5 miles to a junction just before a bridge and turn
northwest (right) onto unmarked West Fork Sanpoil Road
(which becomes Aeneas Valley Road in about 2 miles as one
crosses the Ferry/Okanogan County line). In about 6.6
miles, the road passes West Fork Sanpoil Campground where
American Redstart, Northern Waterthrush and other passerines
of wet-forest/bog habitats can be found along the
alder-dominated streamside. Perhaps 7 miles west from the
campground, the road intersects Lyman Lake-Moses Meadow Road
along which Turkey, Ruffed Grouse, and White-headed
Woodpecker as well as deer, chipmunks, squirrels, badger,
and bear can be found. Bobolinks are present in the
hayfields immediately before the intersection of Aeneas
Valley Road and Hwy 20 [pp 464-465].
NORTH & SOUTH TWIN LAKES
TO WILMONT CREEK ROAD
[Day Trip 3] The North/South Twin
Lakes area can be reached from the west via the Sanpoil
Valley (Hwy 21) and Bridge Creek Road, or alternatively,
from the east via Inchelium and Twin Lakes Road (the
continuation of Bridge Creek road east of the Twin Lakes).
The loop route includes North & South Twin and Round Lakes
all accessed from Bridge Creek/Twin Lakes Road, a further
swing to the east (~5-8 miles) and then south (~ 1-2 miles)
on Silver Creek Road to Butler Flat (p 467), continuation
south (~11 miles) to Falls Creek Road, west (6+ miles) on
Falls Creek to Wilmont Creek Road, and finally south (~4
miles) on Wilmont Creek to Silver Creek Road (p 466) and
then west to the Sanpoil Valley/Hwy 21 [pp 465-466].
Alternative points of birding interest that can be accessed
from Inchelium might include the [free] Gifford-Incheliun
ferry (p 473) to the Gifford-Addy or Cedonia-Addy Road (pp
473-474) and the Colville/Chewelah areas.
The Twin and Round Lakes
are known for nesting Common Loon and Bald Eagle; other
typical species include waterfowl and Osprey. Butler Flat
is a large sedge and cattail wetland known for waterfowl,
rails, raptors, sparrows and blackbirds; Wild Turkey can be
found along the road south of the Flats. The riparian
habitat along Falls, Wilmont, and the South Fork of Ninemile
Creeks hosts Red-naped Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker,
flycatchers, thrushes, and warblers including American
Redstart and Yellow-breasted Chat. From the Wilmont
Creek/Silver Creek Road junction and for ~1 mile south, the
Ponderosa Pine/grassland habitat supports many species
including American Kestrel, Mourning Dove, flycatchers,
Western Wood-Pewee, Western Kingbird, vireos, bluebirds,
nuthatches, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Lazuli Bunting
and Black Swift (occasional during June). Coyote,
Yellow-Pine Chipmunk, Columbian-Ground and Red Squirrel, as
well as deer should be encountered in appropriate habitat
along the entire route.
SHERMAN PASS TO THE LOWER
KETTLE RIVER
[Day Trip 4] From the White Mountain Burn on
the west side of Sherman Pass (pp 467-469), proceed east
~3-5 miles on Hwy 20 to the Pass; proceed east, and some 3+
miles beyond at the north-pointing apex of a “hair-pin”
curve on Hwy 20, turn north on Albian Hill Road (FS#2030).
Follow this road as it proceeds north and uphill along the
drainage of the North Fork of Sherman Creek; in about 4
miles, FS#2030 has reached its elevation maximum on the
eastern flank of Scar Mtn. and begins to go downhill [the
road now becomes known as the South Fork of Boulder Creek
Road, but there is apparently no change in numerical
designation]; after following this road for 6-8 miles in a
northerly direction, the road turns to the east [same name
but numerical designation changes to FS#6110] and runs at
least 14 miles to its junction with Boulder Creek Road
(FS#61); turn east and go ~2 miles on FS#61 to its junction
with US 395 (some 3 miles south of Orient). Turn south on
US 395 and proceed at least 15 miles to the turnoff (east)
for the Kamloops Island Campground (a.k.a. Kettle River
Campground, p 470) where the flooded terminus of the Kettle
River now becomes a part of FDR Lake. After scouring the
diverse habitat in and around the campground, return to US
395, proceed south to its junction with Hwy 20 (county
listers, don’t forget to badger the leader to stop in the
trailer park just beyond the junction for your Ferry Co.
House Sparrow); then, continue south, then west uphill on
Hwy 20 for ~8 miles to Canyon Creek Campground, then Camp
Growden (~3 miles), and eventually Sherman Pass (~11 miles
farther along).
In the Sherman Pass
environs, many sub-alpine species are possible although
usually take considerable effort to see; these include a
“winnowing” male Boreal Owl seen in April, 1985--the first
so recorded in WA, Northern Hawk Owl (rare in winter), Hairy
Woodpecker, Gray Jay, Mountain Chickadee, both kinglets,
potentially both crossbills, Townsend’s Solitaire, Hermit
and Varied Thrushes, Townsend’s and Yellow-rumped Warblers,
and perhaps Pine Grosbeak or American Three-toed
Woodpecker. The run from Albian Hill through the South Fork
of Boulder Creek should offer great potential for finding
all three grouse species—the Spruce Grouse in/around
huckleberry ground-cover, but also found at much lower
elevations, especially in early summer. Snowshoe Hare, its
ethereal, near-obligate predator Lynx, Northern Goshawk and
a variety of wet, coniferous forest passerines also inhabit
portions of this corridor. Along the Kettle River, look for
goshawk and mergansers. The diverse habitat in/near the
Kamloops Island Campground should produce species such as
Spotted Sandpipers, Eastern Kingbird, Western Wood-Pewee,
Western Bluebird, Red Crossbill, Cassin’s Vireo, nuthatches,
and sparrows. Stream-side habitat at Canyon Creek
Campground should produce Hammond’s Flycatcher, Veery,
Swainson’s Thrush, and Orange-crowned & Yellow Warblers
(uphill on Bangs Mtn. Road, look for a variety of owls,
Ruffed and Blue Grouse, and nesting Hooded Mergansers on a
pond). Beaver ponds and associated wet-habitat along
Sherman Creek near Camp Growden should additionally provide
Willow Flycatcher, MacGillivray’s Warbler, and American
Dipper; moose are also a possibility.
KETTLE RIVER TO TOGO
MOUNTAIN
[Day Trip 5] From the US 395/Hwy 20 junction
west of Kettle Falls, follow the Kettle River north along US
395 from its southern terminus at FDR Lake to the Kamloops
Island Campground (~ 6 miles from the junction, p 470) and,
once back on US 395, proceed another 16 miles to Hughes (~
3.5 miles north of Orient); turn east on Sand Creek Road at
its junction with US 395 (and Little Boulder Creek Road
going west to Togo Mtn.); proceed east on Sand Creek Road as
it passes Taylor Lake and in ~4 miles intersects Pierre Lake
Road; travel south on the (Barstow)-Pierre Lake Road for
~1-2 miles to the lake, campground, and marsh at its
southern end (p 471); return to US 395 and cross (west) to
Little Boulder Creek Road (FS#300/9576); follow this road
uphill bearing right [west] at the first fork (~1.1 miles)
and left [south] at the next (another ~2.7 miles). You are
now on Kerry Creek Road (FS#9576) and at the next main fork
(~3.5 miles), go right [north] on FS#9576 (not straight
ahead [west] on FS# 300) and in 0.4 miles check out the area
for finches (esp., both crossbills). Return to the
FS#300/9576 junction and turn right [west] on FS#300 and
travel west for a total of 2.0 miles to its junction with
FS#320 on your south/left; bypass this turnoff, cross the
cattle guard straight ahead, continue west on FS#300 for
just 0.2 miles, and park at the next junction where an old
road (to the top of Togo Mtn., p 470) takes off to the right
[north]. Once you have hiked the gently sloped road to the
top of Togo (~3 miles), you can begin the return trip to
Republic by either backtracking to US 395, or you can
proceed west on FS#300/450 from its junction with the Togo
Mtn Road. FS#300/450 initially goes west, but soon turns
south along the western flanks of Green and Marble Mtns. and
eventually merges with Taylor Ridge Road (FS#6120~4 miles).
Continue south to its junction (~3 miles) with the Deer
Creek/Boulder Creek Road (FS#61) and turn right [west] to
Curlew (~10 miles).
Species found at the
Kamloops Island Campground and upstream along the Kettle
River have been described for Trip 4. Those found in the
Pierre Lake region include Barrow’s Goldeneye, Pileated and
other woodpeckers, Ruffed Grouse, Willow and other
Flycatchers, Swainson’s Thrush, and a variety of warblers
including Common Yellowthroat. During June, any of the
three grouse species, both crossbills, Northern Goshawk,
Northern Pygmy-Owl, and a variety of relatively dry,
coniferous forest passerines can be found along the route to
the Togo Mtn. road. The pleasant hike to the summit of Togo
Mtn. should produce American Three-toed Woodpecker in
lodgepole during the last mile to the top, Northern
Pygmy-Owl (lower stretches), Yellow-rumped and Townsend’s
Warblers, Hermit and Varied Thrushes, Townsend’s Solitaire
(open, grassy areas near/at the top), Spruce and esp. Blue
Grouse (be sure to concentrate on mini-draws on your uphill
[right-hand] side where aspen is mixed in with spruce & fir
and look in the spruce boughs on your downhill [left-hand]
side), and Boreal Owl (heard near the summit). Species
noted for Trip 4 at Canyon Creek Campground, Bangs Mtn.
Road, Camp Growden CCC and Albian Hill Road can be sampled
as time allows on the return from Togo via US 395 & Hwy 20.
WAUCONDA TO LOST LAKE
[Day Trip 6] See pp 455-456. Proceed west from Republic on
Hwy 20 for some 17 miles to Wauconda; turn right [north] on
Toroda Creek Road and go ~14 miles to its junction with the
Oroville-Toroda Creek [a..k.a. Chesaw] Road (FS#32/3245);
turn left [west] and go ~4 miles to the junction with the
Bonaparte Lake Road (FS#32). Turn right [west] on Chesaw
Road (FS#9480) for Beaver & Beth Lakes [p 459]. Chesaw can
be reached from Beth Lake (potential short hikes on private
property for possible Great Gray Owl) by continuing
northwest for ~8 miles. On the western outskirts of Chesaw
[2-5 miles], visit the Chesaw Wildlife Area [p 458]. From
Chesaw, return south on FS#9480 for over 2 miles and then,
by staying right at the “Y” junction, follow Myers Creek
[a.k.a. Lost Lake] Road (FS#34; p 458) south to Lost Lake
[~4 miles; p 458-459]. Bonaparte Lake can be reached by
proceeding south along the eastern shoreline of Lost Lake on
a combination of FS#050 (~2 miles) and 070 (~2 miles) [or
alternative to this combination, FS#33 to their east]; when
you reach FS#32, turn right [southwest] and continue to
Bonaparte Lake (1-2 miles) and the Virginia Lilly Nature
Trail [p 459]. (If time allows while in the Chesaw area,
it is possible to make a very birdy “loop” farther west to
Molson Lakes [p 458] via the Oroville-Toroda Creek and
Molson Summit Roads [a.k.a. Mary Ann Creek Road], then south
to Teal [p 457] & Muskrat [p 457] Lakes and the Sitzmark Ski
Area [p 457] via a combination of Molson, Fletcher, Davies
and Kipling [a.k.a. Havillah] Roads and finally back to
Chesaw via Nealey or Myers Creek Roads.)
A great diversity of
habitat types produces a terrific selection of species: owls
(Great Gray, Northern Pygmy-, Saw-whet, Barred, Flammulated,
and possible Long-eared), woodpeckers (American Three-toed,
Black-backed, & Pileated), Williamson’s Sapsucker, diving
and dabbling waterfowl (Barrow’s Goldeneye, Ring-necked
Duck, Canvasback), grebes (Red-necked & Eared), Common Loon,
Virginia Rail, Sora, Black Tern, Ruffed and possibly
Sharp-tailed Grouse, American Redstart, Northern
Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, Lincoln’s Sparrow,
bluebirds (Mountain & Western), raptors (N. Harrier,
Swainson’s & Red-tailed Hawks, Am. Kestrel, Golden Eagle),
Black Bear, deer, and possible Moose.
WAUCONDA/BUNCH ROAD TO
HAVILLAH
[Day Trip 7; limited to 6 participants on all 4
days, June 16-19] See pp 455-456. Proceed west from
Republic on Hwy 20 for some 17 miles to Wauconda; turn right
[northeast] on Toroda Creek Road and go ~4 miles to its
junction with Bunch Road; turn left [west] and proceed 1.8
miles to Lee Johnson’s property (210 Bunch Road; short hikes
for potential Great Gray Owl & Williamson’s Sapsucker [both
nested Sp 2005] and other birds characteristic of boreal
forest, cattail marsh and grassland). Continue west on
Bunch Road (FS#020) to its junction with the Virginia Lilly
Nature Trail (FS#3240, p 459) and explore the area for
Black-backed Woodpecker and Great Gray Owl; proceed south on
Bonaparte Lake Road (FS#32) to Bonaparte Lake and bird the
peat bogs to its south (p 459; Osprey, Virginia Rail, Sora
and Wilson’s Snipe). Reverse direction and about 1 mile
north of Bonaparte Lake, turn left [northwest] on FS#070 (~2
miles) and FS#050 (~2 miles) to reach Lost Lake (p 458-459;
Common Loon, Black Tern, Williamson’s Sapsucker, American
Three-toed Woodpecker). Proceed north on Myers Creek Road
(FS#34) about 4 miles to its junction with the
Oroville-Toroda Creek [a.k.a. Chesaw] Road and continue
north to Chesaw (bird the creek-side riparian habitat from
~1 mile south of the junction to the outskirts of Chesaw for
passerines [p 458; American Redstart, Northern Waterthrush,
Common Yellowthroat, Lincoln’s Sparrow]). From Chesaw go
west on Chesaw Road (~6-7 miles) to its intersection north
with Davies Road (Teal Lake, p 457) and south with Kipling
Road; proceed south and look for the alder bogs south of
Teas Road on your right [west] for Willow and potential
Alder Flycatchers, Northern Waterthrush, etc. Continue
south to Muskrat Lake and the Sitzmark Ski Area (both p 457)
and on Havillah Road to Havillah and the Highland Sno-Park
(both pp 456-457. The latter site can be accessed by going
southwest from Havillah ~0.6 miles, then turning right
[south] on FS#3230 at the Sno-Park sign for ~1.5 miles (land
on both sides of the road is posted—we hope to gain
permission to enter—otherwise mind your manners and bird
only from the road). The area from the turnoff on Havillah
Road to the Sno-Park is excellent for many “classy” species
of woodpecker and owl including Great Gray. Assuming this
may be another winter light on snow, the return trip may
choose to continue south and eventually east from the
Sno-Park on FS#3230 (~12 miles) to join the Bonaparte Lake
Road (FS#32) south of the peat bogs noted above. To reach
Wauconda, go south on FS#32 ~1 mile to Hwy 20 and from their
junction east ~3 miles. Another even more adventurous
return route might utilize a forest service road that is
accessed from just south of the Sno-Park on FS#3230 that
climbs the northwest flanks of Bonaparte Mountain, descends
its northeastern flanks, and joins FS#100 just west of
Bonaparte Lake. Species observed on Trip 7 in large part
mirror those noted for Trip 6 above.
NORTHPORT TO BIG MEADOW
LAKE
[Day Trip 8] Proceed ~35 miles east from Republic on
Hwy 20 to the western outskirts of Kettle Falls; turn left
[north] on Hwy 25 and go about 27 miles to the
Northport/Boundary region. The potential here for very rare
passerines with “eastern” affinities as well as the usual
suspects (e.g., see Sanpoil River Valley, Trip 1) is so good
and their locations so secret, that only the leaders
know!!! From Boundary, circle east on the Deep
Lake-Boundary Road to Cedar Lake, Leadpoint, and Deep Lake.
Some 9 miles south of Deep Lake (or ~1 mile north of
Aladdin), turn left [east] from Aladdin Road to Meadow Creek
Road and proceed to Big Meadow Lake [~6 miles; pp 476 &
479-480]. Return by way of Aladdin Road to the Colville
sewage ponds and nearby river bottom for Bobolink,
waterfowl, blackbirds, and sparrows.
Look for Wild Turkey and
Short-eared Owl along the Aladdin Road. The Big Meadow Lake
region, one of the most delightful to bird in all of
northeastern Washington, contains a rich diversity of
habitats accessed by flat trails meandering through forest
edge around the lake and through marsh & meadow at the west
end of the lake. The wide variety of birds include:
breeding Common & Barrow’s Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Red-necked
Grebe, Common Loon, Barred Owl, Northern Goshawk, Osprey,
many swallow sp. including Tree, Virginia Rail, Sora,
Lincoln’s Sparrow, American Three-toed & Pileated
Woodpecker, flycatchers (including possible Least in the
aspen beyond the west end of the lake), vireos, chickadees
including Chestnut-backed, Swainson’s & Hermit Thrushes,
warblers including Orange-crowned, Yellow, Yellow-rumped,
Townsend’s, and MacGillivray’s as well as Northern
Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, & American Redstart, and
Vaux’s and possibly Black Swift (if you’ve eaten your
Wheaties).
LITTLE PEND ORIELLE NWR TO
AMAZON CREEK MARSH
[Day Trip 9] Drive 46 miles east of
Republic on Hwy 20 & US 395 to Colville. From Colville, the
Little Pend Oreille NWR [pp 475-478; 281-285] can be
accessed by driving east on Hwy 20 ~6 miles to its
intersection with Artman-Gibson Road (about 0.5 miles east
of White Mud Lake). Turn right [south] and proceed ~1.6
miles to its junction with Kitt-Narcisse Road; turn left
[southeast] on the latter road and go 2.2.miles to the
junction with Bear Creek Road; again bear right [southeast]
on the latter road for 3.2 miles to Refuge Headquarters
(lakes encountered via this route including White Mud, Hatch
& Horse Thief all have their share of interesting waterfowl
and marsh-associated birds; p 475). From Headquarters, one
can take a “loop” of the refuge by continuing east on Bear
Creek Road (checkout Cottonwood Campground in 0.8 miles; p
475-476) to its junction with Cliff Ridge Road (another 2.7
miles; p 477); turn right [south] here and ascend a
ridgeline that overlooks Bayley Lake; backtrack to the last
junction, turn right [east] and go 0.3 miles, and then take
another right turn for 0.9 miles to an observation tower at
Potter’s Pond [moose likely; p 477]. You may continue for
0.2 miles beyond the tower for views of the north end of a
large wetland and Bayley Lake. Backtrack to the Bear
Creek/Potter’s Pond Road junction (in June when we visit,
Rookery Road straight ahead [north] is gated to auto traffic
to protect nesting birds, but may be hiked through rich
forest habitat sprinkled with beaver ponds and other wet
areas; p 477). To “continue the loop!!!” backtrack to
Headquarters and go 0.6 miles beyond, then turn right
[north] on Narcisse Creek Road and go 1.1 miles to a right
turn through a green gate where the road forks immediately
ahead [east]. Two excellent choices can be made here: (i)
take the right branch on Starvation Flat Road to River Camp
and McDowell Lake (p 477) for more wetland species, or
(ii) take the left branch on Blacktail Mountain Road (p
478) that begins in dry Ponderosa forest but after 7-8 miles
(and beyond) reaches wet coniferous forest that plays host
to a vastly different set of breeders including Spruce
Grouse and American Three-toed Woodpecker among the many.
Backtrack to Narcisse Creek Road and the “fork in the road”;
veer right and proceed west 1.7 miles to Kitt-Narcisse Road
where a right turn [north] at the junction and 1.4 miles
more will bring you to Hwy 20 about 9 miles east of
Colville. Turn right [east] on Hwy 20 and go ~9 miles
before turning left [north] on Black Lake Road (Barred Owls
along this short, ~2 mile road to the lake); immediately
after making this turn, go right [east] on Amazon Creek Road
and bird the north and east sides of Amazon Creek Marsh for
perhaps 0.7 miles particularly for American Bittern,
Red-eyed Vireo, American Redstart, Northern Waterthrush,
Gray Catbird and MacGillivray’s Warbler (p 478). Tacoma
Creek Road (p 479) perhaps 1 mile east of Amazon Marsh on
your right [south] hosts specialties such as Barred and
Flammulated Owls, Spruce Grouse, and American Three-Toed
Woodpecker in appropriate habitat.
REPUBLIC & CURLEW LOCAL
DESTINATIONS
[Day Trip 10] Local destinations on private
property near Republic include scanning the sewage ponds for
waterfowl just south of the Hwy20/21 junction (turnoff 0.2
miles, p 463), wandering nearby private property on the
riparian bottoms of the headwaters of the Sanpoil for a rich
variety of passerines (Tennessee Warbler is nearly annual
there during passage in May and has nested once), and
looking for Bobolinks in hayfields 2 miles south. From
Republic, drive ~2 miles north to Mud Lake and on to Curlew
Lake (waterfowl, grebes, blackbirds, sparrows, Great Blue
Heron, Common Yellowthroat and Yellow Warbler, Marsh Wren,
Osprey). Next, proceed north to Malo on Hwy 21 and go east
on the South Fork Saint Peter Creek Road (FS#2157) to the
Mt. Leona burn for American Three-toed and other
woodpeckers. Return to Malo and proceed north to backyard
hummingbird feeders in Curlew (Rufous, Calliope, &
Black-chinned). [If time allows, proceed west on West
Kettle River Rd, then south on Tonata Creek Road (FS#2148)
to Cargo Spring and continue on FS#102/701 to N. Fork
Granite Creek]. This trip is intended for Republic
residents new to birding and any WOS members who may be new
to birding or wish to travel at a slower pace.
OWLING: HAVILLAH
[Evening Trip O-1] Evening search for Great Gray, Barred,
and perhaps Northern Saw-whet or Long-eared Owls in the
Havillah and perhaps Bonaparte Lake areas. See Day Trips 6
& 7 for remarks pertinent to the area & owls. (waning
moon; sun-down ~8:52 PM PDT).
OWLING: SWAN LAKE
[Evening Trip O-2] Evening search for Flammulated, Northern
Pygmy-, and Barred Owls in the Swan Lake area. See remarks
pertinent to Scatter Creek, Day Trip 2 for for a description
of this area close to Republic. (waning moon; sun-down
~8:52 PM PDT).
OWLING: BEAVER VALLEY TO
CHESAW
[Evening Trip O-3] Evening search for Great Gray,
Barred, Northern Pygmy-, Northern Saw-whet, and Flammulated
Owls from Toroda Creek and Beaver Valley to Chesaw. See Day
Trips 6 & 7 for remarks pertinent to the area & owls.
(waning moon; sun-down ~8:52 PM PDT).
SPEAKER
We are most pleased to
have as our Saturday, June 17th, banquet speaker Chris
Loggers, Wildlife Biologist with the Colville National
Forest. He will discuss the natural history of the various
areas of northeastern Washington that WOS Conference field
trips will visit, minimally from eastern Okanogan to western
Pend Orielle Counties.
ACCOMMODATIONS IN AND
NEAR REPUBLIC
Conference attendees
must make their own reservations by personally contacting
the facilities listed below. You must mention the WOS
Conference room block to obtain the special rates or block
reservation considerations.
Prospector’s Inn: 979 S. Clark Ave., Republic, WA 99166, (509) 775-3361
or 1-(888)-844-6480,
ww.theprospectorinn.com contact Valerie Hester (owner/manager); 23 rooms + 5 suites;
rates are $48/room for a single, $53/room for a couple with
one bed, or $59-$70 for a quartet with 2 beds, 20 (of the 23
available) rooms are blocked for all 4 nights; reservations
made before May 1, 2006 will receive a 10% discount;
continental breakfast includes unlimited amounts of hard
boiled eggs, 4 types of cereal, sweet rolls, toast, coffee,
fruit, etc. and will be open at 4 AM in the conference room
(back/first floor); PC connections, microwave & refrigerator
in each room, laundry facilities, sauna, jacuzzi.
Northern Inn:
852 S. Clark Ave., (509) 775-3371, 1-(888)-801-1068
[reservations],
www.northern-inn.com contact Kathy & Andre Ciais (owner/manager); 25 rooms; 8
rooms blocked for Thursday & Sunday nights (6/15 & 18), 15
for Friday & Saturday nights (6/16 & 17); rates, $50/room
for one, $55/room for two; most rooms have 2 queen beds;
there is one handicapped room; all have PC connections,
refrigerator & microwave (but no continental breakfast).
Klondike Motel: 150 N.
Clark Ave., (509) 775-3555 or 1-(800)-213-2812
[reservations], fax (509) 775-2636, owners Rock & Darlene
Gliddon; about 15 rooms total; rates: $42 for singles & $44
to 54 for twosomes, kitchenettes in 5 rooms (a unique
advantage among the three motels); no blocked rooms. The
Allot Bed & Breakfast, Greg & Jerri Anderson, 69 Fish
Hatchery Rd., Republic 99166, (509) 775-2556 or 2555.
K-Diamond-K Guest Ranch: 15661 Hwy 21, South Republic, (509) 775-3536 or
1-(888)-345-5355,
www.kdiamondk.com,
2 elegant bedrooms both upstairs and downstairs in the ranch
house-each pair with shared bath for those desiring the
lap-of-luxury in a beautiful lodge constructed completely of
log-design, $125/nite, guests have free roam of 2 square
miles of Sanpoil River bottom and bordering pine forest
contiguous with Colville NF (i.e., no limitations on
access); RV or other self-contained camper sites also
available on the lodge grounds (no hook-ups).
CABINS, RV PARKS, AND CAMPGROUNDS NEAR REPUBLIC:
Curlew Lake S. P.: ~
10 mi northeast of Republic on Hwy 21, campground with
restrooms & showers, 82 campsites-18 with full hook-ups.
Tiffany’s
Resort: 58 Tiffany Rd., (509) 775-3152,
www.tiffanysresort.com lakeside cabins and RV sites on Curlew Lake.
Fisherman’s Cove
Resort: 15 Fisherman’s Cove Rd., (509) 775-3641; on Curlew
Lake 11 miles northeast of Republic on Hwy 21, cabins, RV
hookups, laundry, fishing supplies, boat motor rentals,
restaurant & espresso.
Millers RV Park
& Campground: a href="http://www.millersrvpark.com">
www.millersrvpark.com
located on Curlew Lake, offers all amenities.
Black Beach Resort and RV Park: 80 Black Beach Rd., (509) 775-3989,
bbresort@televar.com
www.blackbeachresort.com,
Al & Sharon Collins (owners), located on Curlew Lake.
Swan Lake & Ferry Lake
NF campgrounds; located about 7 mi. south of Republic on Hwy
21 and then west on Scatter Creek Rd. about 5 miles.
Ten Mile NF
campground: located about 10 miles south of Republic on Hwy
21.Ferry County
Fair Campground: (Site of Fair Pavilion) Tent camping, RV
hookups (no disposal), Restrooms and showers. More info at
www.ferrycountyfair.com MEALS
Meals include box
breakfasts and lunches on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and
catered, (may be buffet) banquet dinners on the same
evenings. Boxed meals may be picked up in the Fairgrounds
Pavilion at 4 AM prior to departure on the appropriate field
trip which leaves from the Pavilion at 5 AM. If you order
both a breakfast and lunch, we recommend that you bring a
back pack or shopping bag to carry your boxes. All meals on
Monday are left to the birder’s choice from among local
delis, markets, restaurants, etc. Storage of food items in
one’s motel room refrigerator for use on Monday
(Get-Away-Day) is one alternative. Price of meals catered
from the Pavilion includes tax and gratuity.
Breakfast - $8.50 each
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings: box breakfast
includes a protein such as a hard boiled egg or quiche,
fresh fruit, muffin, yogurt, juice, and coffee or tea will
be available.
Lunch - $10.00 each
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: box lunch includes sandwich
(choose turkey, ham, roast beef, or vegetarian), carrot and
celery sticks, chips, cookie, and dried fruit (eg., box of
raisins) and drink. Note that WOS is NOT supplying leaders
with bottled water on any trips—You must bring your own
water or pop.
Dinner - $20.00 each
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: dinner includes entrée (choose
chicken, ham, roast beef, or vegetarian entree), salad,
vegetable, starch, rolls and butter, coffee and tea, and
dessert. Note that there will be no bar at the Pavilion, but
if you wish alcoholic beverages you must bring your own,
e.g., in a cooler chest.
RESTAURANTS WITHIN
REPUBLIC
Hitch’n Post
Restaurant & Lounge: 628 S. Clark Ave., 775- ,Tavern
Atmosphere with a great little Steak Dinner.Esther’s
Mexican-American Restaurant & Cantina: 90 N. Clark Ave.,
775-2088, not open Sundays or late in the evening,
inexpensive, great food, surprisingly long menu of both
Mexican & American entrees and terrific selection of beers &
ales.
Hometown Pizza: 18 N.
Clark Ave., 775-2557, not open Sundays or late in the
evening, inexpensive, good menu for pizza, salad bar,
sandwiches.
Sportsman’s Roost: 645
S. Clark Ave., 775-0404, Family Dining with Lounge in Back.
Eich’s Ice Cream
Parlor & Deli: 15 N. Clark Ave., 775-2846, deli, ice cream
and espresso.
Madonna’s Bar & Grill:
627 S. Clarke Ave., 775-0125, Tavern.
Kettle Crust Bakery:
34 N. Clark Ave., 775-3754, bakery, natural & organic food,
lunch specials.
RESTAURANTS OUTSIDE
REPUBLIC
Curlew Saloon (&
Grill): in Curlew at 4 River St. (23 miles east and north of
Republic on Hwy 21), 779-4551, overall the best restaurant
in northeastern Washington.
Pine Grove
Junction Restaurant: 775-3304, fax: (509)-775-2881,
pinegrove@pwi.net open 7AM to 8 PM daily, all meals but probably not open at 4
AM for breakfast, situated 2.5 miles east of Republic at the
eastern junctions of Hwys 20/21, 5.7 miles south of Curlew
Lake S.P., 2.7 miles south of the south end of Curlew Lake
and the access road to many private RV parks on the west
side of Curlew Lake.
Wauconda Store & Café:
in Wauconda (17 miles west of Republic on Hwy 20), 2360 Hwy
20, 486-4010 for good food, homemade breads, pies, &
soup—don’t let the rustic exterior of the building mislead
you (technically you are now in Okanogan Co.).
SUPER MARKET/GAS
STATIONS/SPORTING GOODS/LIQUOR STORES
Anderson’s grocery &
Deli: 775-3378, 711 S. Clark Ave., excellent grocery fare
including deli, espresso, & bakery.
Republic Liquor Store/Flowers Et Cetera: 775-2587, gifts/flowers/only liquor
store in Ferry Co.
There is one sporting
goods store along Clark Ave. between Esther’s Restaurant and
Anderson’s Super-Market.
Gas stations are also
located on Clark Ave. south of the Prospector’s Inn and at
both the west and east junctions of Hwys 20/21.
|