NWBirding Sinlahekin Wildlife Area

Sinlahekin Wildlife Area, Okanogan National Forest, WA

Synopsis

The Sinlahekin Wildlife Area far exceeded my expectations. Though it is a little off the beaten path, the drive and stay at this wildlife area was worth it. We stayed just off a forest/logging road and hiked on the roads during the day. We saw a couple of old homesteads that were well worn down and where nature had taken its course. In one of the old houses, a Say’s Phoebe pair had set up a nest. We walked along the roads enjoying the fields of balsamroot, the occasional herd of deer, and the stands of quaking aspen. The stands of aspen were truly amazing – there were blooming oceanspray and snowberry growing among the aspen. The contrast of white and green made a wonderful scene. Birds were abundant in the aspens – we saw a White-breasted Nuthatch, Chickadees, and Warblers. We also watched a pair of Red-naped Sapsuckers chase each other from trunk to trunk. Next to our campsite in an open meadow, there was a good size pond full of toadpoles. The number of toadpoles was amazing. We also saw the Western Toads and a few Pacific Treefrogs around the pond at night. The night air was full of the calling amphibians.

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Pictures

	Deer among a field of Balsamroot

	Old homestead
	Mountain Chickadee
	Western Toad
	A lot of Toadpoles
	Columbia Ground Squirrel

	Aspen groove with Oceanspray

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Bird List

Golden Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
America Kestrel
Spruce Grouse - "Franklin's"
Blue Grouse
Wild Turkey
Killdeer
Great Horned Owl
Common Poorwill
Rufous Hummingbird
Calliope Hummingbird
Red-naped Sapsucker
Williamson's Sapsucker
Northern Flicker
Hairy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Pacific-sloped Flycatcher
Hammond's Flycatcher
Western Wood Pewee
Say's Phoebe
Warbling Vireo
Common Raven
Black-billed Magpie
Boreal Chickadee
Mountain Chickadee
Black-capped Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Mountain Bluebird
Western Bluebird
America Robin
European Starling
Townsend's Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Western Tanager
Lazuli Bunting
Chipping Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Spotted Towhee
Brown-headed Cowbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Cassin's Finch
House Finch
Pine Siskin

Other Critter List

North American Deermouse
Yellow-pine Chipmunk
Fox Squirrel
Columbia Ground Squirrel
Bat sp.
Snowshoe Hare
Mule Deer
White-tailed Deer
Pacific Tree Frog
Western Toad & toadpoles

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Information

Located: near Tonasket, WA
Directions: off of hwy-20/97, turn west onto Pine Creek Road (between Omak and Tonasket)
Sinlahekin Wildlife Area

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