We typically meet at the rest stop at Snoqualmie Pass for a potty stop and to get organized into a caravan. This year there were 5 cars and 19 birders.
Our next stop is Wenatchee Confluence State Park for more porcelain, and to check out the Columbia River for waterfowl, loons, grebes and gulls.
Bohemian waxwing
From here we head to our primary first day destination on the Waterville Plateau. This is a large open wheat farming area in Douglas County where birds of the open snow fields tend to congregate. Highlights are flocks of Horsed larks, some mixed with Snow buntings, and hopes for Lapland longspur or Gray-crowned rosy finches. Raptors are common and Prairie falcon, both common buteos, Red-tailed and Rough-legged hawks, Golden eagles, and American kestrel are usually seen.
Northern Pygmy Owl
On the second day we head north from Tonasket into the Okanogan Highlands looking for species like Sharp-tailed grouse, Pine Grosbeak, N. Pygmy owl, American tree sparrow, and generally enjoy the cold air, open fields, and company of good birding friends.
On the third day we often try to find species we missed on the first two days, often birding areas like Concunelly, Cameron Lake Loop Road, or revisit the Waterville Plateau.
This year was a great "chicken" year, and we found 6 species of gallinaceous birds: Chukar, California quail, Gray partridge, Ruffed grouse, Sharp-tailed grouse, and unexpectedly Greater sage grouse.
Sharp-tailed grouse
Some variation of this route is commonly used by birders interested in the WA winter specialty birds, and is a trip not to miss if you want a good Washington State year list.
