Hi Gene and Tweeterland,

Some recent bird sightings which might be of interest from n-c Washington
in the "Empty Quarter" (East of the crest):

1-Snow Bunting-100 were in a field with Horned Larks 4-5 miles west of Sims
Corner on State Rte 172 (DeLorme p. 85, B-5) on Jan 28.
2-Pine Grosbeak-25 were seen in an apple orchard 2.5 miles north of
Winthrop on the East Chewack Road (DeLorme p. 113, D7) on Jan. 29. The
orchard is opposite the "Methow Valley Ranch." The birds were here in
December too, so it looks like there settled for the winter. The flock
feeds on tall black cottonwoods (the buds I believe) on the Methow Valley
Ranch and the apple orchard east of the road. There are many deer in this
orchard, an added attraction. The grosbeaks are amazingly quiet once they
settle into the snow shrouded apple trees (the leaves were frozen on the
trees in the fall prior to them falling off). Listen for their very pretty
and musical "chee-vlee? " calls.
3-A male Eurasion Wigeon was along the waterfront park in Pateros at the
mouth of the Methow River just east of the mini-mart along the highway on
Jan. 29.
Andy Stepniewski
Wapato, WA