Well I was certainly entertained and laughing at Pagodromo's account of
birding of Birding in NE WA in the winter. Not much to say the least -
areas that you are sure look good for birds and there are none around!!

But yesterday morning I ran across a bright spot in North Spokane
County - Just E of Hwy 2 in Elk on Valley Rd South of Elk to Hwy Rd:
(DeLorme p105 D6)
a mixed flock of
Common Redpoll - 100-120 (Couldn't locate any hoary's)
Amer Goldfinches - 15-20
Pine Siskins - 15-20

They were eating alder seeds from the catkins and then eating gravel
from the roads.
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East side Raptors
During the last three years I have run regular raptor routes around
Spokane and as far as a quick look at the data, the number of
rough-legged hawks last year (96-97) were almost double from this
year (97-98) and the previous year (95-96). My explanation being the
harsh winter we had last year forced more northerly birds down around
the Spokane area.



Howard Ferguson
Spokane (part of the "winter bird desert")