Hi folks,

Picked this off the WDFW "Weekender" web page, as I thought it
might get some of us out and birding!! :-) Maybe even Tom Foote....

Jon. Anderson
Olympia, Washington
festuca at olywa.net
----------
Subject: Fwd: Weekender, 9/8 - 9/22

Raptor viewing: Migrating raptors are a breathtaking bonus to many
high-elevation hikes. Watch high ridge tops where hawks can be seen
plunging off cliffs to sail on rising air currents heated by mid-day sun or
diving hundreds of feet for prey on a valley floor. Binoculars with a wide
field of view are best for identifying birds in the air. Clear weather with
winds from the west or southwest, and immediately before an
approaching weather front provide the best conditions for viewing.


Since raptor movements are largely weather dependent, contacting
your local Audubon Society or bird club for information is highly
recommended. The most common species along the eastside of the
Cascade Mountains include American kestrels, red-tailed hawks,
northern harriers, golden eagles, Cooper's and sharp-shinned hawks,
osprey, merlin and prairie falcons. Many of the best viewing sites are
7- to- 12 miles from highways; access roads can be steep and narrow.
Two well-known hawk watching sites are Hart's Pass and Slate Peak.

For directions and more information call the Okanogan National Forest
at (509) 997-2131. A half-mile hike brings viewers to another good hawk
site at an old lookout on the peak of Red Top Mountain in the
Wenatchee National Forest. Also try Diamond Head, nine miles east
of Red Top. Call Wenatchee National Forest at (509) 662-4335 for
directions and details.
***************************************