Hi all -
Monday and Tuesday [Jan 24 & 25], I headed over to the Waterville
Plateau in Douglas County to see what was around. Both days were
warm [30s] and foggy. Though there are parts of the area with snow
cover, all roads I travelled on were clear, though some of the
dirt/gravel ones were a bit muddy. I encountered fewer flocks of
birds on the plateau than expected, though part of that may have been
due to fog limiting my views...

Monday:
Central Ferry Canyon Rd., [WA ABA p. 386-7, Delorme p. 100 D-2]
NORTHERN GOSHAWK - 1 on Monday, flying from a perch about halfway up
to where the pines start.
In the pines were PYGMY & WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH as well as MOUNTAIN
& BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES.
SNOW BUNTING - One flock, about 50 or so strong, up on the plateau
before where CFC Rd turns into Dyer Hill/Division. These were the
only SNBU I saw on the trip. I also had a similar sized flock of
HORNED LARKS on this stretch. [and scattered HOLA in smaller groups
all over the plateau]

Bridgeport: [WA ABA p. 386, Delorme, p. 100 'E'-3]
BLUE JAY - Presumably the same one reported by others. I was calling
loudly, right on cue as I cruised the neighborhood. Others have
mentioned 19/20th and Main Street[aka Columbia]. For me, it was
sitting in a tree on 17th near Fisk [about 2-3 blocks left off the
main drag.

Bridgeport Bar: [WA ABA p. 386, Delorme, p. 100 D-3]
BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS - a large flock [100+] in the trees near the Wells
Wildlife Area parking lot closest to the Grange x 173 intersection.
VARIED THRUSH - One, along the trail from that same parking lot to the water.
NORTHERN SHRIKE - near the same parking lot [my only one of the trip,
compared with 10-15 for a similar trip last year]
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK - One cruised by overhead here.
[no luck finding american tree sparrows here or elsewhere]

Out on the water, viewed from this stop and the other main access
point on the Bar:
COMMON LOON - 4-6
HORNED GREBE - several
RED-NECKED GREBE - 1
CACKLING & CANADA GEESE - large flocks
REDHEAD - 4
CANVASBACK 1

Monday night I stayed in Grand Coulee - Kudos to whoever was
responsible for getting the Grand Coulee Hotel to stock the Birding
Trail Maps at the counter - they also had info about a coming Balde
Eagle Festival on the counter. Even to this skeptic of the "Birders'
$" discussions, it was pretty impressive.

Tuesday:
I started over in Lincoln Co., driving around on the plateau
surrounding Bagdad Junction. [WA ABA p. 395, Delorme, p. 86 A/B-1]
Despite being up above the dense fog, it was pretty quiet. Only
scattered groups of HORNED LARKS , never more than 10 at once.
Also saw 4 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS up there.

I returned for another try at the Bridgeport Hill Rd. access points
to the Wells Wildlife Area [near mp7] - in 3 visits I had no luck
with either sharp-tailed grouse or redpolls. [WA ABA p. 386, Delorme,
p. 84 A-3]

By mid-afternoon, I'd revisited many places from the day before and
decided to start back towards Seattle. A couple sightings on the way:

GOLDEN EAGLE - one in a tree roadside along SR 17 near Sun Lakes SP.
[WA ABA p. 391, Delorme 85 D-5]

GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH 30+ , Vantage, Kittitas CO., along Huntziger
Rd, south of the Wanapum Dam.
[WA ABA p. 291, Delorme p. 52 A/B-1]
Along the rocky walls, right where the road is narrowest. This was at
about 3:30-4:00 in the afternoon. Given that they were at this same
spot on Dec 16 when I came through here, it might be a pretty
reliable stop. There is a good full pull-off just past this point,
from which it is possible to walk on the narrow shoulder back to the
GCRF - Traffic is mercifully light, but still very close at hand, be
advised. Once at this spot though, the GCRF allowed great, close up
viewing.

I guess I've already shot my hopes at Gene's Green Big Year, eh?

Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA






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