Mary Anne Rossing and I (George Gerdts) spentSunday through Wednesday east of the Cascade crest. Sunday, Monday, and Wednesdaythe weather was fine, with some fog and snow showers on Sunday. Tuesday (Jan8), there was steady snow and accompanying fog all day. We managed to see anumber of the "sought-after" winter species and got a jump start onour year lists.
Highlights:
Jan 7 (Monday)
Gyrfalcon- a gray morph, nearly adult (stillretaining a few brown scapular feathers), was seen on 8th NW (Sprauer Rd) whereit intersects F NW Rd. (Sprauer is the road to Lamoine off of SR 172.) Thefalcon, sitting on a telephone pole, was eating a Gray Partridge when 2 Rough-LeggedHawks began to harass it. Itrelinquished its prey to the Rough-legs and then flew off, affording us greatclose-up views.
Other birds, chronologically:
Jan 6 (Sun)
Wild Turkey, 22, along Teanaway Rd off SR970, Cle Elum
Northern Goshawk, one flying over Wayne andJenny Gravell?s feeders on Badger Mtn
Common Redpoll, four at Gravell?s feeders
Jan 7 (Mon)
Gray Partridge, 12, Withrow, and 8, SR 172south of Mansfield
Rough-legged Hawk, 20, widespread throughoutthe plateau
Prairie Falcon, one adult, Bridgeport Bar
Snowy Owls, 2, Division Rd off SR 172 about 1mi north towards Bridgeport. The twoowls tussled in the snow after one spotted the other and flew across ? mile ofsnow-covered steppe.
Bohemian Waxwing, 40, Bridgeport Bar; 250,downtown Chelan; 40, Pateros
Gray-crowned Rosy-finch, 12, brieflyalighting on SR 172 near Mansfield just before dusk
Jan 8 (Tues)
Chukar, 9 on the snow, calling, McNeil Canyonat junction with 97A.
Cedar Waxwing, 27, in a pure flock, downtownChelan
Jan 9 (Wed)
Snow Bunting, 200, along F NW just north of 8NW (Sprauer Rd)
Trumpeter (one) and Tundra (two) Swans, inthe Columbia River at Entiat
Northern Shrike, four, various locations onthe plateau
With 4 Kestrels and 3 Merlins in addition to theGyr and Prairie Falcons, we had a four-falcon day on Jan 7.

George Gerdts, Bainbridge Island, WA
Jan 9, 2013