Hi all,

19 of us from TAS's bird class just got back from our annual trip. After
hearing it was slow over there, I am glad to report anything but. The ease
and quickness of finding specialties was almost unreal. Seemed like whatever
we targeted, it was shortly found. Thanks to earlier tweet reports, we detoured
from our original route plans. Thanks also to Stefan and Meredith Spencer. Mere-
dith and Rick even put us on a Snowy Owl. Stefan found the Long-eared owl at
Heritage rd. and helped with planning.
Usually we term our trip as the "Freeze-athon," this year the weather was great
on Sunday and Monday, with snow showers Saturday and 3" of snow Sat. nite.
Most roads were okay Sunday morning, although we saw 2 spin-outs. Quickly melted
out, mostly gone by 11am. Very impressed the the plowing and
sanding over there. Sunday morning all the roads in the highlands done by 7:30am.
Our route was Cle Elum, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Confluence SP, South end of
Cameron Lake. Day 2 the Highlands and Scotch Creek, Day 3 Waterville Plateau.
Birds:
Long-tailed Duck, Found by Ed Pullen at Confluence SP
8 Chukar, Fancher rd, found by Ryan Wiese
30 Gray Partridge, 20 Cam Lk, 10 Havillah
20 Sharp-tailed Grouse, Scotch Ck., 3 by road, 17 nearby
4 Turkeys Conconully
2 Golden Eagles, Fancher rd.
1 Snowy Owl, H & 15.4
3 Pygmy Owls, 2 highlands, 1 Conconully
1 Long-eared owl, Heritage rd.
1 Acorn Woodpecker, Cashmere
1 Gray Gyr, 16NE between I & J, also same bird on sr172
2 Prairies, Cam Lk, Withrow
~153 Bohemian Waxwings, Cle Elum, Leavenworth, sr97 weight scales
~80 Snow Buntings, Havillah, Bridgeport Hill
30 Am. Tree Sparrows, 20 Scotch Ck., 10 Heritage rd.
~40 Gray-crowned Rosy Finchs, Nealy rd. feeder
34 Pine Grosbeaks, Leavenworth
~80 C. Redpolls, 1.25 miles past Chesaw on Myers ck rd.

Good luck, and good birding.

Ken Brown
kennethwbrown at hotmail.com
Port Orchard