Whoa! Ok. Major senior moment there! As several kind folks in Tweeterdom were astute enough to point out, these were PINE, not Rose-breasted Grosbeaks up there on Badger Mt. (Man, would Ryan have been on my case if I'd ebirded before tweeting!) The (one) Rosy is, of course, near Green Lake and much more predictable and easier to get to (quick, while it lasts!). Having seen both, though, aside from the rareness factor, these Pines were gaudier than that youngster. (But, bring Max a bag of sunflower meats when you go!!). - Jon (much embarrassed) Houghton, (under a melting snowman) Edmonds

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On Dec 27, 2017 6:20 PM, Jon Houghton <jon.houghton at hartcrowser.com> wrote:
Hi Tweets - It's almost a holiday tradition now: Head east between the holidays. From E. Wenatchee, we headed over Badger Mt. just to stay off the beaten path. About 13 degrees and foggy on the ascent but the clouds broke on the high plateau part. Not many birds but in a pine woods area between ranchettes, all of a sudden I had to chatter to a stop (ABS brakes on ice) for a flock of largish birds in the road: it was 11 ROSE BREASTED GROSBESKS, most were males and included the brightest we'd ever seen. In Waterville, we didn't ID anything special but a Kestrel was perched for a view of the feeder array on RT. 2. North of Waterville we saw several Rough-legged Hawks on poles and several large flocks of Horned Larks, one with one (!) SNOW BUNTING. Withrow had much grain, many columbids and House Sparrows, but no Gray Partridge.
We then designated Mansfield the Quail Capital of the NW and failed to find an owl in the town cemetery, despite much 'paint' under one tree. Our prime focus was on Sharptailed Grouse in waterbirch along Bridgeport Hill Rd. In the past, on cold afternoons with snow on the ground, we've found them, but...not today, maybe not enough snow to bring em down out of the sage?? . But, snow is forecast for tonight and tomorrow so... stay tuned! - Jon Houghton, Edmonds
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