Hi Tweets - chilly morning in the Highlands today, with temperatures down to about 9 degrees. First stop was Fancher Rd. which was snow free. A single Chukar was scoped on the ridgeline and a Prairie Falcon on a light pole out on the flats gave us great views. Siwash Rd was a little disappointing with not much more interesting than a Great Blue Heron inexplicably flying up the canyon?? The road up to the Havillah SnoPark was treacherously frozen ice ruts. We made it to the parking lot where we chatted with the ski track groomer and learned that one of the area's Great Gray's got whacked by a vehicle on Havillah Rd recently. Discouraged by this, the lack of birds in the area, and the beginning snowfall, we crept slowly down the ice and back to Havillah Rd. On to Nealy Rd, there was the usual number of Rough-legged Hawks and Ravens but little else, even at the feeders. Chesaw was equally barren and with the Tav closed, we looked for birds at the creek (3 starling) and on to the cemetery ( nada). After turning and heading back to town, I caught a glimpse of what might be a bird on a snag behind the 'nature sanctuary'. Scoping through the thickening snow, it was a beautiful adult Goshawk! Just as I turned the scope over to Kathleen, the only vehicle we saw on this stretch of road came by and the bird disappeared into the snow. Back at Chesaw, we had a nice hot lunch at the Tavern (recommended for all birders, closed Monday). After lunch, Bolster Rd was pretty bird free but we did find Shep's Townsend's Solitaire in trees by the bridge. Mary Ann Cr. Rd. was mostly bird free (despite squeaking for Am. Tree Sparrow at multiple likely looking places). Near Molson, where it meets Molson Rd. we found a small flock of Gray-crowned Rosy Finches that others had recently seen along Mary Ann Creek. The last amazing sighting of the day was on Teas Rd. off Havillah Rd. (All-wheel drive strongly recommended to go up this road that is badly rutted by the recent big melt and now refrozen.) But! The huge flock of previously reported Snow Buntings is worth the climb!! I guessed near a thousand birds but I couldn't see them all. They were actively feeding in the wake of cattle that were breaking up the crusty snow exposing some underlying grasses. Off to Conconully and Timentwa Plateau tomorrow. Happy Birding! - Jon Houghton, Edmonds

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