Birders' top spots: Steamboat Rock

	TROY MABEN / AP The golden eagle is just one of the many birds of prey that frequent the Steamboat Rock area.
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Location: On Banks Lake, 12 miles southwest of Grand Coulee Dam, in Grant County, Eastern Washington.

Habitat: State park land, plus state wildlife area overseen by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife; 17,770 acres of Upper Grand Coulee with prominent 600-acre butte overlooking lake and wetlands.

Best seasons for birding: Popular in winter, but good year-round.

Birds commonly seen: American goldfinches brighten spring skies, while red-tailed hawks, northern flickers and house finches live here year-round. But birders favor this spot especially in late fall and winter: See bald and golden eagles, northern harriers, four species of hawk — rough-legged, red-tailed, Cooper's and sharp-shinned — and four species of falcon — prairie and peregrine, American kestrel and merlin. Watch for great horned and long-eared owls, plus waterbirds including American coots, American wigeons, northern shovelers, gadwalls, redheads, canvasbacks, all three merganser species; plus pied-billed, horned and western grebes. On bare tree branches perch northern shrikes, American tree sparrows, dark-eyed juncos, and black-capped and mountain chickadees.

Viewing tips: From boat-launch parking, walk a half-mile north to primitive campground, or hike steep 1-mile trail to top of Steamboat Rock for wide views of Banks Lake and eagles. At north and south camping areas, walk around poplars into sagebrush and along lakeshore. From park registration station, walk .2 mile south on park road, then .2 mile west to Lake Thompson. Other viewing nearby: From Highway 155, drive .4 mile toward park. Turn left (south) onto primitive dirt road and park. Walk to Russian-olive grove that hosts long-eared and great horned owls.

Access: From Highway 155 at Milepost 15.5, turn west at sign for Steamboat Rock State Park. Drive 3.1 miles to boat launch and picnic areas. Washington State Parks daily parking fee of $5 (or annual pass) required.

More information: www.wdfw.wa.gov/lands/r2banklk.htm, www.parks.wa.gov or 509-633-1304.

Source: Audubon Washington. For free maps of Washington birding sites, call 866-922-4737 and ask for Great Washington State Birding Trail maps ("Cascade Loop" and/or "Coulee Corridor") or request online at www.wa.audubon.org.

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