Finding a Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos Washington is not easy. Today we birded a small area on Hess Lake Road, in Okanogan County, WA. It was almos t an afterthought, as we had earlier tried to see the Sharp-tailed Grouse Tympanuchus phasianellusat the Scotch Creek Recreation Area without success, and then the Concunelly area where we spotted a Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis , A flock of Evening Grosbeaks Coccothraustes vespertinus , and several other great species.
On the drive into Hess Lake National Wildlife Area we saw many Gray Partridge Perdix perdix, along with good numbers of Chukar Alectoris chukar. These are two species of introduced game birds thar have self sustaining populations in eastern WA. While there we saw an incredible 5 Golden Eagles. It became clear while we were there that the introduced game birds were the Golden Eagle attraction, as we watched while an adult Golden Eagle took and devowered a Gray Partridge.
It was a spectacle to behold, and we were all mesmorized and excited to have the chance to watch.