Steamboat Rock Peninsula	xx	xxx
HABITAT:	State Park and WDFW Wildlife Area with 17,770 acres of upper Grand Coulee with large, prominent 600-acre butte overlooking Banks Lake and wetlands.
BIRDING:	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, 4 species of hawk – Rough-legged, Red-tailed, Cooper’s, and Sharp-shinned – and 4 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 3 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:	From boat launch parking, walk 0.5 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 0.2 mile south on park road, then 0.2 mile west to Lake Thompson.
MORE BIRDING:	From Hwy 155, drive 0.4 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 Hwy 155 at milepost 15.5, turn west at sign for Steamboat Rock State Park. Drive 3.1 miles to boat launch and picnic areas.

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