Birders' top spots: Pearrygin Lake State Park

Location: Near Winthrop, Okanogan County.

Best seasons for birding: Spring through fall.

Habitat: Popular 580-acre state park with large lake and sandy beach surrounded by dry hills with shrubs and scattered groves of trees.

Birds commonly seen: More than 136 species have been recorded here, with reliable sightings of eagles, hawks, owls and warblers.

Watch also for occasional American redstarts, Lewis' woodpeckers, Clark's nutcrackers, black swifts, red-eyed vireos, Brewer's sparrows, veeries and lazuli buntings.

Viewing tips: Best viewing is along east side of lake, where a 0.7-mile trail leads from parking to group camping area. Spring and summer mornings offer particularly fine birding.

Getting there: From Highway 20 at stop sign in downtown Winthrop, continue straight (north) onto Riverside Avenue/Bluff Street/East Chewuch Road. Drive 1.5 miles. Turn right (east) onto Beaver Creek Road. Drive 1.6 miles. Turn right (east) at Pearrygin Lake State Park sign. Drive 1.6 miles to east end of campground.

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" or "Coulee Corridor"), or request online at www.wa.audubon.org.