On Tue, 8 Aug 1995, Scott Richardson wrote:

> I plan to visit Manning Park at the end of the month, seeking a good
> (car)-camping experience with few people and many birds. It will
> encompass a weekend and last about 4 days. I would be thrilled to see
> Boreal Chickadees and other species found in their haunts.

I assume by (car)-camping you mean no overnight hikes. I would
definitely spend at least one or two days along the Heather Trail to Big
Buck Ridge and the Three Brothers. It offers good subalpine meadows and
ridges which are usually packed with migrants at that time of year. The
Three Brothers themselves have some true alpine with the possibility of
White-tailed Ptarmigan. Boreal Chickadees and Spruce Grouse are possible
anywhere in the subalpine forests.

Spruce Grouse are also found in the montane spruce habitats in the valley
bottoms; the trail along Lightning Lakes is good for them. I'd spend a
day hiking that one; going out to Flash Lake at least. If you want more
strenuous and more spectacular hikes, Mt. Frosty and the Skyline Trail
are options. You wouldn't see any different birds there that you
wouldn't get on the Heather or Lakes trails, though. Strawberry Flats at
Gibson Pass is also a very birdy spot in migration, and can have Spruce
Grouse, Pine Grosbeaks and Boreal Chickadees. For something a little
different, drop into McDiarmid Meadows at the east gate of the park.
It's a little bit of the Interior, with breeding Northern Waterthrushes
and American Redstarts along the river and Dusky Flycatchers on the
hillsides. I'm not sure what would be there in late August, but I'd
check it out.

Good Luck!

Dick Cannings

Richard J. Cannings cannings at bcu.ubc.ca
Cowan Vertebrate Museum vertmus at bcu.ubc.ca
Department of Zoology, (604)822-4665
University of British Columbia (604)822-2416 (FAX)
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 CANADA