Hi Tweeters,

we spent last weekend in the area of the so-called Randy Stoltmann
Wilderness; that is, an area west of Whistler B.C. which covers several low
altitude watersheds and the alpine in between. Only some (2?)of the valleys
have been designated provincial parks recently, the rest is still
open for logging.
The trail we followed started from the second last clearcut in the Upper
Elaho (tributary of the Squamish), and would traverse eventually into the
Lilloet watershed; we however made only a 2 day foray into the
old-growth of the Elaho. A tree list (not honouring age and size of some
of the encountered giants) would include Douglas-fir, Red and Yellow
Cedar, Amabilis and Subalpine Fir, Yew, Western and Mountain Hemlock, Sitka
Alder, and a Juniper shrub on a canyon side.
Birds are obviously not the only incentive to go there; we saw 3
bears on the road in, and Mule Deer and a Mountain Goat family with
goatlet(?) on the trail. But I like an area which yields a bird list with
a profile, however short; characteristic and not including Starlings, House
Sparrows or Mallards, even Robins.

Birds seen or heard 15-16/6. 26 species
Common Goldeneye f with youngs (Squamish valley, second growth, low elev)
Hooded Merganser f with youngs ( " " )
Kestrel (clearcut)
Peregrine ? (clearcut)
Rufous Hummingbird ++
Red-breasted Sapsucker 4
Pileated Woodpecker (heard)
Pacific Slope Flycatcher (the sneezing one) +
Steller's Jay (heard)
Common Raven 3
Chestnut-backed Chickadee +
Red-breasted Nuthatch 3 (heard)
Winter Wren ++ (many still singing)
Dipper 3 (2 at Lava Creek, 1 at Impassable Creek,all with food)
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 (heard)
Swainson's Thrush + (first 1 hour of hike)
Hermit Thrush ++ (the other 7 hours of hike)
Am. Robin 1(only; possible in a flooded willow area)
Varied Thrush ++
Townsend's Warbler 1
Black-headed Grosbeak 2 (heard)
Rufous-sided Towhee 1 (heard)
White-crowned Sparrow + (clearcut)
Dark-eyed Junco ++ (both clearcut and old-growth)
Red-winged Blackbird (Squamish valley)
Pine Siskin ++ (single or in small groups; families?)

4 Black Bear (2 young)
3 Mountain Goat (1 young)
3 Mule Deer
1 Coyote (clearcut)
Douglas Squirrel

+ = several
++ = many

And not to forget the anemony (probably Lyall's anemony) and Wild Ginger.

If anybody is interested in directions and more information about trail
(and Indiana Jones-style bridge) conditions, feel free to ask.

Reto Riesen
Dept. Chem., UBC
Vancouver, B.C.
riesenr at chem.ubc.ca