We just returned from a day trip of hiking, birding and wildflowers up
along FS 72 and FS 7250 off Hwy. 410. Remarkably, we encountered only
one other person up there all day long. Only once did we even have
noise from over-flying aircraft. Truly a perfect day.

The wildflowers were just coming into peak display at the 5200 foot
elevation level where we hiked. It was kind of fun to look down the
slopes to the tops of old growth trees and, for once, look down at the
birds on the crowns.

Best sighting of the day was a Red-naped Sapsucker who was kind enough
to fly out into the open and pose for us for 5-8 minutes and allowed us
to closely examine him while he preened and vocalized.

Other birds seen during the day were:

Varied Thrush (6)
Hermit Thrush (2)
Rufous Hummingbird (2)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (3)
Mountain Chickadee (15)
Chestnut-backed Chickadee (5)
Black-capped Chickadee (20+)
Red-tailed Hawk (1)
Junco (numerous)
Raven 4
White-crowned Sparrow (1 at 4500 feet)
Ruffed Grouse
Common Flicker (Red-shafted)

A coffee stop in Greenwater gave us numerous Black-capped Chickadees,
Violet-Green and Barn Swallows and several Vaux's Swifts.

Turkey Vulture (4 soaring above opening field along Hwy 165 on
Auburn-Enumclaw Hwy about 2.5 miles west of Enumclaw.

LeslieAnn Rose
Tacoma, WA