It still seems a little to early for many species of birds in the high
elevations such as Johnson Ridge north of Skykomish. Friday morning I was
up there looking for Dusky Flycatchers. I couldn't find any. The
Townsend's Solitaires were everywhere. I was expecting a grouse on the
roadways, but didn't see any. They may still be on the nest which leaves
only 50% to roam the forest. The burn up there from two years ago isn't in
mature forest. This doesn't look good enough to pull in Black-backed or
Three-toed Woodpeckers. An Olive-sided Flycatcher has set up territory on
one of the taller dead trees. I figure two more weeks before it will look
like spring up there. The forest right above the ridge had a fresh layer of
snow on the trees and there was a small patch of snow in the trail going up
to Joan Lake. MacGillivray's Warblers were singing in the
regrowth/clear-cut areas and a Hairy Woodpecker forced me to hit the brakes
thinking it might be that rarity that hasn't shown itself yet. The snow on
Evergreen Mt. was mainly gone and it looked better for birding except for
the road up there is gated leaving miles to hike before getting into that
higher elevation zone where some good alpine species might be lurking.
Maybe today I'll check Barclay Lake above the town of Baring.

Ken Knittle, Gold Bar