Tweets,
Spent a few glorious days up in the general tiffany area, highlights by
day and location were as follows:
Sat. 9/18.
N. Pygmy Owl calling at Freezout Pass
Three-toed Woodpecker-female at Freezout Pass
Boreal Owl calling for about 2 minutes at the crossing of Brown Meadows
Creek at 8:45 PM. Excellent series of call notes and saw shape flying
accross the road but alas the bird eluded the flashlight like other times
I've tried to see this bird.
Sun. 9/19:
Hike up Freezout ridge. Excellent diversity of raptors coming and going
over Whistler pass. The following totals are in two hours of observation
in early afternoon.
Cooper's Hawk-2, adult-1 imm-1
Sharp-shinned Hawk-4, Adult-3 imm-1
N. Goshawk-1 Adult, even lit in tree for a great view. Life bird for my
friend.
Accipter Sp.-4
N. Harrier-1 female
Merlin-1
Red-tailed Hawk-3
Rough-legged Hawk-1 (Dark-phase)
Buteo sp-1
Golden Eagle-1 (imm)
Two excellent interactions witnessed. The first was with the resident NOHA
and a passing COHA. THere was a fantastic arial battle as the COHA dropped
off the ridge and into the NOHA's air space. The chaser turned into the
chassee and visda versa.
The other interaction was on of the RTHA converged over the ridge at the
same time as the imm. GOEA. To witness the valiant efforts of the RTHA as
it successfully defended its air space against the GOEA.
Other birds of interest up in this area were several flocks of 200+ Horned
Larks, small flocks of pipits, a single adult Chipping sparrow (acted like
a resident, despite it being over 7300 ft. here)
One female White-winged Crossbill lit to give us a brief look. Two other
flocks were seen but went unidentified to Red or White-winged.
A group of 4 spruce grouse (female with 3 young, including one was an imm.
male) about the 9 mile marker of FS 39.
In this same area when coming back to the road flushed a group of 5 Blue
Grouse. This is in the same area as I have seen broods of both species
other years.
9/20:
3 Three-toed Woodpeckers in the thunder Mt. area.
A single sandhill crane flying over Roger Lake.
A flock of Boreal Chickadees, with a displaying male GC Kinglet.
At N. Fork Boulder Creek a Goshawk briefly soared over the forest giving a
brief look before diving back into the forest.

Scott Downes
sdownes at u.washington.edu
Seattle WA

"Birds don't read bird books. (That's why they are seen doing things they
are not supposed to do)." -Mary Wood