I thoroughly enjoyed Andy's descriptions of the high country. I spent August 11-13 to the northwest of
Andy's group, based at Packwood Lake. My group took a day trip to Packwood Saddle and nearly to Elk Pass.
We managed to get just far enough to enjoy the grand view of Johnson's Peak. It was here that I caught a
glimpse of what I thought looked like three Golden Eagles. Unfortunately, they were all diving and swirling
back out of sight behind trees before I could get my binoculars on them. I was a bit distracted by the
beautiful butterflies in the alpine meadow. I had never seen Milbert's Tortoiseshell before and I was
impressed. I hoped that Andy's report would include Golden Eagles so I could feel better about my
tentative identification. But, alas, no. To what extent do Golden Eagles nest in the rocky cliffs above
5,000 feet in the Cascade Mountains?

There were at least 8 Barrow's Goldeneyes on Packwood Lake. Red Crossbills and Vaux Swifts were about. I heard
a Yellowlegs and saw a Spotted Sandpiper. A pair of Osprey were ever-present. I saw a group of Gray Jays on
the way out. A Bobcat walked within 10 meters of me. One of the largest Common Garter Snakes I have ever seen
lay on the trail. Also caught an apparent Cascades Frog metamorph in a wet spot along the trail.


I so wish I could spend more time in the alpine. Many of the birds there are so unfamiliar to me. I listen to
them, come home and find out that my cd "Birds of the Pacific States" once again falls way short, completely
lacking things like Pine Grosbeak and White-winged Crossbill. The Red Crossbill recordings include only the
kip kip call. I seem to remember being disappointed by the House Wren recording earlier when I was puzzling
over a bird along the Yakima River near Ellensburg. I have yet to find a web site that has more than a few
common species. C'mon technology, catch up.

Kelly McAllister
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Olympia, Washington
mcallkrm at dfw.wa.gov