Hi Tweets -

Today Clay Taylor and I spent a good part of the day on Mt. Rainier
looking for birds and butterflies. It was a beautiful day, clear and
sunny until mid afternoon. Lots of flower fields left and this provided
us with nice views of some butterflies, several of which were "life
butterflies" for Clay. The other target today was Gray-crowned Rosy
Finch. We went up the Skyline Trail to the junction with the trail to
Camp Muir and then went to the beginning of the snow fields. We listened
and scanned the snow fields thoroughly but had no action by rosy
finches. We did have lots of Dark-eyed Juncos, Townsend's Warbler,
Nashville Warbler, Common Raven, American Pipit and a quick view of an
accipiter diving out of view (Cooper's/Sharp-shinned).

On working our way back down the trail we stopped near a wet meadow when
our eye was attracted to a moving bird - it was a White-tailed Ptarmigan
chick, the adult was nearby. Both birds were nicely patterned and
feeding on vegetation. We observed the bird for approximately 40 minutes
with lots of digital photos taken through Clay's Swarovski HD scope - we
able to show the birds to a number of hikers. The location was about 1/3
to 1/2 mile uphill from the junction with the Skyline Trail - only wet
meadow you encounter.

On rejoining the Skyline Trail, we continued east for about 100 yards
and found a Blue Grouse feeding on lupines. Most accommodating, the
scope view was a head shot.

We also had good looks at Hoary Marmots, ground squirrels, and a Pika.

All in all an excellent day.

Brian H. Bell
Woodinville Wa
bellasoc at isomedia.com
www.peregrinenorthwest.com