Yesterday (July 18th) my wife and I hiked to the top of Silver
Star Mountain, we accessed the mountain by the road from south. From the
Washougal River Mercantile we went up Skye Road onto Bear Prairie and
took the Skamania Mines Road 8.3 miles to Grouse Vista with the intent to
go up the Pyramid Rock Trail. But we encountered a large hiking group
there and decided that birding would be better at a spot with fewer
people so we continued on to the parking lot at the end of the 4109 Road.
The wildflowers are still blooming profusely though the
composition of species had changed since I was here a week ago. The
meadows now consist mainly of Shining Angelica interspersed with Harsh
and Scarlet Paintbrush, Mountain Thermopsis (Golden Pea) and Columbine.
Beargrass is now only in bloom at the summit and the Columbia Lewisia
flowers have shriveled. Other plants of interest were Nodding onion,
Cascade Mariposa Lily, Explore's Gentian, Mountain Sandwort, Cardwell's
Penstemon, Broad-leaved Penstemon, Orange Agosersis, and Subalpine Daisy.
The birds were much quieter and harder to find though we did see
two Osprey (which were a surprise at 3,000 feet), a pair of Golden
Eagles, American Kestrel, Blue Grouse, Swainson's Thrush, Hermit Thrush,
Varied Thrush, MacGillivray's Warbler, Lazuli Bunting, and Red Crossbill.
Wilson Cady
gorgebirds at juno.com