On a whim Sunday I hiked up to Mt. Abercrombie, at 7300' near the top of the
northeast WA mountains. It isn't far west of Metaline, but I accessed it
from the Northport side, going up Silver Creek from Leadpoint. With no snow
yet up there this late in the year I decided to take advantage of the
opportunity. On the hike I went about four miles out from the trailhead,
about a mile beyond Abercrombie toward Hooknose, and gained over 2,000'.

Things started off well, with a male SPRUCE GROUSE. With a side view, I was
struck by how similar the body plumage was to many Blue Grouse I have seen,
which often have substantial white flecks on their flanks. There were also a
couple of Ruffed Grouse along this wet north slope, and a number of Blue
Grouse in various places, mostly high on the mountain. Then I heard some
strong finchy notes, and there were two female or first-year PINE GROSBEAKS.
Later there was another one up higher.

HIgh on the flank of the mountain a flock of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS flew over. On
the ridge north of the mountain a small group of songbirds flew by with a
looping flight, giving a few thin call notes. They were GRAY-CROWNED ROSY
FINCHES. On my way back five of them moved along the spine of the ridge with
me, lighting and feeding ahead of me, sometimes just a few feet. All five
were the gray-headed form. Coming back to Abercrombie the world was
darkening with gray skies all around. I noticed a bump on a snag and kept
walking, then backed up figuring I had a moral responsibility to check it
out: Pygmy Owl, in full attitude. I also had a closer encounter with the
waxwings, as they moved around the open mountain. Finally as the snow
started to fly about forty of them settled on the thick branches of a
whitebark pine snag. There are a lot of these open-crowned snags up there,
very photogenic. Just a few steps down the trail I scared up some Blue
Grouse, which in turn seemed to scare up some sparrows from the grassy slope.
They gave a lower call note, and then a white wing flash. Four SNOW
BUNTINGS, hoped for but not expected.

The snow was coming at me as horizontal pellets, and I quickly moved down to
a more gentle flurry. In the falling snow all the way down, no birds called.


Mark Houston
Spokane