Greetings group,

We'll have to add our voices to the chorus of successful Ptarmigan hunters today. Diane Yorgason-Quinn and I trooped doggedly up the Golden Gate trial at Paradise this morning in search on Gray Crowned Rosy Finches for her and Ptarmigans for me. We both scored; a Life Bird each of us! Diane's Rosy Finches were first spotted on the small snowfield at the junction of Gloden Gate Trail and Skyline Trail about 1.5 miles above Paradise. Lucky Her! I went on the additional mile up to the now familiar spot east of the snowfield which is east of Panarama Point. I settled in on a large boulder with a good view and was prepared to wait until Christmas rather than climb those switchbacks again! Within 5 minutes one of the gray-brown rocks near the falling water on the hillside began to move. Success! I moved over closer to watch when one turned into two, then three, and finally four adults. I watched them feed placidly (is that one "c" or two?) on the moss for about 45 minute!
s before
I headed back down. Great Day!!

We also have a question. There appeared to be two types of Hummers up there, and we clearly IDed the Rufous, but the other looked much bigger; not a Calliope's size at all. Do some of you Hummer Folks out there know if Anna'a are found up that high?

The rest of the birds were the usual suspects, but we were treated to a short visit from a pair of Orange Crowned Warblers and the song of a Winter Wren.

-Rolan




Rolan Nelson
Burley, WA
rnbuffle at yahoo.com

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