Subject: N Cascades Hwy Today
Date: Jun 7 20:39:11 2003
From: MaryK - CelloBird at seanet.com


(First, my thanks goes to Mother Nature for the gorgeous weather and the
amazing part of the country we live in, Washington is just the best. (And
thanks to VW for its fine automotive air-conditioning system. <grin>)

My plan was to head to the Toppenish NWR today, but on the spur of the
moment I hit the road towards the N Cascades Hwy/Hwy 20 w/its BFG in hand.
Didn't have a long birding day but enjoyed every single minute of it!

That milepost 116.5 place is really neat! If you ever want to just sit and
listen to SWAINSON'S THRUSH, WILLOW FLYCATCHERS, PACIFIC SLOPE FLYCATCHERS,
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, and see a bunch of
RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS, that is the place for you. Several other species
were there, of course, but I have to review my birdsong CD and tune of my
ears to figure out what they were. (It was one of those days where my ears
were working better than my eyes, but bird names kept sliding off the ole
synapses, you know how that goes, eh?) Wish I'd had a parasol and a lawn
chair, could've sat there all morning just listening.

Hit the milepost 118 place too, had more of the same birds plus a very
obliging flycatcher who gave me a couple of good looks at him rather than
fleeting glimpses. Realized that I was heading away from the ponds, not
toward them, but the birds were fun so what the hey.

Made it up to the NPS Visitor Center at Newhalem and found an overlook that
would just be perfect in the AM, you could park yourself there and be happy
as a clam listening to all the birds and drinking in the view. Mmm mmm mmm!
Many more B-T Gray Warblers, woodpeckers, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, CEDAR
WAXWINGS, there.

Have it in the back of my mind to do all of that BFG this year, just to have
a little bit of a birding goal. Lots of driving, though. Any
recommendations re lodging (motels/campgrounds) along the highway most
appreciated (including places to avoid)!

Good birding,
Mary

Mary Klein
Seattle WA
CelloBird at seanet.com