Saturday, June 7, I hiked up the Pyramid Rock Trail on Silver Star
Mountain from the Grouse Vista parking lot on Forest Road 1200. My intent
was to skip the heat (failed) and to confine my birding to the Clark
County portion of the mountain. I arrived at about 7 AM and found that I
was the first vehicle at the trailhead. This is a rather steep and rocky
ascent of about five miles to the summit, after the first mile or so the
trail leaves the forest and levels out a little while it passes Pyramid
Rock before climbing again. At Pyramid Rock I heard and saw a ROCK WREN,
this appears to be the most reliable location for seeing this bird in
Clark County. Bill Shelmerdine had found three here on May 30, 2001 and I
had one on Ed's Trail although that one was just over the county line
into Skamania County. As I proceeded up the trail there were three more
Rock Wrens calling from other outcroppings all within a quarter mile of
the first bird.

LAZULI BUNTINGS were abundant in the shrubby areas and OLIVE-SIDED
FLYCATCHERS called from the tree tops. To stay within Clark County I took
the trail out to Sturgeon Rock, in the true fir forest along this route
there were BLUE GROUSE booming. This grouse was actually my target
species as I did not have it on my Clark County list, with it my county
list reached 250. While taking a break after climbing to the top of
Sturgeon Rock a GOLDEN EAGLE passed along the rock face giving me great
views of it from above. This too was a new county species.

Near the upper portions of the trail you could hear the calls of
SWAINSON'S THRUSH, HERMIT THRUSH, and VARIED THRUSH at the same time.
Heading back down the trail a female BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD perched in
a Sitka Alder while I passed by. Only four hummingbirds were seen by me
and I attribute that to the wildflower blooms just beginning to appear.
One of the most conspicuous flowers were Avalanche Lilies and trilliums
could still be seen in the shadier spots. Another week or so and things
should really start to open up, the Lewsia are well budded as are the
penstemons.

None bird sightings included BLACK BEAR, ELK, and BLACK-TAILED DEER.
Wilson Cady
N45 35.618' W122 13.738'
Washougal, WA
gorgebirds at juno.com