Subject: Silver Star Mtn. (Skamania Co.) Rock Wrens 6/25
Date: Jun 26 00:06:06 2003
From: Mark Miller - snowyowl98683 at comcast.net


Hi Everyone--

I did some scouting on the Skamania Co. side of Silver Star Mtn. today
6/25 for an Audubon Society of Portland field trip scheduled for Sunday,
June 29. Best birds were 2 ROCK WRENS, one just below the summit, the
other about a mile north of the summit on the ridge above the Silver
Star Trail. Both were singing. Also singing within earshot of the Silver
Star Trail were BAND-TAILED PIGEON, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, WILLOW
FLYCATCHER, VARIED THRUSH, HERMIT THRUSH, SWAINSON'S THRUSH,
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, LAZULI BUNTING, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, DARK-EYED
JUNCO, and PURPLE FINCH. Not singing, but fervently defending their
flowers were at least 5 immature RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS. Butterflies were
quite diverse, including CLODIUS PARNASSIAN, 3 swallowtail spp., and
lots of PACUVIUS DUSKYWINGS. The Great Arctics of last year weren't
around this time, but since the species has a 2-year reproductive cycle,
they should be back next summer. The wildflowers were great. I don't
know them as well, but I recognized beargrass, iris, tiger lily, red
columbine, penstemon, lupine, and paintbrush. I counted 5 garter snakes
on the trail, too. I found a road-killed MINK about 1/2 mile east of
Lucia Falls Park in Clark Co.

You're welcome to join me on Sunday. Meet at 7am at the Safeway store
parking lot in Battle Ground one block east of the intersection of SR
502 and SR 503 for carpooling. The road to the trailhead is muddy and
rocky, so a 4WD is advisable. We return to Battle Ground by 4pm.

Mark Miller
Vancouver, WA
snowyowl98683 at comcast.net