Using the directions Wilson Cady wrote in the most recent Washington Birder,
I was also out scouting the drive up to the trailhead yesterday, the 26th.
I was planning on going back for an "assault" on Sunday. While driving on
FR-41 just across the East Fork of the Lewis River from the Sunset Falls
Campground, a Ruffed Grouse with young was along the road and Pileated
Woodpeckers were calling.

John
jww dvm


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mark Miller [mailto:snowyowl98683 at comcast.net]
> Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2003 12:06 AM
> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
> Subject: Silver Star Mtn. (Skamania Co.) Rock Wrens 6/25
>
>
> 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
>
>
>