Tweeters:

Just returned from a four-day trip to Curlew Lake, Ferry County, with
non-birding friends & family, which was chiefly aimed at fishing and other
lake recreation, but had its birding moments as well. I negotiated an early
morning hike from Rainy Pass to Cutthroat Pass out of the deal on the
morning of August 29, for example. And, given that I was mainly managing
three boys' tackle and not fishing myself, I managed, binocs in hand, to
spot a number of birds near the north end of Curlew Lake. Nothing real
uncommon here, but a number of migrants were evident. Also, the last day, I
managed a little birding along Sanpoil Lake just south, near the town of
Republic, and we had several stops thereafter on the route home, although
the most exciting bird was seen while driving (see below).

Of the 88 species found over the four days, the birding was most memorable
on the 10-mile roundtrip hike from Rainy to Cutthroat Pass (Delorme Atlas p.
112, D3, complete list below). Although I found just 28 species and there
was less generally than the mid-July trip to Mt. Hardy, there were some
interesting birds, and this was a much easier hike with an established
trail, part of the Pacific Crest trail. The elevation gain is from 4855' at
Rainy Pass to approx. 6300' at Cutthroat, the main switchbacks are right at
the end. The first 3 miles pass through heavy coniferous (chiefly Pac.
Silver Fir) forest with just a couple openings; the last two miles are more
open, stunted Subalpine Fir forest with ample shrubby growth, with good
visibility and better birding. The summit at Cutthroat is mostly open
heather (Cassiope sp.) with rocky outcrops and occasional stunted firs and
especially larch (Larix sp.). The pass and the ridge from it southward on
the Skagit County side were the most bird-laden sections of the trail.

The highlight was a juv. BREWER'S SPARROW with four CHIPPING SPARROWS (two
juvs, one winter adult, one first-winter) in the open area just before/below
the pass. I don't have any experience with the Timberline form, but based
on what I have for literature, I don't believe this was a Timberline.
BREWER'S has only been found one other time in Skagit County, a late May
bird that stayed two days on Samish I. back in the 70s.

Other than the n. Cascades hike, there were a few lingering summer residents
and migrants present Aug. 30-Sept. 1 in Ferry County and west to the Methow
Valley. The most exciting bird was an apparent EASTERN PHOEBE that flew
right in front of us at point-blank range! Note the word "apparent"--given
the fact that this species has been located just a few times in WA
previously, and the sighting was momentary and by naked eye, I simply offer
the details below. Hopefully someone will try to relocate this bird.

We were stuck behind a car-trailer combo trying to find a pull over spot,
and had slowed to about 40, when the bird darted right across the road--at
one point as close as 10 feet in front of my side of the windshield, I in
fact did not miss hitting it by much as it flew from right (from a low pine
branch) to left to the south side of the road, evidently landing low in
another pine. Given the absence of shoulder, a line of vehicles behind us,
and time constraints (remember this was a family affair), there was no
opportunity to circle back. The bird was seen only momentarily, but what
was seen: medium flycatcher that was dark brown above, very contrastingly
yellowish-white below, darkest at both head and tail; rounded and
proportionately large head, long dark tail that was clearly longer than any
Empidonax or wood-pewee; flight pattern unlike Empidonax or wood-pewee,
slower and with two breaks between wing flaps. Overall length appeared
plainly greater than either Empids or pewee, and for a moment I even
considered Ash-throated, but saw no rufous tones in the flight feathers at
all, which should have been visible at that close range. Because of the
large head and long tail, the silhouette seemed flat wrong for pewee, the
more likely species given habitat, which was a small break in heavy
Ponderosa Pine forest, near the confluence of Jack anf Frazer creeks not too
far east of Twisp along Rt 20 (Delorme p. 114, A/B 1). Lastly, I should add
that I lived in MD for six years and saw many E. Phoebes there, so I have a
lot of familiarity with both flight pattern and plumage.

N. Cascades list and highlights for rest of trip follow:

I. RAINY PASS TO CUTTHROAT PASS AUGUST 29 (8:30 am to 1:30 pm) 4855' to
6300'

N. Flicker 1
Am. Three-toed Woodpecker 4 (family group right along trail half-mile above
Rainy Pass)
woodpecker, sp. 1
Hammond's Flycatcher 1 (Cutthroat Pass)
Steller's Jay 3
Gray Jay 5
Clark's Nutcracker 9
corvid/raptor, sp. 1
Mountain Chickadee 18 (several small groups starting about 1 mile from Rainy
Pass)
Chestnut-b. Chickadee 6
Red-breasted Nuthatch 28
nuthatch, sp. 1 (possibly Pygmy, at the pass)
Brown Creeper 2
Winter Wren 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 13
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET 4 (most likely local breeders)
Townsend's Solitaire 3
Mountain Bluebird 11 (just before C. Pass, all young birds and females)
Am. Robin 12
Hermit Thrush 1
Am. Pipit 1
Yellow-rumped (Aud.) Warbler 35 (largest numbers at C. Pass)
Townsend's Warbler 33 (several small flocks; largest 10 near the C. Pass)
Wilson's Warbler 1 (at pass)
Chipping Sparrow 8 (possible record-high for Skagit Co, all near C. Pass)
BREWER'S SPARROW 1 (juv, 2nd for Skagit Co, near C. Pass)
Savannah Sparrow 1
White-crowned Sparrow 7
(Slate-col.) Fox Sparrow 1
Dark-eyed (Ore.) Junco 38
Cassin's Finch 2
Red Crossbill 3

Total, 28 species

II. CURLEW LAKE AND OTHER AREAS EAST OF CASCADES AUGUST 30-SEPT. 1,
HIGHLIGHTS:

Eared & Red-n. Grebes (Curlew L., good numbers of latter)
Bufflehead 1 (female 8/31 n. end Curlew Lake--nesting in vicinity?)
Solitary Sandpiper 1 (juv. at Sanpoil Lake 9/1, north shore)
Baird's Sandpiper 1 (n. end Curlew Lake 8/31)
Red-necked Phalarope 4 (n. end Curlew Lake 8/31)
Black Tern 2 (n. end Curlew Lake 8/31)
Eastern Kingbird 1 (n. end Curlew Lake 8/30, heard only)
Western Kingbird 1 (near Methow River on s. side of Twisp 9/1)
(EASTERN PHOEBE 1) (apparent bird crossing highway east of Twisp 9/1)
Say's Phoebe 1 (w. edge of Riverside, right along highway, 9/1)
Gray Catbird 1 & 2 (1 heard near n. end of Curlew L. 8/30-31; two seen/heard
at Sanpoil Lake 9/1)
Am. Pipit 1 (heard near Curlew Lake near n. end 8/31)
Com. Yellowthroat 1 (near Fisherman's Cover Resort, n.e. Curlew Lake, 8/31,
heard only)

NOTES--Judging from other Tweeters'/Birdbox reports, there seems to have
been a small passage of Eastern Kingbirds 8/30, with three other reports of
singles from different e.WA sites; and catbirds were reported by two other
eastside parties 8/30-31.

Scott Atkinson
Lake Stevens
mail to: scottratkinson at hotmail.com

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