Marv,

When were you on the trail? I was there at the rivulets at around 11AM and
saw what was probably the same bird ! I couldn't believe my luck at finding
one on my first try. Left Paradise going up Skyline Trail about 9:30AM and
was back to picnic with Glenda by 12:15PM. On the way up found a Rufous
Hummingbird and on the way back saw a shadow cross over me and looked up to
see a soaring Peregrine Falcon. Also numerous Townsend's Solitaires, A.
Robins & Juncos. Now I'm kicking myself for not pressing on for
Rosy-Finches, but I still counted it one of the most fortuitous days of
birding I've ever had.

Dennis Rockwell Kennewick, WA denrockwell at surfbest.net

----- Original Message -----
From: "Marv Breece" <mbreece at earthlink.net>
To: "tweeters" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Sunday, August 01, 2004 9:51 PM
Subject: Ptarmigan at Mt Rainier


> This morning I hiked Skyline Trail starting at Paradise Lodge. After
> passing Panorama Point (1.7M) and crossing the snowfield, I scanned the
> rivulets with intent, to no avail. This is the same place where ptarmigan
> were seen by many folks last year. I continued hiking east, finally
seeing
> a few Gray(or Grey)-crowned Rosy-Finches.
>
> Later in the morning, I returned to the rivulets. Plopped myself down,
> decided to have lunch and give it another try. In a few minutes, a
> possible silhouette of a ptarmigan seemed too good to be true, but that's
> what it was. A lone male downstream. Worth the effort.
>
> It was a good day.
>
> Marv Breece
> Seattle, WA
>
>
>
>
> --- Marv Breece
> --- mbreece at earthlink.net
>
>
>