Subject: Tiffany Mountain area 8/27-8/29
Date: Aug 29 22:52:27 2004
From: Scott Downes - downess at charter.net


Spent the weekend up around Tiffany Mountain on FS 39, NW of Conconully. Not
really any migrants present but some decent sightings of residents I thought
I'd pass along.

At MP 9 on FS 37 about 8:30 at night on 8/27 we had a COMMON POORWILL in the
road. Elevation was about 4000 ft.
The next morning (8/28) had a calling PINE GROSBEAK at Tiffany Mountain
campground. Several THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS around Roger Lake in addition to
several BOREAL CHICKADEES. Some migrants were present on the lake, a group
of 7 NORTHERN SHOVELERS and a NORTHERN PINTAIL.
Hiked Freezout ridge up Tiffany Mountain and had a flock of 10-12
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS fly over near the trailhead. Another nice note was
in some of the parkland area before beaking above treeline there were 15-20
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS.
Tried for BOREAL OWL on the night at 8/28 at a few spots I've had them at
before; Roger Lake, Brown Meadows Creek and North Fork Boulder Creek. We had
no responses, the weather that night a fairly solid cloud cover and treats
of rain may have contributed to that.
This morning (8/29) hiked into Tiffany Lake, had 2 female SPRUCE GROUSE
along the trail in addition to a male BLUE GROUSE.

While Yellow-rumped Warblers were in abundance I was only able to find one
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS and no sparrows. The lingering front may have kept
these migrants lower out of the mountains.

Still a very nice weekend and most of the usual breeders/residents in this
area were found with a couple of migrants.

Scott Downes
downess at charter.net
Yakima WA