Hi Tweets,

For folks looking for a three-toed woodpecker just a bit closer to home,
Heather and I had good sightings on a hike up to Cuthroat Pass off of Rainy
Pass. This is a wonderful hike of 5 miles round trip from elevation 4800'
to 6800'. Take Hwy 20 east and access the trail from the Rainy Pass -
Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) North trail head (on the north side of the road).
Because this is the PCT the grade is very kind all the way to the top. The
woodpeckers were working one of the many dying spruce trees about 30-45
minutes up the trail, 1100 yds (steps, and yes I actually counted)
west/north of the first major stream. Hopefully the water won't be quite
as high this week and the crossing will be a little less exciting. The
spruce trees have had most of their bark removed and the area should be
apparent. Listen for them flaking off bark and scrabbling about.

After about 2.5 miles the trail breaks out in to some beautiful subalpine
with larch trees. The habitat just screamed northern finches, like PIne
Grosbeaks and crossbills, but no luck when I went there on July 3, 2004.

Good Birding,

Marcus Roening
Tacoma, WA
marcus.d.roening at gsk.com