Fellow birders,

The mention of Pine Grosbeaks led us to share these observations.

We spent July 2nd along Forest Road 39 between Freezeout Pass and
Loomis. We did encounter 2 Pine Grosbeaks. (We also found them in BC and
Alberta). There were also several American Three-toed Woodpeckers
including a cavity with at least one young and both parents feeding.

There were at least 4 Boreal Chickadees at Freezeout Trail and one was at
the spot near the Tiffany burn area where we encountered the Pine Grosbeaks.

We typically hike Freezeout area every year, but have not encountered
Spruce Grouse there in the last two. However, we have seen Blue Grouse
there both years.

Bill & Nancy


>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.

Bill & Nancy LaFramboise
wlafra at owt.com
Richland, WA