Subject: Lake Kachess
Date: May 27 11:19:48 2004
From: Lynn Schulz - linusq at worldnet.att.net


Hi Laurinda and Tweeters:
Re: Lake Kachess. A great book w/ information about birding at
Snoqualmie Pass and east along the I-90 corridor is the new "A
BIRDER'S GUIDE TO WASHINGTON" by Hal Opperman and Andy Stepniewski.
These sites and much more are featured in it. Get it from Flora and
Fauna in Seattle, 206-623-4727. That being said (I have no commercial
connection with either), I'll tell you about 3 productive birding
sites up there.
Last weekend on a birdathon trip from Snoqualmie Pass to Vantage on
Sat, May 22 we took the first exit (the west exit) on Snoqualmie Pass
at about 6:45am. Turn right, and take another right at about 1/2
block to the ski lodges. Go right and park in a gravel lot at the
base of the right-most ski run. Birds were hopping around and singing
in the rain there. You can walk up the gravel road on the right side
of the ski run all the way up to the water tower. Warblers, Lincoln's
Sparrows, possible Fox Sparrows (slate-colored race) and more. Then
drive east about 1/2 mile on the old hwy past the ski lift areas and
stop at the Traveler's Rest which is on the left. Across the street
there is a little pond w/ willows. Lots of birds there too, including
Wilson's, Yellow, and Nashville Warbler. Drive or walk up on the road
into the ski chalets over there. Hummer feeders, and trees attract
birds including last chance for Band-tailed Pigeons.
Travel east and take the Hyak exit at the bottom. Lots of details
about this area in the BFG (Bird Finding Guide) cited above. We
turned left across the hwy at that exit, and stopped at the little
bridge there on Gold Creek. There were several Amer. Dippers there,
and a whole migrating flock of West. Wood Pewees, my first of the
season. Look for swifts. You can walk up the gravel road there for
more species. But we continued east and exited at the Stampede Pass
exit. Turn right toward Crystal Springs. There is a marsh, woods,
and the river all w/in 1/2 mile. Townsend's Warblers, MacGillivray's
Warblers, Dippers, Brown Creepers, etc. You also can go across I-90
to the other side at that exit. There is more marsh area. All good
birding in there Laurinda.
Have fun this weekend everyone. Remember, those birds are singing and
very active even in the rain.
Yours, Carol Schulz
DesMoines, WA
mailto:linusq at att.net