Subject: [Tweeters] Pine Grosbeak in Mason County, Olympic NF
Date: Mar 26 07:16:12 2005
From: bill shelmerdine - georn1 at hotmail.com


Greetings Tweeters,
Yesterday I was in the field in the southeastern part of the Olympic
National Forest. Just before noon we came across a single Piine Grosbeak.
The bird was an adult female or perhaps immature male. It was feeding on
newly the emerging buds of a young Black Cottonwood Tree. The location was
on the top of the ridge between Pine Creek (S. F. Skokomish River and the
headwaters of Canyon River (Satsop)). This is the NW corner of Mason
County, less than 1 mile from the Grays Harbor County Line. I believe the
road # was 2364, but I don't have a map handy at the moment. This area is
not normally accessible at this time of year. I'm estimating 2500 to 3000
ft elevation, there was 4 to 5" of snow and requires 4-wheel drive to
access.
I've been in the field a fair amount in the S.F. Skokomish and Wynoochee
Drainages in the last couple of weeks. Both Ruffed and Blue Grouse are
fairly conspicuous right now, often drumming/ hooting throught the day.
They are often encountered along the side of the road in the morning. If
you are the first one on the road that is when you are most likely to see
them.
Cheers,
Bill Shelmerdine
Olympia WA

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