Hello Tweeters,



I spent July 25-29 in the Enchantment Lakes above Leavenworth and did some
casual birding while I was up there.



These high lakes are located in a basin that slopes from about 7800 feet at
Asgaard Pass to about 7200 feet at Lake Viviane, the lowest of the
Enchantments. The upper basin is an arctic-alpine area with scattered
patches of vegetation and tundra. The lower basin is vegetated by stunted
larch and whitebark pine trees. We also climbed Little Annapurna at 8400ft.



Birds noted in the upper basin were; American pipit - abundant and feeding
nestlings, Grey-crowned rosy finches - common with juveniles present,
White-tailed ptarmigan - one male and a female with nine half-grown chicks,
Golden eagle - got the resident marmots all excited but went away empty
taloned, Merlin - hunting finches.



Lower basin (where we camped) birds were pretty typical of subalpine areas
of the cascade crest.



This is a wonderful area although difficult to access and the mosquitoes
were troublesome twenty-four hours a day.



Dave Parent, Freeland, WA