Hi Tweeters-
This weekend I made my 4th & 5th trips of the year up to the Naches
Pass area in the SE corner of King Co. This continues to be a
promising locale with good birds popping up almost every visit.

Yesterday [Sunday 6/18]:
BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER - one female seen well at close range at
Government Meadows. 4 counties come together near here, so I had to
wait until I was home and able to plug my GPS reading into an online
map to confirm I was still in King Co - yay! Rough location - I
walked in on the Naches Wagon Trail, accessed by parking along FR 70
at mp 16.2. Take S60 spur in a little until the Naches Trail crosses
the road. Walk right on the trail a mile or more. Eventually, the big
log cabin shelter is visible across the meadow. From this area, I
went off the trail and mucked about along the muddy edges of the
meadow. The BBWO was found a little east of the shelter, along the
north edge of the meadow. 2 notes for anyone going up there: 1.
Expect to get very wet - the meadow and even the trail is very muddy,
with snow in some spots [4800+feet elev]. 2. Weekends bring out the
off-road vehicles - Rangers were giving tickets, but except early in
the morning, don't expect peace & quiet.

Also nearby in the Govt Meadows area:
RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER - a different one than the pair at mp 15.
Gray Jay - 2 youngsters with their presumed parents.
Chipping Sparrows, Lincolns Sparrows, Fox Sparrows, Hermit Thrush,
Varied Thrush, Townsends Warblers, all in decent numbers.

Back at mp 15 on FR 70, the pair of RED-NAPED SAPSUCKERS previously
reported was taking turns at the nest hole. This would be about 150
steps west [down hill direction] of mp 15.

Next, I headed over to Kelly Butte. During the steep climb up, I
found one of my 2 target birds:

ROCK WREN - as previously reported by Gene Hunn, there are several on
the south face of Kelly Butte singing away - took a while to see a
couple, but they eventually gave in.

TOWNSENDS SOLITAIRE - 3 around at different points, near the bottom
and top of the Butte.

TURKEY VULTURE - one soared by.

ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER - 1 singing away in the fields below the lookout tower

OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS - provided the constant soundtrack to the
couple hours I spent up at the top, hoping for an eagle to fly by [no
luck on that one].

Also present were 7 goats, a few Yellow-bellied Marmot, and happily, no ticks!

Notes: The climb up Kelly Butte is short but not for the
faint-hearted - it begins with a 45-degree scramble over loose rocks,
aided mercifully by ropes to grab onto. Once past this point, there's
a section of switchbacks that are pretty steep too for another 1/2
mile or so, followed by another stretch that is more mellow. Ticks
are common in the meadow at the top, so take precautions. That said,
the view from the top is pretty breath-taking, and/or the Rock Wrens
could probably be seen from the base of the butte with some patience.


Friday [6/16], between clouds, wind & lots of rain showers, I saw:

BLUE GROUSE - 1 vocalizing close to the Naches Wagon Trail , accessed
as follows: Park at mp 16.2 and walk up S60 spur. Take the marked
Naches trail left and listen/watch in the next mile. The grouse was
observed between S60 and the next big road intersection.

RUFFED GROUSE - Adult with 2-3 chicks on FR 7030, about 1/2 mile
after crossing the river back into King Co.

TOWNSENDS SOLITAIRE - while hoping the weather would change, I had
one fly up near the car close to Kelly Butte

RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER - pair at nest hole.

WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW - after a comment by Gene Hunn, I paid closer
attention and did indeed have both Pugetensis and Gambelii songs up
in this area.


Directions:
Naches Pass: From Seattle, it seems to take about 1 1/2 hrs if you
don't run into traffic.
Take 410 east from Enumclaw, crossing into Pierce County at
Greenwater. 2 miles later, turn left onto FR 70. In just under 9
miles, FR 70 crosses back into King Co and starts heading up. The
Red-naped Sapsuckers have been present just prior to the 15 mile
marker [15 miles from 410]. I've been parking at approx. mp 16.2,
where S60 spurs off to the north. The road continues on to a little
ways past mp 17, which might be in Pierce county, and from which I
couldn't pick up the Naches Trail to Govt Meadows [though it should
be very close by].

Kelly Butte: A rougher road, mostly washboard bumpiness. My little
Hyundai still could make it without problem.
Here are the directions I found online [I'd second their rec to walk
in the final 0.6 mi of road - it looked very rough]::
About two miles past Greenwater, turn left from Highway 410 onto
paved Forest Road 70. All mileage readings are from this junction.
At 8 miles, turn left onto a road signed 7030 and an arrow. There is
about 10 feet of pavement, then gravel. This section of 7030 has some
washboard driving surface.
At 8.3 miles cross a bridge and pass some campsites.
At 11.9 miles, come to a T and turn left, staying on unsigned 7030.
(A right turn will take you toward Colhoquon and Pyramid Peak and PCT
trailheads.) The rest of 7030 has a couple of steep sections and
falling rock areas.
At 12.4 miles go straight, not right and uphill.
At 13.1 miles turn right. At this time there is a sign that indicates
that the road to the right is 7030; the road straight ahead is signed
7032.
Pass side roads at 13.6 and 14.1 miles.
The rough road to the Kelly Butte "trailhead" is on your left at 14.4
miles from Highway 410. We parked at this junction, giving us a
chance to stretch our legs before ascending the chute.
We walked the .6 mile rutted road before clambering up the 100 foot
chute with the help of a vinyl rope with looped knots that this year
runs all the way down the chute. The chute is followed by a half mile
of switch backs, followed by a half mile of gently rising meadow,
leading to a small, classic forest fire lookout building surrounded
by great views in all directions.
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