This is a little late, I was on a four day hike on the Pacific Crest Trail and the Icicle Creek Trail, south from Steven's Pass and was able to get a little birding in. The mountain birds are an interesting change of pace and I find that there are many I have trouble identifying. Here is some of what I saw:

9/6/06 - Steven's Pass on the Pacific Crest Trail, to just below Josephine Lake on the Icicle Creek Trail....
Turkey Vulture, 1 above Lake Susan Ann
Hermit Thrush,
Dark-eyed "Oregon" Junco, many
Northern "Red-shafted" Flicker,
Orange-crowned Warbler,
Townsend's Warbler,
Western Tanager,
Clark's Nutcracker,
Steller's Jay,
Gray Jay,
Red-tailed Hawk,
Common Raven,
Chestnut-backed Chickadee, many
American Robin,
Varied Thrush,
Savannah Sparrow.

9/7/06 - Icicle Creek Trail and side trip up to the Chain Lakes....
Red-tailed Hawk,
Cooper's Hawk,
American Kestral,
Northern "Red-shafted" Flicker,
Steller's Jay,
Gray Jay,
Clark's Nutcracker,
Common Raven,
Blue Grouse,
Red-breasted Nuthatch,
Townsend's Solitaire, many at the Chain Lakes
American Robin,
Varied Thrush,
Dark-eyed "Oregon" Junco, probably the most numerous bird seen
Chestnut-backed Chickadee, second most numerous
Golden-crowned Kinglet.
(the sun turned blood red from forest fire smoke, very spooky, Bullstooth mountain was very nice)

9/8/06 - Chain Lakes and back down to the Icicle Creek Trail.....
most of the same birds with...
Golden-crowned Sparrows, 4 at Chain Lakes
Cassin's Finch,
Blue Grouse, group of 3 at Chain Lakes
Hermit Thrush,
Yellow-rumped Warbler, including "Myrtle" variety
Western Tanager,
Sharp-shinned Hawk,
Western Wood-pewee, a surprise for me
a small Flycatcher, Willow?
Bushtit,
Townsend's Warbler, many
Brown Creeper,
Golden Eagle, 2 flying as the weather worsened Friday evening, nice view
Elk came into camp that night

9/9/06 - Bad weather from Icicle Creek Trail to Pacific Crest Trail and back to Steven's Pass.....
Many of the same birds including
Hermit Thrush, 4 above Josephine Lake
Mallard, 5 above Josephine Lake


Mark Vernon
Renton, WA
mailto ma_vern at yahoo.com


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