At Green Mountain yesterday, we saw a pair of harrier hawks riding the air
currents. We were surprised to see them so high in the mountains, but
surmised they must be migrating and using the mountain air currents to facilitate.
Also were pleased to see a merlin gliding over the mountain meadows, near the
peak of Green Mountain. The few stands of trees along the meadow edges were
full of juncos, his likely prey. The crickets were so numerous we had to
avoid stepping on them as we hiked through the meadow. Must have been 10 or so
per square foot. Late in the day, two varied thrush were seen in the herbage
of the meadow, likely feasting on the crickets. An added treat was the
colony of marmots sunning themselves in the late afternoon sun, all around us as
we hiked out.
Allison
Camano Island