I took advantage of the cooler weather to head off for some August east side
hiking that wouldn't be unbearable. I went to Minotaur Lake, between Stevens
Pass and Lake Wenatchee, more for the hike than for the birds, but if the
birds happen to be around....



I saw a nice selection of mountain species, including hermit thrush,
golden-crowned kinglet, winter wren, pine siskin and chipping sparrow, now
sadly dressed for winter - the first one gave me a weird moment when it
looked like a Brewer's sparrow before I remembered! And finally, *finally*,
I found my first-of-year gray jays.



I've been to Sunrise and Paradise, I've been to campgrounds and picnic sites
and up mountain trails, and the gray jays have been absent from all of them
till now. Has anybody else noticed them missing from their traditional
haunts, or have I just been unlucky before?



Louise Rutter

Kirkland