Hi Tweeters!

Chris Stearns and I just returned from a very ambitious and productive
birding trip to Hart's Pass, Salmon Meadows, and Havillah over this past
weekend. Highlights included seeing five grouse species with a few
pleasant surprises.

It was my first time to Hart's Pass and did not expect alot because of the
recent burn and being unfamilar with the area. The area has been heavily
burn especially around Meadow's Campground. However, the recently opened
road is in great condition despite the somewhat terrifying narrow turns.

During the early morning, we were hampered by heavy fog and mist toward the
upper parking lot. Discouraged at first, we decided to hike the lower basin
area on the West Paysten Fork Trail. We were instantly rewarded with
several flocks of GRAY CROWNED ROSY FINCHES, CLARK'S NUTCRACKERS, WATER
PIPITS and several large flocks of RED CROSSBILLS.

Towards the snowfields, I found a cooperative and beautiful, male WHITE
TAILED PTARMIGAN in its late summer and cryptically plumaged attire. Very
striking bird!

Other birds in the area included two BOREAL CHICKADEE mingling with a large
mixed flock of mountain chickadees, MacGillvray's warblers, Nashville
warblers, Hermit thrushes, fox sparrows, pine siskins, orange crowned
warblers. Despite the large burn and optimal habitat for woodpeckers, we
were able to find a couple of AMERICAN THREE TOES AND HAIRIES (yes, these
are birds).

On the way out, we also found a female PINE GROSBEAK with a small flock of
Cassin's finches not far from the Meadow's campground.

We looked hard for spruce grouse but couldn't find any here. Not alot of
prime habitat for them but I suggest trying the rutty road about a mile or
so past Slate Creek which is en route to Chancellor.

There is also a trail which leads to decent habitat for sprucies, shortly
after the guard station. You will see a restroom, horse trailhead, and pull
out on the left as you ascend to Slate Peak. Worth a try... We did find a
male SOOTY GROUSE in this location. Thanks to Mike Schroeder for this
clarification of where the subspecies are distributed. SOOTIES are found
near the top of Hart's Pass while DUSKIES are below.

We stopped at Winthrop and saw a secretive female DUSKY GROUSE. The nice
surprise here, was a female AMERICAN REDSTART near the Chickadee trailhead.
Still a few eastern kingbirds around.

As we headed towards Conconully on FR 42, we spotted a flyby NORTHERN
GOSHAWK. Otherwise, the area was very quiet.

At Salmon Meadows near the town of Conconcully, produced a beautiful, male
SPRUCE GROUSE on a forest road shortly before dusk. This has been a reliable
spot for these birds as I have seen them 3/5 times I visited this
interesting area.

Here,we also found several BOREAL CHICKADEES at elevation 5000 ft. Other
birds in the area included Cooper's and Sharp shinned hawks. As we ascended
down, we spotted a couple of RUFFED GROUSE. With this in mind we tried in
vain, to look for sharp tailed grouse, but of course, failed to find these
elusive birds during this time of year. Our consolation prize, were a few
radiant LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS in excellent light.

We finished the evening by venturing out to Havillah. Having too much of a
good time in downtown Tonakset, we were late in departing to Havillah for
some owling.

However, I managed to find a GREAT GRAY OWL at about 10:00 PM, not too far
from the Sno-Park. Those bags of gray feathers never fail to impress!!
They are always so MAGNIFICIENT.

You can view some of my updated photos including a surprise exotic bird (See
if you can find it!)

http://www.pbase.com/spruce_grouse/updated_photos&page=all

Good birding to you!

The exhausted boreal birder,

Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon)