Yesterday (September 4th), I was out hunting in southwest Mason county near Lake Arrowhead. I ran into some interesting birds while tromping around in the woods. Near a larger stand of Douglas Fir trees, I heard the calling of Gray Jays. Also, in the same area I saw one Pileated Woodpecker fly into the trees. Cedar Waxwings were everywhere. Also, I hit one hot spot that featured waxwings, an Orange-crowned Warbler, and a singing Hutton's Vireo. They seemed to be most interested in a Cascara tree.

Today, I scouted the Wynoochee Valley for the upcoming WOS conference. I drove up Wynoochee Valley road and visited the several clearcuts coming and going from the lake area. I also visited the Wynoochee Dam day use area, the Coho Campground, Wynoochee Falls, and several forest roads that I probably shouldn't have taken my Subaru up. I ended up with 29 species for the trip. Matt Bartels had scouted the trip a couple days ago with about the same results.

Red Crossbills seemed to be all over. I had them very close in a couple spots. At the dam day use area, there was a flock of about 30 that were mainly feeding off the ground under the trees there. Also, on the second bridge on the way to the falls, I had about six sitting on the railing of the bridge as I drove up. In the deep woods, I pished in a couple more that had different types of calls than what I had been hearing all morning.

At the entrance of the Coho Campground, I found an active flock of Chestnut-backed Chickadees that also contained one Black-throated Gray Warbler and a Hutton's Vireo. Along F.R. 100, I found a Lincoln's Sparrow in the brush and a yellow bird with white eye-rings that seemed too big for a warbler. It may have been a vireo or something else, but it didn't stay too long.

No grouse or Gray Jays today, but they can pop up anywhere out there. It will be a fun trip with beautiful scenery.

On the way home, I noted one Turkey Vulture flying over the Wynoochee Valley viewed from State Route 12 eastbound and another near the town of Brady.

Tim O'Brien
Elma, WA
mailto: kertim7179 at yahoo.com



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