Hi Tweets

I led a trip for Eastside Audubon today to the Sunrise area of Mt. Rainier. The day started early and perfectly clear. Mt. Rainier stood out with no hint of clouds all the way down. We started our birding in a clear cut area just outside of Greenwater near the intersection with FR70. We had numerous BARN and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWs both circling overhead and landing and feeding on the ground. Both adult and juveniles of several species were abundant, primarily SONG SPARROW and DARK-EYED JUNCO - lots of strange streaky breasts, no tails and weird attempts at songs. Three RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDs were present, one male and two females. Lots of AMERICAN ROBINs, including juveniles with really spotted breasts. A RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH worked over the field and an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER perched in the top of one of the conifers. A couple of WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWs including a very young one were there. A juvenile PURPLE FINCH played hide-and seek in the fir trees. A couple of GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETs (adult and two young being fed) gave us quick views. A couple of PINE SISKINs flew over, as did a flock of about a dozen EVENING GROSBEAKS. A BAND-TAILED PIGEON made a quick escape.

Further up FR 70 we had extremely brief looks at a WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, but much better views of a HAIRY WOODPECKER and two young. Lots of CASCADE GOLDEN-MANTLED GROUND SQUIRRELs along the road.

We arrived at Sunrise (6400 ft) mid-morning in almost perfectly clear skies (a few very thin Cirrus clouds overhead) and THE MOUNTAIN was in all its glory. A CLARK'S NUTCRACKER was alongside the road as we entered the parking lot. Wildflowers were present in profusion, with lupines in prime form (the perfume as we started up the trail was heady). A couple of PINE SISKINs flew in and perched briefly. We could hear DARK-EYED JUNCOs chipping in the trees, and occasionally darting out. The highlight of the trip was about 300 yards up the Burrough's Mt. trail (above the intersection with the Wonderland Trail) when we heard "chickens" clucking. After scanning further down the hillsides, Mike West looked closer to home and found a young WHITE-TAILED PTARMIGAN, still showing some downy feathers in the lee of a rock. As we scanned we saw two more young birds, and then about 15 feet away was a female PTARMIGAN. Eventually we saw 4 young birds - this is very near where Mike West and Joyce Meyer had a similar family last Sunday. We spent about 1/2 hour enjoying these birds and showing them to other hikers who came by. The calls of the birds were difficult to tie down to a specific location and always sounded further away than they were. While we were watching the young birds crouched down and a PRAIRIE FALCON soared past, close to the ground and continued on off past a nearby shoulder of the mountain. Lucky ptarmigan!!

By this time the clouds were rolling in and the top of Mt. Rainier was obscured. We continued to the top of Burrough's 1 and then began to work our way down toward Shadow Lake. About the time we got close to the Glacier Overlook we had three juvenile TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIREs and an adult. The juveniles were incredibly spotted. A female WESTERN TANAGER was down the slope. A couple of AMERICAN ROBINs flew over. A NORTHERN FLICKER kept flying from place to place below us. As we worked our way up to Sunrise a streaky juvenile YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER perched above us.

On the way down the mountain we stopped at the White River Campground and had a couple of VAUX'S SWIFTs flying overhead, a nice adult CLARK'S NUTCRACKER, several GRAY JAYS including a juvenile and an adult and juvenile STELLER'S JAY.

Elsewhere we saw: COMMON MERGANSER, OSPREY, ROCK PIGEON, EUROPEAN STARLING, AMERICAN CROW, and HOUSE SPARROW, for a total of 32 species. Today was a great opportunity to study juvenile birds, many in close proximity to the adults.

As we left the parking lot at Sunrise there were a few sprinles hitting the windsheild. Our timing during the day couldn't have been better!

A great birding day!

Brian H. Bell
Woodinville Wa
mail to bell asoc at isomedia dot com