Hi Tweeters,

This weekend, my partner and I had a great hiking/birding trip to the North Cascades area. I had to curb my birding quite a bit but did suggest nice areas to hike, explore, and encounter birds along the way--so it wasn't for selfish reasons:)

We hiked a total of 25 miles on the following trails to each of these beautiful passes: Hart's Pass, Cutthroat Pass, and Heather Pass. Don't let the distance deter you! I am a moderately decent hiker, with polio but had no problems with the trails. Also, if there is a fine reward (a ptarmigan or pine grosbeak) at the end, it makes it much easier on the mind and breathing!!

It trip was much birdy than I thought, with Pine grosbeaks and White winged crossbills seen in several locations.

HART'S PASS/SLATE PEAK:

Along Hwy 153 towards Twisp, we encountered up to a dozen LEWIS WOODPECKERS along the highway, several singing Yellow breasted chats, catbirds, and Red eyed vireos. Our late afternoon arrival at Hart's pass was not as productive for songbirds as it was last weekend, in the early mornings.

En route to the Slate Peak tower, I had one SOOTY GROUSE off the ridge. The division line is somewhere here for both "Blue" Grouse species; Duskies are found near or below Cache Creek and Sooties much higher up towards Hart's Pass and beyong. Differentiating the two is somewhat challenging if they don't fully display.

We had no problems re-locating the same pair of WHITE TAILED PTARMIGANS towards the tower. A pair of GRAY CROWNED ROSYFINCHES were along the snowfields not far from the ptarmigans. A few immature WHITE WINGED CROSSBILLS were also found near the Ranger Station. A few BOREAL CHICKADEES were found near the Meadow's Campground. Otherwise, it was very quiet since we arrived late in the afternoon.

I was bummed that I missed the elusive LYNX sighting by Jon Cooper and Diane Doles. I would have traded all my other bird sightings to get a glimpse of this impressive but rare cat!! This gives me an incentive to go back. :)

Near Perrygin State Park, I found a couple of AMERICAN REDSTARTS in with the many assorted songbirds including warbling vireos, orioles, buntings, kingbirds of both species, catbirds, and veeries. The riparian rich area is usually very birdy in the early mornings.

Along Wolf Creek Rd, I was lucky and surprised to get a fleeting look of a GREAT GRAY OWL as it flew towards an open meadow.

CUTTHROAT PASS:

This was a very productive birding spot as there is a good variety of habitat starting from the trail head to the Cutthroat Pass. We were able to hike up slightly above the pass (12 mile roundtrip) despite some snow and several fording areas that required some caution. It is a moderately easy hike with very gradual elevation gains. I enjoyed it very much and highly recommend this wonderful but untaxing hike!

Below the pass, we were rewarded with excellent looks of several AMERICAN THREE TOE WOODPECKERS (about 2/8 of a mile from the parking lot). There was also, one BLACK BACKED WOODPECKER along this trail! At lower elevations, there were Nashville, Townsends, and MacGillivary warblers. Evening grosbeaks, pine siskins, Clark's Nutcrackers, Western Tanagers, and red crossbills were quite common.

About 3 miles up the trail, we had a pair of WHITE WINGED CROSSBILLS. Not to further up the trail, with some groundcover and other firs and pines, we had one female SPRUCE GROUSE. Doesn't strike me as classic sprucie habitat, but they are here!

Closer to the pass, while having lunch, we had several PINE GROSBEAKS calling and singing. Always nice to hear the melodious songs of a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE. Proceeding onward with still several feet of snow, I spotted one female WHITE TAILED PTARMIGAN along the small rocks near a meadowy patch.

On our way back into Twisp, we encountered many evening grosbeaks, pine siskins, red and white winged crossbills, and Cassin's finches feeding along the gravel pullouts along the North Cascade Highway not far from Varden Creek. At one point, there were a mixed flock of 40 birds right off the main highway. I also spotted several more PINE GROSBEAKS along the road and one NORTHERN PYGMY OWL.

After the brief rain showers, we had up to 5 BLACK SWIFTS near Varden Creek. They were swirling about 20 feet above my head!

LAKE ANN TO HEATHER PASS: (Trailhead at Rainy Pass)

This was the most scenic hike but a little tougher than Cutthroat Pass. We were able to hike to Heather Pass which is about 3.5 miles from the parking lot. Not as birdy as Cutthroat Pass, but there were several PINE GROSBEAKS towards the pass, one beautiful, singing male WHITE WINGED CROSSBILLS, and several GRAY CROWNED ROSYFINCHES flitting around near the higher slopes. Fox sparrows and Cassin's Vireos were also heard.

A quick potty stop near Washington Pass produced a very tame pair of PINE GROSBEAKS. The male was very pretty and inquistive.

It was a great weekend for exploring some new areas. Tweets are so lucky to live in a wonderful, scenic state. I have fallen in love with this amazing area!! So little time and so many places to explore and bird!

Good birding,

Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon)