Matt, Ollie, et al.,
Herewith a report on our Seattle Audubon Society field trip today to the
Naches Pass area. We had a beautiful day with great views of The Mountain,
lots of wildflowers, and as Matt noted not large numbers and/or variety of
birds. Seventeen participants in four packed vehicles.
We spent twenty minutes at the end of the pavement on FSR 70 trying to turn
a Hammond's Flycatcher into a Dusky, but finally gave up the attempt. A
Hammond's it was, but one that liked to perch on tree tops.
We have Matt to thank for a great view of the Northern Pygmy-Owl, which by
my odometer was just below the road (FSR 70) at mile 11.7, responding
silently to the tape.
We hiked up past the Government Meadows cabin to the pass. Four Red-breasted
and one Red-naped Sapsuckers, all flying over, the Red-naped at the upper
meadow. Lots of Gray Jays, a few Red Crossbills flying over, and one Evening
Grosbeak heard, a couple of female type Cassin's Finches, silent; no Pine
Grosbeaks. Best birds were the 8-10 Mountain Chickadees, including a pair
attending a nest hole between Government Meadow and the high meadow. An
Osprey, of all things, high over the upper meadow at > 1500 m. One Chipping
Sparrow and a pair of Mountain Bluebirds at the upper meadow. Lots of
Lincoln's Sparrows and just one Fox Sparrow on the Naches Pass hike.
We then managed to get our four vehicles over the obstacle course on FSR
7038 to the Windy Gap ridge without denting the oil pans. An immature Bald
Eagle high over the ridge gave us a start, then an American Kestrel, three
Red-tails, and a few Turkey Vultures, but no Golden Eagle. Three singing
gambeli (two seen well; very gray napes) and one pugetensis White-crowned
Sparrows, but none that sounded intermediate. Maybe six more Mountain
Bluebirds here and a single Townsend's Solitaire, likely near a nest along
7036 en route from the FSR 7030 T.
We attempted to get to the base of Kelly Butte but were blocked by two
fallen trees and a large snow patch about 3/4 mile short of the trail head,
so just enjoyed the view. Stopped at the Naches Tavern in Greenwater for
burgers and ice cream across the way by way of celebration.
Gene.
-----Original Message-----
From: mattxyz at earthlink.net [mailto:mattxyz at earthlink.net]
Sent: Monday, July 14, 2008 7:58 PM
To: barb5.webster at comcast.net; birdmarymoor at verizon.net;
enhunn323 at comcast.net; floresnw at hotmail.com; grace.ollie at verizon.net;
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Subject: RE: Anyone up for Naches Pass on Sunday?
>How'd it go? See any good birds?
>Grace
Good question - I remembered to call Gene to report to him before his
trip today, but forgot to post to our list here:
So, yesterday was pretty quiet as far as quantity of birds, but the
species count was probably normal and there were a few goodies mixed
in.
Red-naped Sapsucker: One or more at mp15 tree along FR70. 2-3 over on
the road to Windy Gap, at the same spot Gene had the nesting family
last year [don't have a mileage for the spot, sorry].
Northern Pygmy-Owl: One on a treetop at eye-level [thanks to the
drop-off] at about mp 11.5-11.75 along FR70. Very cooperative little
guy, posing for us at close range.
A couple Mountain Bluebirds at Windy Gap.
A handful of Cassin's Finch around the hike up to Government Meadows.
2 "maybes/probablies" - Pine Grosbeak sounds nearing Naches Pass & a
Black-backed Woodpecker early along the hike into Gov't Meadows.
Neither one a sure thing at all, but I think the odds are pretty
decent on em both.
1-2 Townsend's Solitaire along the way up to Windy Gap probably winds
up the 'specialty birds' for the day.
For a day that felt pretty quiet, that's not bad! But the absence of
any Evening Grosbeaks, and only one passing group of Crossbills only
heard/seen by MF made for pretty quiet skies.
Roads: The road up to Government Meadows was fine. The road to Windy
Gap , not fine. Our high-clearance vehicles only made it over the 2
landslides after a little road clearing by the passengers -- and the
road doesn't look promising for low clearance vehicles for a while.
No snow on the roads, some snow on the trail in to Naches Pass, and
some mud - but not as bad as I expected [we did the hike w/o tall
boots and weren't suffering much].
OK, that's the quick report. Looking forward to Gene's report from
today.....
Matt
>-----Original Message-----
>From: B & P Bell [mailto:bellasoc at isomedia.com]
>Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2008 10:27 AM
>To: barb5.webster at comcast.net; birdmarymoor at verizon.net;
>enhunn323 at comcast.net; floresnw at hotmail.com; grace.ollie at verizon.net;
>johntubbs at comcast.net; k_kemper at msn.com; mattxyz at earthlink.net;
>mbreece at earthlink.net; mf.mathis at verizon.net; paul.webster at comcast.net;
>rjm284 at gmail.com; Tom.Mansfield at klgates.com
>Subject: Re: Anyone up for Naches Pass on Sunday?
>
>Sounds good Matt - count me in. When you have some details maybe some of us
>can carpool.
>
>Brian
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <mattxyz at earthlink.net>
>To: <barb5.webster at comcast.net>; <birdmarymoor at verizon.net>;
><enhunn323 at comcast.net>; <floresnw at hotmail.com>; <grace.ollie at verizon.net>;
><johntubbs at comcast.net>; <k_kemper at msn.com>; <mattxyz at earthlink.net>;
><mbreece at earthlink.net>; <mf.mathis at verizon.net>;
><paul.webster at comcast.net>; <rjm284 at gmail.com>;
<Tom.Mansfield at klgates.com>;
>
>"Brian Bell" <bellasoc at isomedia.com>
>Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 9:12 PM
>Subject: Anyone up for Naches Pass on Sunday?
>
>
>> Hi all -
>> Anyone interested in a group assault on Naches Pass this Sunday? I'm
>> hoping the snow has melted enough to allow us to get to most of the
'usual
>
>> spots' from previous years. I figured it might be fun to try a bigger
>> group out up there to see if more eyes & ears turn anything more up.
>>
>> General plan:
>> 1. Leave early, say 6:00, from somewhere [dependent on who's going, but
>> probably down at the Southcenter Mall, where I405 & I5 meet].
>>
>> 2. Go up to Government Meadows first, with the hike in dependent on snow
>> levels.
>>
>> 3. Then over to Windy Gap &/or Kelly Butte depending on snow, weather,
>> time & inclinations.
>>
>> Let me know if you are game, and I'll firm up the details once we've got
a
>
>> better sense of whether anyone's going.
>>
>> And if you can't make it, I know I plan on getting back up there again
> > before too much longer -- I'm just not sure when yet.....
>>
>> Matt