Today, August 11, Eric Bjorkman, Barry Woodruff and I headed for the Skamania County high elevation lakes on the northwest side of Mt. Adams in search of Spruce Grouse and any other birds. We dipped on the grouse but did have a few good finds including RED CROSSBILLS and EVENING GROSBEAKS at nearly every stop. At Takhlakh Lake we had a pair of PINE GROSBEAKS near the boat ramp and the first of the probably 50 NASHVILLE WARBLERS that we saw during the day.
At Horseshoe Lake we found 4 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS but no sign of any grouse. On the way back to check Ollalie Lake we stopped after hearing a few calls and located a scruffy HERMIT WARBLER and more NASHVILLE WARBLERS. Olallie Lake was swarming with birds, we stood in the middle of a mixed flock that had to number over a hundred individuals consisting of RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, NASHVILLE WARBLERS, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, HERMIT WARBLERS, WILSON'S WARBLERS and a few GRAY JAYS attracted by the commotion.
We thought that we would check Horseshoe Lake one more time for the Spruce Grouse and were treated to a NORTHERN GOSHAWK flying down the road in front of the vehicle, the bird would fly ahead of us and
perch in the roadside trees allowing us to flush it two more times before heading into the forest. At the lake we had amazing views of a bright male WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL at eye level. While enjoying this view a COMMON LOON surfaced just yards offshore of us.
At the south end of Takh Takh Meadows a PINE MARTEN ran across the road and up into a fir tree where we had close views of it for several minutes and the opportunity for Eric to get some photos of this gorgeous mammal.
The only grouse we saw all day was a single SOOTY GROUSE that was calling near Council Lake.
Wilson Cady
Washougal, WA

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