Tweeters,

Had a nice hike up Cascade Pass yesterday afternoon. The snow is finally melting and it looks like flowers will be in full bloom up there within a couple weeks. The only snow on the trail were 3 or 4 snow fields to cross in the final half mile.

Birds of note on the Skagit portion of the hike were Hairy Woodpecker and Varied Thrush. At the pass seen in both counties were Hermit Thrush, Rufous Hummingbird, Lazuli Bunting, Winter Wren and Dark-eyed Junco. Possibly heard a Pipit flying over but could not locate it. Heard just down the Chelan side was a Sooty Grouse. I probably saw 10 Hummingbirds on the hike and got good looks at 5 or 6 of them of which all were Rufous. I was surprised to not see or hear any Ravens or Hawks/Eagles for that matter either.

Mammals seen were Pika, Mountain Goat, Hoary Marmot, Yellow-pine Chipmunk, Douglas Squirrel and Coyote.

Michael Willison
Stanwood
sendtomichael at hotmail.com
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