Yesterday (6-27-10), Ruth Sullivan and I went across the North
Cascades Highway with the intent to bird Pipestone Canyon (a few
miles east of Winthrop) this morning. We started at Corkindale Creek
outside of Marblemount where the highlight was a just-fledged Black-
headed Grosbeak hopping down the road in front of us. It was able to
get into the blackberry brambles where we hoped it stayed safe until
a parent returned for it. Other birds in the area were Red-breasted
Sapsucker, Lazuli bunting, Red-eyed Vireo, Cedar Waxwing, and a male
Rufous Hummingbird. At Washington Pass we had the female Three-toed
Woodpecker mentioned in my earlier post.

At the Lone Fir Campground on the east side of Washington Pass we saw
lots of Western Tanagers, Robins, and Juncos. There was one Yellow-
rumped Warbler (Audubon's), a Hairy Woodpecker, a few Juncos, and one
Chipping Sparrow. Where have all the Chippies gone this year?

We stopped at Patterson Lake on the way up to Sun Mountain Lodge were
we saw two Catbirds going to and from a nest in a patch of native
roses, Yellow Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Western Kingbird, Tree
Swallow, and Olive-sided Flycatcher, among others. It was late in
the day but we continued up to the lodge to see if any grouse were
around. They were not, but there were Ravens, one Turkey Vulture,
Brewer's Blackbird parents busily shuttling bugs to their nestlings,
and some up-close views of Vesper Sparrows.

We camped in the vicinity of Pipestone Canyon Sunday night where we
saw a male Northern Harrier. We had seen a Bald Eagle on the way up
to the canyon. Today (6-28-10), outside the canyon, we saw Pacific
Slope Flycatcher, Lazuli Bunting, Cassin's Finch, Eastern Kingbird,
Cedar Waxwing, two Golden Eagles, another Hairy Woodpecker, lots more
Western Tanagers, a few Vesper Sparrows, and Ruth saw a Bullock's
Oriole. At Campbell Lake, just before Pipestone Canyon, we saw Coot,
Ruddy Duck, Red-winged Blackbird, Western Kingbird, Western
Meadowlark, Osprey, Violet-green Swallow, and Ruth added a Spotted
Sandpiper I missed while walking the road. There were also both
Mallard and Northern Pintail hens with broods out on the water.

At Pipestone Canyon, we walked from the entrance gate to the south
gate and back. There was no sign of a Least Flycatcher this year.
We saw a female Yellow Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped
Warbler, a male Calliope Hummingbird, both Willow and Dusky
Flycatchers, more Lazuli Buntings, a Warbling Vireo, among others.
The best birds were White-throated Swifts and two Prairie Falcons
above the rim rock at the entrance to the canyon.

We ended our time together at the Winthrop sewer treatment ponds were
we saw lots of Wood Ducks, both adults and chicks. There were seven
adult Redheads (eight if you count Ruth), and a number of female
Common Goldeneyes.

Carol Riddell
Edmonds