Hi Tweeters,

Jeff Jendro and I took a nice hike today (8/10/11) in the revegetating blow
down area of the Mount St. Helen's National Monument. We started at the
trailhead at the Johnston Ridge Observatory and went around to the natural
arch at St. Helen's Lake - this is entirely in the Skamania County section
of the monument. Highlights of our short species list included 4 HORNED
LARKS and a calling SOOTY GROUSE on the Johnston Ridge part of the trail. We
were entertained by a MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD feeding young in a cavity in a snag
left from the blowdown at our lunch spot at the natural arch. Lots of
begging going on and one of the young would occasionally poke its head out
and check out the world between parental visits.

On the drive up in Cowlitz County we had a GREAT HORNED OWL fly across the
road in front of us at 7:30 AM. On the way down we decided to stop at the
Eco Park Cafe (also Cowlitz) and I was surprised to find a pair of PURPLE
MARTINS around the entrance road with the male even singing. This seems a
unique breeding area, if it is such, not being around water and would
also be natural nesting cavities.

Russ Koppendrayer
Longview,WA
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