Subject: [Tweeters] N Cascades N Pk listing question
Date: Jan 5 21:20:26 2011
From: vogelfreund at comcast.net - vogelfreund at comcast.net


Let me stick in my two cents worth again. One species that I wish was more researched in the North section of the North Cascades National Park (wilderness area) is the Spruce Grouse. Ever since I encountered a female just inside the tree line back in September 1988 in the Yellow Aster Butte area (Keep Cool Trail), I've wondered about their status. Most readily available books, etc. show them being east of the crest. But they are obviously (to me) found further west. And then there was a reported sighting, way back when, of a Sasquatch in that area. Oh well...

Phil Hotlen
Bellingham, WA
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Loitz" <steveloitz at gmail.com>
To: "TWEETERS" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, January 5, 2011 10:44:13 AM
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] N Cascades N Pk listing question


Michael makes some very good points, although I may not have the birding chops to contribute to the knowledge as a bona fide tweeter might. I might contribute more if I were to accompany a better birder in the high country. So if any fit brave souls with decent athletic ability, mountaineering boots, ice axe skills and better birding chops than mine (not a high standard) want to join me for a 3- or 4-day weekend next summer, give me a shout.

Phil, Ring-billed, California and Mew Gulls are quite common in and around the high alpine lakes west of the crest. In the alpine tundra zones west of the crest in mid-summer, the second most abundant bird (after Grey-crowned Rosy-Finch, which tend to be localized in big flocks) is the American Pipit, which tend to be more dispersed than GCRFs. I have seen some rarities, including a Great Gray Owl near Mt. Prophet in August 2009.

Yes, I have been remiss in cataloging my sitings, but that is largely a product of the demands of mountain travel. I have had no luck persuading my non-birder mountaineering partners to stop, sit and ID birds, and our schedules have rarely allowed for that.

Steve
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