Dear Tweeters,

A long search was required today on the trail between Rainy and Cutthroat Passes (Skagit County), but a few Pine Grosbeaks eventually showed themselves.

A lone red male was in the subalpine part of the trail at about two in the afternoon. A little while later, a flock of four showed up at the prominent bend in the trail, above the now broken footbridge over Porcupine Creek, where a way-trail leads to a big boulder field. Among the four was at least one red male, plus two or three russet birds.

There were more Mountain Chickadees along this trail than Chestnut-backed. Red-breasted Nuthatches outnumbered chickadees. Grey Jays were almost everywhere, along with a few Clark's Nutcrackers. Ruby-crowned Kinglets were seen here and there as well. The Three-toed Woodpeckers that were so easy to find in August were nowhere to be seen.

At the Hardy Burn Gravel lot, a Northern Pygmy Owl started tooting before I could start imitating him. Among the small birds keeping an eye on this very cooperative owl was a calling female Pacific-slope Flycatcher, the latest one I've ever seen around here.

In the Skagit River were lots of dead salmon, attended by small flocks of Glaucous-winged Gulls. I didn't see any eagles.

Corkindale was fairly quiet in the late afternoon, but for good numbers of Audubon's Warblers.

Yours truly,

Gary Bletsch

Gary Bletsch?Near Lyman, Washington (Skagit County), USA?garybletsch at yahoo.com?Mentre che li occhi per la fronda verde
ficcava ?o s? come far suole
chi dietro a li uccellin sua vita perde, lo pi? che padre mi dicea: ?Figliuole,
vienne oramai, ch? ?l tempo che n?? imposto
pi? utilmente compartir si vuole?.??