Subject: [Tweeters] Sunrise - Mount Rainier National Park, Ptarmigan +
Date: Aug 25 21:12:10 2012
From: Marcus Roening - Marcus.D.Roening at gsk.com


Hi Tweets,

Saturday was a glorious day up at Mount Rainier NP at Sunrise with views of Mount Baker and beyond. Original plan was to hike up to Second Burroughs, but after running into Michael & Janka Hobbs in the parking lot and a bit later Ryan Shaw coming back from looking at White-tailed Ptarmigan at the Fremont Lookout, we headed up there instead.

But before the turnoff to Fremont, we found two new birds that we'd never seen before in the area, even though we hike this area multiple times per year. The first new bird was a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL on Sourdough Ridge about half way to Frozen Lake. There was a nice mixed flock of Mountain Chickadee, RB Nuthatch, Chipping Sparrow, DE Junco and Yellow-rumped Warblers. I'm sure the owl found the flock of interest, as well.

At Frozen Lake, we finally found my first high altitude BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. I've looked in this lake a lot and the usual is an American Pipit or perhaps a YR Warbler or two.

We then headed up to Fremont Lookout and had a Townsend's Solitaire doing its rusty pump imitation. At the lookout, after a nice long lunch, we heard first and then eventually located 5 WHITE-TAILED PTARMIGAN on the big rock outcrop SSE of the Lookout. One of the adult birds was taking a dust bath and created quite a stir. A few Horned Larks and an American Kestrel rounded out the bird selection. The other notable sighting was the largest number of MOUNTAIN GOATS that I have ever seen at Sunrise - 41!

Since it was such a nice day, we all decided to hike up to Second Burroughs with hopes of Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches that often work the boulders in the area - no luck today. We did have a few fly-over Pine Siskins, Clark's Nutcrackers down in the valley and a family of 6 MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS at the beginning of the trail to First Burroughs. At the top of First Burrough's we found a juvenile BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD! This is around 7000'- are they parasitizing the Horned Larks and Pipits? Other raptors for the day included a Cooper's Hawk harassing an American Kestrel and a dark morph Red-tailed Hawk.

It was a great day to hike with friends on the mountain.

Good Birding,

Marcus Roening
Tacoma WA
marcus.d.roening at GSK.com