Hi Tweeters,

Yesterday I hiked with a non-birding friend up to Goat Lake in the Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, Darrington Ranger District, which I believe is in Snohomish County (could be wrong; I'm not a county lister). It's a beautiful 10+ mile round trip hike that terminates at Goat Lake just above 3,100' in elevation. The lower trail follows Elliott Creek and its numerous cascades, making it difficult to hear birds, but it's really scenic. There was no snow on the trail, but it was wet at times and required stream crossing in several places. Species seen/heard along the way included PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER (lower elevation), OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (at Goat Lake), WARBLING VIREO; WESTERN TANAGER (open red alder section, lower elevation); calling VARIED THRUSH (about half-way up the trail); HAIRY WOODPECKER, PINE SISKINS (toward the top of the trail), several calling TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (maybe about 2/3 of the way up the trail), and MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER (in the thickets around Goat Lake, including several calling and a couple of great close views).

Good birding,

Lonnie Somer
Olympia
wheelermombi at comcast.net