Back in 1988 (I think it was), I unexpectedly "bumped into" a female Spruce Grouse up there; inside the solid treeline (Keep Cool Trail). I thought she was angry for me eating a couple of her huckleberries. But maybe she was using me as protective cover from a Goshawk in the area when I was on the way up earlier in the day. Coloration was like the Manning Park birds; not like those further south in the Cascades. All this is from memory.

Phil Hotlen
Bellingham

----- Original Message -----
From: "Fanter Lane" <fanterlane at gmail.com>
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Wednesday, July 9, 2014 11:33:45 AM
Subject: [Tweeters] WOS FIELD TRIP TO YELLOW ASTER BUETTE, WHATCOM COUNTY


Hi Tweeters,
Casey McHugh and I will be leading a trip to the Mountains around Mt Baker next week through the Washington Ornithological Society. There are't any WOS newsletters before the trip is scheduled, so I wanted to let everyone know.
Here is the description:



Yellow Aster Butte, Mount Baker, Whatcom County
Wednesday 16 July 2014
Fanter Lane and Casey McHugh




Hike: Yellow Aster Butte is a 4 mile uphill clime. The first two miles are in forest and there are lots of biting black flies. Long pants and a light long sleeve shirt depending on weather should be good. Then we will break out above tree line and hike another two miles to the actual Butte. Flies practically disappear once we're out of the trees. We will be hiking a total of 8+ miles up then down hill in one day. This is a very intense hike, people should be aware of what they're signing up for.

Target birds: White-tailed ptarmigan, Gray-crowned Rosy-finch, American-three Toed-woodpecker, Sooty Grouse and any other birds that might be up above tree line.

Description: The main target of the trip is the White-tailed Ptarmigan, we will drop down into a small basin where they live. We have a good chance of Gray-crowned Rosy-finch, around the butte. Last year we found an American Three-toed Woodpecker nest so we will see if there around. We will also look for warblers along willow thickets. Finish will be about 5:00pm. A DISCOVERY PASS IS REQUIRED, parking at the trail head.


Meeting: We will meet in Deming, at the Nooksack Casino, and Carpool the rest of the way. Time will be arranged when people sign up, however we will shoot for an early start.

Sign up:
If you are interested in this trip, please email Fanter at fanterlane at gmail.com



Good Birding,


Fanter Lane
Acme, WA
fanterlane at gmail.com


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