We found 120 bird species on our 3 week road trip. Admittedly we should have seen more but the driving distances were great. I'll send the list to any Tweeters interested in what we found. I had 2 lifers: White-winged Crossbill & Gray-cheeked Thrush.


Most numerous bird species: probably Yellow-rumped Warblers, especially Myrtles. We also found Magnolia,Tennessee ( the latter were at nearly every stop south of Watson Lake), and all the common warbler species.

Surprise: We counted 50 Bald Eagles from here in Coupeville to our return.


Best birding locations:

Red Buff Provincial Park, Babine Lake, British Columbia; Gnat Pass, Cassiar Hwy, B.C;. Boya Lake Prov. Park, B.C.; Robert Campbell Hwy, Yukon Territory; Liard River Hotsprings Provincial Park; Fletcher Lake(aka Reflection Lake), Toad River, B.C; Summit Lake,Stone Mountain Provincial Park, B.C.(Boreal Owls!).


Mammals: 24 species with 1 Lifer for me: Meadow Vole. Again, I'll send the list to anyone interested. We saw 35 bears, 32 Blacks and 3 Grizzlies. Several of the Blacks were cinnamon phase including 1 large enough to BE a Grizzly! We also got a Cervid Slam: all the deer species native to North America (Moose, Caribou, Elk, Blacktailed/Mule Deer, White-tailed Deer. I would guess that's only possible in B.C. or Alberta (poss. Saskatchewan?).



: Butterflies: I didn't put much effort into butterflies but came up with a list of 11 which included 5 lifers. Grizzled Skipper was a new one for me. I know it sounds like a guy sipping rum in a seaside dive but it really is a butterfly species!



3 fish w/ Lake Chub as a lifer; 2 amphibians and 1 unknown Garter Snake species.


Wildflowers in bloom: We missed some of the orchids at Liard River Hotsprings but it was pretty much peak bloom for early summer wildflowers everywhere else. My wife is still working on the list which stands now at 103.


"It's the great big broad land way up yonder,

It's the forests where silence has lease:

It's the beauty that thrills me with wonder,

It's the stillness that fills me with peace."

From Spell of the Yukon by Robert Service


----Steve Ellis

Coupeville, Whidbey Island

sremse at comcast.net
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