Subject: [Tweeters] Black-backed Woodpeckers & more in Pierce County
Date: Sat Jul 25 10:45:27 PDT 2020
From: Marcus Roening - marcus at rainierconnect.com

Hi Tweets,

There is a high mountain woodpecker bonanza of Black-backed, American
Three-toed and Hairy Woodpeckers all together with their children at the
Noble Knob trailhead in Pierce County. The woodpeckers themselves are
highly accessible with only a 200-300 yard walk along a ridge over and
around the burned out trees. The burn is a result of the massive Norse
Peak fire in 2017 that goes all the way over the crest and a good 6
miles to Union Creek in Yakima county.

I dropped a pin on my eBird list, so you can see the exact location on a
map. From the trailhead: walk or drive back 300 yds. on the road through
the burned out trees and park on the only wide shoulder along the road
just before the turn. Mount Rainier will be in all its glory on your
left, west. Amble out on the burned over ridge heading to the NW. The
woodpeckers tended to be towards the end near a nice headland of rocks
overlooking the valley.

Also present were Mountain Bluebirds, YR Warbler and Townsend's
Solitaire. The Townsend's Solitaire was feeding a juvenile - which has
to be one of the spiffiest plumages ever.  Pine Grosbeak, Cassin's Finch
& Calliope Hummingbird have also been seen recently in the area - all
good birds for Pierce County.

If you want to go for a lovely hike with great views of Mount Rainier,
do the Noble Knob hike.  It had been a forested hike, but now that the
trees are all burned you can see the mountain most of the way. The
wildflower carpet under the trees is spectacular right now.  It is a 2.1
mile hike, with about 600' elevation gain and only a couple short,
moderately steep, sections.  The trail breaks out into a meadow and a
nice knob to hike up to with a 360 degree view. Families regularly do
this trail, but it isn't overly crowded. The website has 2 sets of
directions to get there, Corral Pass or 28 Mile.  The latter has a
landslide on the road.  Here's a 3rd option to get you to the right
Dalles Ridge trailhead.

Directions to Noble Knob: About 5.5 mile south of Greenwater WA on Hwy
401, turn left, east, onto FSR 72. Stay on the most obviously traveled
portion of the road, ignoring the spurs. At 7.4 miles, after you've
crossed over to the east side of the ridge, will be spur road FSR 7250,
that is a hairpin back to your right and up with a Large Yellow sign.
Follow that 2.5 miles, always staying on the main road going up.  You'll
be driving through the burn at that point and the road will end in 9.9
miles at the unmarked Dalles Ridge Trailhead to Noble Knob.

Good birding,

--
Marcus Roening Tacoma WA