Elk May 23

[Ben]

Went for a hike up Elk this morning. Tried to get to Thurston, but was quite snowy and wasn't sure where the trail was... :/
Highlights were a Northern Goshawk and Northern Pygmy Owl

Record shots of the Goshawk:



Canada Jay:


Fox Sparrow (curious whether this is a sooty or a slate-colored)


List for those who are interested :

Sooty Grouse 3
Northern Goshawk 1
Northern Pygmy-Owl 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Pacific-slope Flycatcher 10
Canada Jay 1
Steller's Jay 2
Common Raven 2
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet 3
Red-breasted Nuthatch 4
Brown Creeper 1
Pacific Wren 9
Townsend's Solitaire 3
Varied Thrush 6
Hermit Thrush 3
American Robin 2
Evening Grosbeak 3
Pine Siskin 1
Fox Sparrow 1
Dark-eyed Junco 6
Yellow Warbler 5
Yellow-rumped Warbler 3
Black-headed Grosbeak 1 (at parking lot)

[Gord]

Jon, Slate-coloured Fox Sparrow. Grey head, faint wing bars etc. That's the expected Fox Sparrow sub-species for our area now and almost always at higher elevations where they breed. I've only once seen a Slate-coloured in the valley which was late summer at Cheam Lake. The Sooty Fox Sparrow which we see during the winter breeds to the north of us.

Fantastic Goshawk! I suspect they nest in the area.

[Randy]

Great report! Goshawk and pygmy-owl would actually lifers for me!

[ed]

Good list of birds! Over 20 species is a good number. Glad to see the Hermit thrushes are back. I haven’t been able to get up Elk for a few weeks, but we’ll change that soon.