Post by Dave on Jul 12, 2008 17:32:19 GMT -8
Hello fellow birders,
3 birders and myself headed up to Mount Cheam around 530 this morning. We were at the trailhead shortly after 7 with only 1 stop on the rough road for a group of 5 singing Warbling Vireos and some Black-capped Chickadees. We also heard singing Winter Wren, Varied Thrush, Stellar's Jay, and Dark-eyed Junco, but did not stop for these.
We started the trail and stopped after about 1 minute of hiking to enjoy singing Hermit Thrush in all directions. Pine Siskin flew over in small groups and a mixed warbler flock entertained us, allowing excellent views of Orange-crowned and Yellow Rumped. A Hairy Woodpecker flew over where I have often seen Red-breasted Sapsucker. More warblers kept our eyes to the trees, so much so that we almost stepped (literally) on a male Sooty Grouse. As Murray mentioned in his northern birding reports, grouse are tame, and this one never moved while cameras covered all 4 angles thoroughly.
We left the grouse sitting on the side of the path where we first saw it and headed on. More Blue Grouse were heard drumming in surrounding trees. 45 minutes! in to the hike we had made it to Spoon Lake valley, just in time for a family of 4 Red-breasted Sapsuckers and a Varied Thrush to give good views.
Spoon Lake did not look so pretty today, as I have never been up Cheam in so much snow
The view after another 15 minutes of hiking of Spoon Valley.
Near the sharp bend beneath Lady Peak, we discovered a large bird that later proved to be a Golden Eagle sitting on a large exposed branch. The shade did not allow good pictures, but we enjoyed this bird for some time. As we hiked on, we later had great views of a Golden Eagle (same one?) soaring against the blue sky. Wow!
I was hoping to find Grey-crowned Rosy Finch in a gulley of snow where we found a large group last year, but after some searching and nothing showing, we continued on, adding the first of many American Pipits, some doing display flights. Red-breasted Nuthatch, MacGillvray's Warbler, Fox Sparrow, Rufous Hummingbird and the odd American Robin were added to the now growing list!
Heading up the steep switch backs we stumbled into 2 Grey-crowned Rosy Finches! We were now in ptarmigan zone and the searching began. It took about 15 minutes and we had our first of 2 great looking males.
2 Black Swift entertained us with low flybys during lunch on the ridge. The trip down added a Northern Flicker, better views of Rosy-Finch, and the odd this and that.
A beautiful day (especially the early hours before the crowds arrived!!)
Dave
3 birders and myself headed up to Mount Cheam around 530 this morning. We were at the trailhead shortly after 7 with only 1 stop on the rough road for a group of 5 singing Warbling Vireos and some Black-capped Chickadees. We also heard singing Winter Wren, Varied Thrush, Stellar's Jay, and Dark-eyed Junco, but did not stop for these.
We started the trail and stopped after about 1 minute of hiking to enjoy singing Hermit Thrush in all directions. Pine Siskin flew over in small groups and a mixed warbler flock entertained us, allowing excellent views of Orange-crowned and Yellow Rumped. A Hairy Woodpecker flew over where I have often seen Red-breasted Sapsucker. More warblers kept our eyes to the trees, so much so that we almost stepped (literally) on a male Sooty Grouse. As Murray mentioned in his northern birding reports, grouse are tame, and this one never moved while cameras covered all 4 angles thoroughly.
We left the grouse sitting on the side of the path where we first saw it and headed on. More Blue Grouse were heard drumming in surrounding trees. 45 minutes! in to the hike we had made it to Spoon Lake valley, just in time for a family of 4 Red-breasted Sapsuckers and a Varied Thrush to give good views.
Spoon Lake did not look so pretty today, as I have never been up Cheam in so much snow
The view after another 15 minutes of hiking of Spoon Valley.
Near the sharp bend beneath Lady Peak, we discovered a large bird that later proved to be a Golden Eagle sitting on a large exposed branch. The shade did not allow good pictures, but we enjoyed this bird for some time. As we hiked on, we later had great views of a Golden Eagle (same one?) soaring against the blue sky. Wow!
I was hoping to find Grey-crowned Rosy Finch in a gulley of snow where we found a large group last year, but after some searching and nothing showing, we continued on, adding the first of many American Pipits, some doing display flights. Red-breasted Nuthatch, MacGillvray's Warbler, Fox Sparrow, Rufous Hummingbird and the odd American Robin were added to the now growing list!
Heading up the steep switch backs we stumbled into 2 Grey-crowned Rosy Finches! We were now in ptarmigan zone and the searching began. It took about 15 minutes and we had our first of 2 great looking males.
2 Black Swift entertained us with low flybys during lunch on the ridge. The trip down added a Northern Flicker, better views of Rosy-Finch, and the odd this and that.
A beautiful day (especially the early hours before the crowds arrived!!)
Dave
. Adding White-tailed Ptarmigan to your lifelist could definitely be one of our group goals!