Post by Gord on Sept 16, 2008 20:54:01 GMT -8
Yes, just a little late sharing this report!! It's been hard to get near the computer for any significant time other than studies. 
I got a decent early start and was the first there. Needle Peak is located just south of the Toll Booth on the Coquihalla Highway.
I headed off up the trail which is mostly woods for the first hour or so. Not many birds aside from a noisy Winter Wren, some kinglets and Red-breasted Nuthatches. Several Varied Thrushes as well. This was a pretty neat mushroom!
Further up as the trees started to thin a little a small group of Band-tailed Pigeons were perched on a snag. It was foggy but I was hoping for it to burn off.
I stopped for a little rest and spotted these two guys sitting quietly. I might have missed them if I didnt stop. Both of these Pine Grosbeaks were the russet form.
After about an hour I broke out of the woods and onto the ridge. A Sooty Grouse was here. The thick grey band on the tail is pretty obvious. I also found a feather from that bird or another's tail.
The weather had not much improved. Through a break in the clouds I spotted a Mountain Goat just going over a nearby ridge. A few Yellow-rumped Warblers were flying about as well. A good sized flock of Mountain Chickadees could be heard somewhere ahead and sometimes beside me but I never got a look.
Soon after I heard what sounded like Cedar Waxwings but much more trilled sounding. I looked back and spotted eight Bohemian Waxwings that landed on a tree. They did not stay long and flew low across the ridge. Nice to see them!
I walked further along on the very flat and agreeable trail. I caught glimpses of the scenery but just enough to see that it would be impressive on a clear day. The only other time I was here was with Brent, Dave, Thor and John (and John's non-birding but birder accommodating friend) in an incredible snow storm. See this report
I intended to avoid Needle Peak and continue walking on the ridge. I misunderstood things so when I got to a small climb up the rocks, I went up thinking that after this I would have a choice to go up the peak or take a right and go along the ridge further. When I got up it cleared and I could see I missed the turnoff a little ways back and that I climbed up for nothing. I got some shots of the view.
That tall pointy thing is Needle Peak.
The reward from the little climb continued with a good look at a Hermit Thrush and Mountain Chickadee. Two Townsend's Solitaires flew past. Down below me I could see a large flock of American Pipits fly into where I passed a hour before. Soon after a smaller flock of Horned Larks flew over my head and landed.
Hermit Thrush
Mountain Chickadee
The clouds were moving back in, but I was lucky to relocate the Mountain Goat working its way along the ridge I had intended to take. Incredible creatures.
I scrambled back down and decided to start for home as another light shower started. I knew for next time where to go.
Down back on the ridge I came among the pipits and larks. Also here were plenty of sparrows including White-crowned, Golden-crowned, Savannah and a juvenile Chipping Sparrow that I looked at closely.
White and Golden-crowns sharing a tree
Savannah Sparrow. There were surprisingly several of them.
Chipping Sparrow juvenile (I tried to make it a Clay-coloured or Brewer's
)
Horned Lark. I counted about 17 of them.
Soon after a Sharp-shinned Hawk flew past and scattered everything but that was ok as I needed to get going.
I headed down and did not regret doing so as it sprinkled the whole time. Not much in the way of birds on the return trip but I went pretty quickly. Back at the car a Kestrel was hunting large flying insects off the top of a tree.
Cute little guy.
On the road were also some American Crows based on the location.
Nice hike, worth doing again before the snow!
I got a decent early start and was the first there. Needle Peak is located just south of the Toll Booth on the Coquihalla Highway.
I headed off up the trail which is mostly woods for the first hour or so. Not many birds aside from a noisy Winter Wren, some kinglets and Red-breasted Nuthatches. Several Varied Thrushes as well. This was a pretty neat mushroom!
Further up as the trees started to thin a little a small group of Band-tailed Pigeons were perched on a snag. It was foggy but I was hoping for it to burn off.
I stopped for a little rest and spotted these two guys sitting quietly. I might have missed them if I didnt stop. Both of these Pine Grosbeaks were the russet form.
After about an hour I broke out of the woods and onto the ridge. A Sooty Grouse was here. The thick grey band on the tail is pretty obvious. I also found a feather from that bird or another's tail.
The weather had not much improved. Through a break in the clouds I spotted a Mountain Goat just going over a nearby ridge. A few Yellow-rumped Warblers were flying about as well. A good sized flock of Mountain Chickadees could be heard somewhere ahead and sometimes beside me but I never got a look.
Soon after I heard what sounded like Cedar Waxwings but much more trilled sounding. I looked back and spotted eight Bohemian Waxwings that landed on a tree. They did not stay long and flew low across the ridge. Nice to see them!
I walked further along on the very flat and agreeable trail. I caught glimpses of the scenery but just enough to see that it would be impressive on a clear day. The only other time I was here was with Brent, Dave, Thor and John (and John's non-birding but birder accommodating friend) in an incredible snow storm. See this report
I intended to avoid Needle Peak and continue walking on the ridge. I misunderstood things so when I got to a small climb up the rocks, I went up thinking that after this I would have a choice to go up the peak or take a right and go along the ridge further. When I got up it cleared and I could see I missed the turnoff a little ways back and that I climbed up for nothing. I got some shots of the view.
That tall pointy thing is Needle Peak.
The reward from the little climb continued with a good look at a Hermit Thrush and Mountain Chickadee. Two Townsend's Solitaires flew past. Down below me I could see a large flock of American Pipits fly into where I passed a hour before. Soon after a smaller flock of Horned Larks flew over my head and landed.
Hermit Thrush
Mountain Chickadee
The clouds were moving back in, but I was lucky to relocate the Mountain Goat working its way along the ridge I had intended to take. Incredible creatures.
I scrambled back down and decided to start for home as another light shower started. I knew for next time where to go.
Down back on the ridge I came among the pipits and larks. Also here were plenty of sparrows including White-crowned, Golden-crowned, Savannah and a juvenile Chipping Sparrow that I looked at closely.
White and Golden-crowns sharing a tree
Savannah Sparrow. There were surprisingly several of them.
Chipping Sparrow juvenile (I tried to make it a Clay-coloured or Brewer's
)Horned Lark. I counted about 17 of them.
Soon after a Sharp-shinned Hawk flew past and scattered everything but that was ok as I needed to get going.
I headed down and did not regret doing so as it sprinkled the whole time. Not much in the way of birds on the return trip but I went pretty quickly. Back at the car a Kestrel was hunting large flying insects off the top of a tree.
Cute little guy.
On the road were also some American Crows based on the location.
Nice hike, worth doing again before the snow!
