Cheam Ridge birding July 27

[Gord]

Was up Cheam Ridge until mid afternoon yesterday. Weather was nice although a bit cloudy at the top at times. We saw another bear above spoon valley! I have seen a bear each time I've been up there this year so far! Highlights included large numbers of grey crowned rosy-finches, a family of ptarmigan and a Clark's nutcracker. At the peak, I saw a large bird fly over my head and land on the rocks. I could only see its silhouette but suspected nutcracker on its shape and flight. When I climbed back up, I casually asked my work partner if she had happened to notice a larger bird land on the rocks a few minutes ago. She described a Clark's nutcracker quite well for someone who finds birds to be about as exciting as a lecture on mineral deposits of a distant country.

Birds I saw were:

1 Sharp-shinned hawk
1 Blue (sooty)grouse with one chick
1 White-tailed ptarmigan with 5 chicks
2 Band-tailed pigeon
8 Vaux's swift
2 Rufous hummingbird
1 Northern flicker
4+ Olive-sided flycatcher
2 Steller's jay
1 Clark's nutcracker.
4 Chestnut-backed chickadee
2 Winter wren
20+ American robin (some in two small flocks)
1 Hermit thrush
10+ American pipit (1 feeding two juv)
6 Yellow-rumped warber (4 juv)
3 Fox sparrow (2 juv)
80+ Dark-eyed junco
60+ Grey crowned rosy finch (I counted 46 flying by in one flock and could hear others off in the distance as well. Many juveniles)
2 Pine Siskin

Will post some pictures later today.

[Gord]

Pictures from the hike.

The ptarmigan hen.




Ptarmigan chick




Blue (sooty) grouse chick




Love the beautiful blue sky up there!




This little junco must have just left his nest. We picked him up and put him off the side of the trail.




Grey-crowned rosy-finch




The little black bear viewed at a nice distance.




Got a little closer to this doe.



Some scenery and wildflowers.








Spoon Lake

[dpeppar]

Very nice picture. How was the drive up? I have a Pathfinder. Thanks...Dave (Chilliwack)

[Gord]

Hi Dave, thanks for asking. This is a part of the report that I left out but a lot of people would like to know.

This is certainly a 4x4 road now. If you dont have one, and really dont like your car, you can take a car to about 2-3 km from the main parking area and then walk. There is no way a car can make the last quarter of this drive. The extra walk will probably add at least an hour round trip to your hike.

A pathfinder should manage ok, but dont be surprised if you bottom out once or twice. I drive a GMC Canyon 4x4 and touched a couple places on the last 1/4 of the drive. There is about two sketchy places, one on a steep section so take care. It isnt too bad, but not as nice as it used to be. Most of the cross ditches are pretty gentle but still a bit much for cars and 2wd trucks if you dont want to drag the bottom on the rocks.

Good luck and I encourage you to go. It's beautiful up there, and with the young ptarmigan around, it's a good chance to see them. Check out the flat meadow near the top (100 yds from the top but to the west of the absolute highest point on the peak) as I expect this area is where they will hang out as there is a little bit of cover for night time, lots of feed and a good dusting hole as well. Jeff and I found the roosters on the 15th at the far east of the ridge, about 100-200 yds from the peak. As the males dont help with raising the young, it's hit and miss for them. Keep the plants in mind too when up there. There's mostly rock up top, but even among the rocks are alpine plants that will take many years to regrow if trampled by accident.

Ive found ptarmigan each time Ive been up there high enough to find them, but also have ran into bears all 5 times Ive been there too this summer, so keep an eye open!!