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A Few Good Bird Sightings and Some Wet Weather

The weather forecast indicated about 20% chance of rain in the mountains yesterday. Around here, that means it’s not likely to rain. It was sunny and reasonably warm at home when the girls and I left for the 6500′ Freezeout Trailhead and the hike to Tiffany Mountain. The temperature was 46 degrees Fahrenheit and it was sunny when we started walking. Good weather for an uphill hike to the 8242′ summit.

In the burned forest (this is part of the Tripod burn from ten years ago) I heard and saw numerous birds, including lots of young ones with adults searching for food to feed the nestlings.

When we walked away from the trees, the sky was solidly overcast but still no sign of rain. Nearing the top, I started to feel occasional pelts of small hail. At the top, it was obvious that the weather was going to take a turn for the worse. We shared my peanut butter sandwich and I put on my extra layers (two coats, gloves and a wool hat) and tucked my camera away. Normally we would linger on the mountain top and look around for more birds and flowers and maybe ladybugs but not this time. It was hailing pretty solidly by then. And as we walked downhill it was soon raining. We didn’t notice the birds or flowers much on the way down. Still, it never got too cold and it wasn’t windy and I had the right extra gear with me. Overall it was a nice day.

Roger Lake is a real gem
Lots of downed lots on the lower part of the trail but they didn’t slow Sky any.
Paintbrush
A very young grouse – either a Dusky Grouse or a Spruce Grouse, depending on who I ask.
This game camera is aimed right at the trail. Are they counting hikers and dogs or looking for something else?
Lupine
Lupine
Mountain Bluebird nest hole
Male Mountain Bluebird feeding young
Male Mountain Bluebird at the nest hole
Female Mountain Bluebird feeding young
I think this is a Savannah Sparrow
Reliable water following rainy summer days
Luna was wet before it even started raining
Horned Larks nest on the side of Tiffany
Near the top looking back at the trail
Approaching storm
Approaching storm
I was hoping it would go towards the Okanogan and not towards me
See the storm on the other side of the ridge past Tiffany Lake?

Fourth of July in Twisp

I am quite certain that Twisp hosts one of the best small town parades around. It has horses, music (played by small children with violins), dogs, political causes and lots of fun. What more could you want?

County commissioner candidate
A blast from the past.
Another candidate for county commissioner.
Methow Recycling team
We love our firefighters.
We remember the ones we have lost.
Always training for ski season!
Last year when it was one hundred degrees, this was the most popular thing in the parade.

Despite the Best Laid Plans

Sometimes a hike doesn’t go as planned. This one was thwarted by wide, cold creeks. I removed my socks and shoes and crossed one only to find another one just around the corner! Then I remembered that last fall these two creeks were tiny and also, there were many more tiny creeks so after just an hour on the trail I turned back. I could still go to the lake that I had bypassed to save for later. Ready to cross the creek again, I saw a group of friends who I’d seen at the trailhead with their three dogs. They too, had been thwarted when they tried to get to the lake. One of their dogs was old and could not make a necessary log crossing. Three of their group had gotten across the same creek where I was and upon hearing it wouldn’t be the last one, they turned back too. Not before we attempted to get a photo of the five dogs. It was probably the worst circumstance for a group dog photo. Two of the dogs are black; two are blonde and one is a light colored basset hound. And the lighting was mottled shadows in the forest. Oh well. It was a fun attempt.

After the photo attempt, we parted company and I took a short spur trail that went to the near side of the lake. It had some hard packed snow on it and then there was some mud that I tried to skirt around. Well, that was a bad idea. I slipped and found myself ankle deep in mud with my socks and shoes soaked and dirty. The dogs, in the meantime were at the lake wondering what was taking me so long! I was able to rinse the mud off and left the socks and shoes in the sun to partially dry while I ate my sandwich and threw sticks for the dogs.

It was a beautiful day and the dogs had fun and the scenery was lovely.

Highway 20 approaching Liberty Bell and Washington Pass
One creek crossing had a nice bridge
Lots of water!
Brrrr.
Even Joolz thinks the water is cold.
Some dogs are not paying attention
Good. They are all looking the same way.
Hey – did you know there is a lake just around the corner?
Sure enough
Throw the stick. Now. I’m not kidding.
White pine
Columbine

Lost Lake Campout

We got away with our camper for a week or so at the end of May. Last summer there was no time for camping between work and wildfires so we just decided to block out some time early and do it. With a little luck, maybe we can go again later in the summer.

The Lost Lake Campground was created by the CCC. Signs indicated the work was done in 1940 and ’41. There is a cabin and shops and also some buildings at the adjacent Kiwanis camp all built by the CCC workers. The cabin is badly in need of repair. I do hope the US Forest Service can find the resources to preserve this historic building.

Western larch is the predominant tree around the campground. These are tall stately conifers with needles that turn golden yellow in the fall before dropping. In the spring they grow vibrant green foliage. Apparently the area was logged in 1963, taking many of the big old trees. There are at least two remaining and a nature walk will guide you to them. The area was thinned/logged again around fifteen years ago, I think. This thinning has produced a healthy and attractive stand that is also more fire resistant than it was prior to that.

We were joined by Ken’s brother and the two of them enjoyed fishing for brook trout from the short kayaks. We had two good meals of fresh fish cooked over the fire. I enjoyed birding from my kayak. Ken and Carl saw a moose swim across the lake while they were fishing. Of course, I missed it! We all enjoyed listening to the loons calling to each other.

It was nice to get away from home and the ever-present electronic world.

CCC shop
Old fire hydrant
The dogs were pleased that a new sign designates space just for them.
This old dock has seen better times
Nice forest
Sky
900 year old western larch
So tall and straight
Big trees
Luna
Sky
These trees survived burns over the years
Pileated Woodpeckers like the dead trees
Lots of penstemon in bloom
Calypso orchid
Calypso orchid
Calypso orchid
Wild violets
Lupine
Wild strawberries were everywhere
Plants growing out of rocks
Plants growing out of rocks
Snowberry
Swimming float in the fog
Foggy morning
Lily pads
Lily pads
Looks like a good place for a moose
We had some rain
Ahhhhh
Bald Eagle
Carl enjoys a bit of sun
Good morning!

Here is our bird list from Lost Lake.

Canada Goose

Wood Duck

Mallard

Green-winged Teal

Ring-necked Duck

Common Loon

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Red-tailed Hawk

Virginia Rail

Sora

American Coot

Spotted Sandpiper

Great Horned Owl

Barred Owl

Common Poorwill

hummingbird sp.

Williamson’s Sapsucker

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Hammond’s Flycatcher

Empidonax sp.

Gray Jay

Steller’s Jay

Common Raven

Tree Swallow

Violet-green Swallow

Black-capped Chickadee

Mountain Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Marsh Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Western Bluebird

Townsend’s Solitaire

Swainson’s Thrush

American Robin

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Chipping Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Song Sparrow

Red-winged Blackbird

Red Crossbill

Pine Siskin

Evening Grosbeak

 

Beach Sunset

One of my favorite things – sunset on the beach. A comfy chair on the deck, a glass of wine and dogs by my side. It doesn’t get much better than that.

This group of women gets together here every spring.
It’s a nice place to stay. Someday a tsunami or climate change will take it away so we enjoy it while we can.
Good light for Luna