My Bird Notes

Iron Mountain 2012-05-22

Pullout by first bridge over Shaser Ck

Hillside above Shaser Ck

Riparian thickets along Shaser Ck

Pink Currant and beetle-chewed firs

Oregon Grape

Calypso orchids

Pink currant flowers

Townsend Warbler taking off

2012-05-22 06:30 for 90 minutes (hiking) 21 sightings Stuart Range (WACNSTUR) Leavenworth, WA (USA) Lat,Long: 47.39787,-120.65481 Map

The Stuart Range including the Teanaway mountains south of Ingalls Creek and Mt Stuart and the Enchantments north of Ingalls Creek. Elevation ranges from about 3000' to 9415' at the summit of Stuart. Geology is interesting with massive granite predominating to the north of Ingalls Creek and ultramafic serpentine in the Teanaway range south of the creek. Mixed mostly dry coniferous forest, meadows, ledges, talus. ovc, 45F, SW 5 From the first bridge across Shaser Creek, about a quarter mile up FR 7320 from Hwy 97 (about 10 miles S of US 2), I hiked up the steep hillside to the N until I reached a forest road, then continued a quarter mile or so up that road, returning somewhat to the W of where I ascended.
Mixed coniferous forest (mostly Ponderosa Pine, Douglas Fir, Grand Fir) with some understory of young trees and cherry, serviceberry, snowbrush, Oregon Grape and other shrubs, open enough to be fairly easy walking in most places. The D fir and Grand fir tops are mostly dead due to repeated defoliation by insects over the past several years. I acquired two dog ticks during my hike.

Pileated Woodpecker 1 Calling across the creek

Hammond's Flycatcher 2 By initial phrase of song: "sieeeeprrt". Foraging at all elevations, twice seen perching in low shrubs and foraging at ground level, returning to its perch with a gutteral but fairly high-pitched "chirrrr" call. Repeated "weet" calls heard from other individuals.

Dusky Flycatcher 1 By initial phrase of song "sieelip"

Cassin's Vireo 3 Singing

Warbling Vireo 1 Singing

Gray Jay 4 Small flock, repeated "seeeer" calls, high-pitched and thin.

Steller's Jay 2

Common Raven 2 One on roadcut cliff along Hwy 97, another heard

Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2 Pair in brushy open woods

Red-breasted Nuthatch 3 Calling

American Dipper 1 or two adults, plus several young, nesting under the bridge.

Townsend's Solitaire 1 Singing

Hermit Thrush 2 Calls and one or two songs heard.

American Robin 3

Nashville Warbler 2 Singing in taller brush in open woods

MacGillivray's Warbler 3 Singing in dense underbrush.

Yellow-rumped Warbler 5 Seen more often, heard less often, than the Townsends.

Townsend's Warbler 7 Singing a variety of songs, some buzzy, some not, and foraging in firs and pines as well as occasionally in understory. Call is a sharp "tsi", similar to Nashville and slightly reminiscent of a bushtit, though sharper.

Chipping Sparrow 1 Singing in open woods

Cassin's Finch 2 Singing

Evening Grosbeak 4 Heard overhead

Hammond's Flycatcher

Cassin's Vireo

Male Townsend's Warbler

Female Townsend's Warbler

Chipping Sparrow