I drove to the SE corner of the county late Saturday afternoon and spent
the night camped in Eden Valley on the Siskiyou NF. Today I was able to
make it up to the trailhead to Mt Bolivar at 3,000 feet. There was about 6
inches of snow at the trailhead and a fierce east wind so I didn’t climb
Mt. Bolivar especially as it probably had feet of snow near the top. The
road up had scattered snow patches with many down trees; however, someone
had cut through the down trees so a pickup could squeeze through.
Best bird was a displaying, male CALLIOPE HUMMER in the Eden Valley meadow.
Much flowering manzanita there. The red flowering currant hadn’t flowered
yet. It was to early for most migrants but went up to try for Calliope
which worked out. One female Rufous Hummer apparently on nest in same
meadow. Other highlights:
Several calling MT QUAIL, SOOTY GROUSE and one booming RUFFED GROUSE.
Singing Townsend’s Solitaire. Two Red- breasted Sapsuckers. Six to eight
WILSON’S SNIPE in the first 1/4 mile of the Mt. Bolivar trail. Only snow
queen flowering along trail. Fawn lily up but hadn’t flowered yet. Only saw
one Hermit Thrush and it was silent.
Back along the Powers Hwy singing OC Warbler and BT Gray Warbler at every
stop. Also FOY PS FLY, NR-WINGED SWALLOW, and CASSIN’S VIREO.
Conspicuously absent any Lesser Goldfinches. Only heard one American on
Saturday.
Always a fun trip!
Tim R
back in windy Coos Bay
