Camp Cascades July 27–August 7, 2018

Home , Fort Casey, White Pass (Washington)

CAMP CASCADES JULY 27–AUGUST 7, 2018

American Pika © Michael O’Brien

CAMP COUNSELORS : MICHAEL O’B RIEN , LOUISE ZEMAITIS , & GLEN DAVIS

LIST COMPILED BY : MICHAEL O’B RIEN

VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS , INC . 2525 WALLINGWOOD DRIVE , SUITE 1003 AUSTIN , TEXAS 78746 WWW.VENTBIRD .COM

CAMP CASCADES July 27–August 7, 2018

By Michael O’Brien

For the second year in a row, Washington saw record-breaking heat and widespread wildfires during the summer of 2018. Although we were generally very lucky with the weather, our activities on the east slope of the Cascades were curtailed due to widespread smoke from the Miriam Fire, which was burning over 1,000 acres (subsequently much more than that) near White Pass and Clear Lake. Regardless, we did remarkably well finding most of the region’s specialties, and ended up with our best trip list ever.

Tufted Puffin © Michael O’Brien

Our time in the Puget Sound Region was simply delightful. Even with hot weather in Seattle, being surrounded by water meant chilly morning temperatures in the 50s and 60s, and afternoon highs barely breaking out of the 70s. Our base camp on Whidbey Island was Camp Casey Conference Center. This facility perfectly met our needs, including excellent birding right out our doorstep, with fine views of Crocket Lake and close proximity to Fort Casey State Park. Indeed, campers continued the “yard list” tradition at Camp Cascades and recorded an impressive 87 species (tying the record)! Crocket Lake held a good variety of shorebirds, including a distant but educational flock of Long-billed Dowitchers and a much closer array of “peeps.” A leisurely walk across the street to Fort Casey State Park provided a great introduction to both woodland and coastal birds of Whidbey Island, including Pigeon Guillemot, Heermann’s Gull, California Quail, Olive-sided and Pacific-slope flycatchers, Hutton’s Vireo, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Pacific Wren, and “Western” Purple Finch. A major highlight of our time in the Puget Sound region was a boat trip to Protection Island. On this trip, we found many coastal specialties such as Harlequin Duck, Black Oystercatcher, and Rhinoceros Auklet, but the real prizes were close views of four Tufted Puffins and a single Northern Elephant Seal! Nearby Point

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 2 Camp Cascades, 2018 Hudson gave us close views of several early migrant Mew Gulls, and Ka Tai Lagoon held a nice variety of ducks, plus Virginia Rail and Marsh Wren. Back on Whidbey Island, South Whidbey State Park yielded more forest birds, including a pair of Red-breasted Sapsuckers and good studies of “Western Hemlock (Type 3)” Red Crossbill, plus lots of practice distinguishing the high-pitched notes of Brown Creeper and Golden-crowned Kinglet. We rounded out our coastal experience with some very productive seawatching between Fort Ebey State Park and Swan Lake, where we had excellent studies of Marbled Murrelet, White-winged Scoter, Pacific Loon, and Red-necked Grebe.

Semipalmated and Least sandpipers © Michael O’Brien

After traveling east to Mt. Rainier National Park, we settled into Cougar Rock Campground and awoke the next morning to the ethereal pre-dawn songs of Varied Thrush, one of the most iconic birds of the Pacific Northwest. What a perfect way to begin our Cascades experience! Other campsite residents ranged from the very bold Gray and Steller’s jays to the very stealthy Townsend’s Solitaire, which regularly called from a hillside above camp. Our first hike in the Cascades was at Narada Falls, a lovely spot with giant moss-covered trees, where we had prolonged views of adult and juvenile American Dipper and a flyover Black Swift. The centerpiece of our visit to the Cascades was time spent at or above treeline. Our two visits to Paradise were barely enough to soak in this spectacular place. A 5-mile hike one day not only yielded the hoped-for Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch and Sooty Grouse, but was also widely regarded as among the best hikes we had ever been on. Every step of the way was filled with breathtaking scenery, and lush meadows were full of wildflowers, butterflies, impressive flocks of songbirds (including several Hermit Warblers), and the always-endearing Hoary Marmot. Another hike at Sunrise yielded perhaps the top tour highlight, a female White-tailed Ptarmigan with four large chicks! We watched these special birds for nearly an hour, showing them to passers by, taking photos, making field notes and sketches, and marveling at how well adapted they are to the exposed rocky hillside they call home. While we weren’t watching the ptarmigans, we also enjoyed family groups of Horned Lark and American Pipit, a singing Rock Wren, several “Slate- colored” Fox Sparrows, and a fly-by pair of Prairie Falcons. Several adorable Pikas and a single distant Mountain Goat rounded out another wonderful hike above treeline.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 3 Camp Cascades, 2018

White-tailed Ptarmigan © Michael O’Brien

For a change of scenery, we visited the east side of the Cascades, where the “rain shadow” effect results in much drier habitats, remarkably reminiscent of the Southwest U.S. Although nearby wildfires altered our plans a bit, we still hit some wonderful spots and found most species we had hoped for. Oak Creek Canyon held a completely different set of birds from what we had seen previously, including a large family group of Chukars, a soaring pair of Golden Eagles, thirteen Lewis’s Woodpeckers, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Canyon Wren, and Lark and Brewer’s sparrows. Although we managed only a relatively brief afternoon visit to Wenatchee National Forest, we got lucky and found Williamson’s and Red-naped sapsuckers, White-headed Woodpecker, Dusky Flycatcher, and Pygmy Nuthatch. To escape widespread smoke, our last day found us farther east than usual, in Yakima Canyon. Swainson’s Hawk, Eastern and Western kingbirds, Bullock’s Oriole, and the calls of a Western Screech-Owl were all nice additions to our trip list along this narrow riparian corridor running through a remarkably barren landscape. But probably the highlight at Yakima Canyon was a group of Bighorn Sheep that we watched for a little while in the midday heat (~90°) as they galloped down a hillside and gathered under the shade of what seemed like the only grove of trees for miles!

As always, we wish to thank Leica Sport Optics , the American Birding Association , and Black Swamp Bird Observatory for their continued support in co-sponsoring this camp.

ITINERARY July 27 – Late morning arrivals in Seattle; travel to Whidbey Island via Mukilteo-Clinton Ferry; arrive Camp Casey Conference Center by 7:15 pm. Night at Camp Casey Conference Center. July 28 – Fort Casey State Park; Ebey’s Landing; Crockett Lake. Night at Camp Casey Conference Center. July 29 – Port Townsend-Keystone Ferry; Puget Sound Express boat cruise to Protection Island aboard The Redhead w/Capt. Christopher & Bree; Point Hudson; Kah Tai Lagoon; Anderson Lake State Park; Langley (dinner). Night at Camp Casey Conference Center.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 4 Camp Cascades, 2018 July 30 – Crockett Lake; South Whidbey State Park; Penn Cove; Fort Ebey State Park (picnic lunch); Swan Lake. Night at Camp Casey Conference Center. July 31 – Whidbey Island to Mt. Rainier: 3.5 hr drive via Mukilteo-Clinton Ferry and Marymoor Park. Night at Cougar Rock Campground. Aug 1 – Cougar Rock Campground; Narada Falls; Paradise (VC area and west side of Skyline Trail below Panorama Point). Night at Cougar Rock Campground. Aug 2 – 5-mile loop hike on Skyline Trail (east side of Skyline Trail, back on Golden Gate Trail); detour along Naches River Valley. Night at White Pass Village Inn. Aug 3 – White Pass; Oak Creek Wildlife Area; Wenatchee National Forest (NFD 1304 burn area);. Night at White Pass Village Inn. Aug 4 – White Pass (Leech Lake); smoked out of Wenatchee National Forest; White River Picnic Area (picnic lunch); afternoon set up camp and swimming. Night at Ohanapecosh Campground. Aug 5 – Ohanapecosh Campground; Sunrise (hike on Sourdough Trail to Frozen Lake and Burroughs Mountain Trail); afternoon swim at camp; dinner and dusk birding at Packwood. Night at Ohanapecosh Campground. Aug 6 – Ohanapecosh Campground; smoked out of Wenatchee National Forest again; Yakima Canyon; drive to Seattle. Night at Clarion Hotel SeaTac. Aug 7 – Departures.

Skyline Trail © Michael O’Brien

N = nest or nesting activity observed Y = dependent young observed I = Introduced * = Camp Casey Conference Center “yard list” (87 spp.)

BIRDS Waterfowl (Anatidae ) *Canada Goose ( Branta canadensis ) – Seen on five days. Wood Duck ( Aix sponsa ) – Seen on three days. Northern Shoveler ( Spatula clypeata ) – A surprising flock of seven on the Sunrise hike. *Gadwall ( Anas strepera ) Y – Seen on five days; most numerous at Swan Lake. *Mallard ( Anas platyrhyncos ) – Seen on eight days. Green-winged Teal ( Anas crecca ) Y – Seen at Kah Tai Lagoon and Leech Lake. Greater Scaup ( Aythya marila ) Y – Several family groups at Swan Lake. Lesser Scaup ( Aythya affinis ) – One at Kah Tai Lagoon.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 5 Camp Cascades, 2018 Harlequin Duck ( Histrionicus histrionicus ) – Seen at Protection Island and Penn Cove. *Surf Scoter ( Melanitta perspicillata ) – Seen at several locations, with large flock off Swan Lake. White-winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca ) – Several off Swan Lake. Barrow’s Goldeneye ( Bucephala islandica ) Y – Female with young at Leech Lake. *Hooded Merganser ( Lophodytes cucullatus ) – Seen on four days. Common Merganser ( Mergus merganser ) Y – Female with young at Marymoore Park. *Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator ) – Fly-by off Camp Casey. Ruddy Duck ( Oxyura jamaicensis ) – A few at Ka Tai Lagoon and Swan Lake.

New World Quails ( Odontophoridae ) California Quail ( Callipepla californica ) Y – Seen on four days.

Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies (Phasianidae ) Chukar ( Alectoris chukar ) ( I ) Y – Family groups at Oak Creek and Yakima Canyon. White-tailed Ptarmigan ( Lagopus leucura ) – A top highlight of camp was finding a female with four mid-sized young on the Sunrise Hike. Sooty Grouse ( Dendragapus fuliginosus ) Y – Another camp highlight was close views of a male on the Paradise hike.

Sooty Grouse © Michael O’Brien

Grebes ( Podicipedidae ) Pied-billed Grebe ( Podilymbus podiceps ) – One at Swan Lake. Red-necked Grebe ( Podiceps grisegena ) – One off Swan Lake.

Doves and Pigeons ( Columbidae ) *Rock Pigeon ( Columba livia) ( I ) – Seen on six days. *Band-tailed Pigeon ( Patagioenas fasciata ) – Seen on seven days. *Eurasian Collared-Dove ( Streptopelia decaocto ) ( I ) – Seen on seven days.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 6 Camp Cascades, 2018 *Mourning Dove ( Zenaida macroura ) – Seen on seven days.

Nightjars and allies ( Caprimulgidae ) Common Nighthawk ( Chordeiles minor ) – Numerous at dusk over Packwood.

Swifts ( Apodidae ) Black Swift ( Cypseloides niger ) – Singles over Narada Falls and Packwood.

Black Swift © Michael O’Brien

Vaux’s Swift ( Chaetura vauxi ) – Seen daily in the Cascades. White-throated Swift ( Aeronautes saxatalis ) – One near Oak Creek.

Hummingbirds ( Trochillidae ) Black-chinned Hummingbird ( Archilochus alexandri ) – One at Oak Creek. *Anna’s Hummingbird ( Calypte anna ) – Seen on three days in the Puget Sound Region. *Rufous Hummingbird ( Selasphorus rufus ) – Seen on ten days.

Rails, Coots, and Gallinules ( Rallidae ) *Virginia Rail ( Rallus limicola ) – Seen at Kah Tai Lagoon; heard at Camp Casey. Sora ( Porzana carolina ) – One at Naches River. American Coot ( Fulica americana ) – One at Yakima Canyon.

Oystercatchers ( Haematopodidae ) Black Oystercatcher ( Haematopus bachmani ) – Pair at Protection Island.

Plovers ( Charadriidae ) *Semipalmated Plover ( Charadrius semipalmatus ) – Numerous at Crockett Lake. *Killdeer ( Charadrius vociferous ) Y – Seen on three days.

Sandpipers and Allies ( Scolopacidae ) Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 7 Camp Cascades, 2018 Black Turnstone ( Arenaria melanocephala ) – Two on mussel farm rafts at Penn Cove. Sanderling ( Calidris alba ) – One at Protection Island. *Least Sandpiper ( Calidris minutilla ) – Numerous at Crockett Lake; also at Swan Lake. Pectoral Sandpiper ( Calidris melanotos ) – Flyover heard at Crocket Lake; two seen at Swan Lake. Semiplamated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla ) – At least two at Crockett Lake. *Western Sandpiper ( Calidris mauri ) – Numerous at Crockett Lake. Long-billed Dowitcher ( Limnodromus scolopaceus ) – Distant flock at Crockett Lake; closer views at Swan Lake. Spotted Sandpiper ( Actitis macularius ) Y – Seen at Marymoor Park and Leech Lake. *Lesser Yellowlegs ( Tringa flavipes ) – A few at Crockett Lake. *Greater Yellowlegs ( Tringa melanoleuca ) – A few at Crockett Lake.

Auks, Murres, and Puffins ( Alcidae ) *Common Murre ( Uria aalge ) – Several locations in the Puget Sound Region; best views were on ferry rides. *Pigeon Guillemot ( Cepphus columba ) – Seen at nearly every location where we viewed the water in the Puget Sound Region. Marbled Murrelet ( Brachyramphus marmoratus ) – One on the Protection Island boat trip, and several off Fort Ebey State Park. *Rhinoceros Auklet ( Cerorhinca monocerata ) – Abundant offshore, particularly around Fort Casey, Protection Island, and Port Townsend.

Rhinoceros Auklets © Michael O’Brien

*Tufted Puffin ( Fratercula cirrhata ) – Nice views of four at Protection Island, plus a very surprising fly-by off Camp Casey.

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers ( Laridae ) Bonaparte’s Gull ( Chroicocephalus philadelphia ) – Seen at Langly and Clinton Ferry Terminal.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 8 Camp Cascades, 2018 *Heermann’s Gull ( Larus heermanni ) – Numerous in the Puget Sound Region; all were adults. These birds breed exclusively in Mexico, and disperse northward in summer/fall to take advantage of rich feeding areas off the Pacific Northwest. The lack of juvenile birds this year highlights the third year in a row of very poor breeding success. *Mew Gull ( Larus canus brachyrhynchus ) – Singles at Crocket Lake and Protection Island, plus four at Point Hudson.

Mew Gull © Michael O’Brien

Ring-billed Gull ( Larus delawarensis ) – Single juvenile flying past Fort Casey. Western Gull ( Larus occidentalis ) – Two adults at Protection Island. *California Gull ( Larus californicus ) – Abundant throughout the Puget Sound Region, plus a few on lakes east of White Pass. These birds are immigrants from interior breeding sites. *Glaucous-winged Gull ( Larus glaucescens ) – Common throughout the Puget Sound Region. Some of these birds showed various darker plumage features, likely indicating hybridization with Western Gull. *Caspian Tern ( Hydroprogne caspia ) – Small numbers seen daily in the Puget Sound Region; particularly numerous on the Mukilteo-Clinton Ferry.

Loons ( Gaviidae ) Pacific Loon ( Gavia pacifica ) – Several off Swan Lake. Common Loon ( Gavia immer ) – One off Swan Lake.

Cormorants ( Phalacrocoracidae ) Brandt’s Cormorant ( Phalacrocorax penicillatus ) – Three on a channel marker off Fort Ebey S.P. *Pelagic Cormorant ( Phalacrocorax pelagicus ) N – Small numbers seen daily in the Puget Sound region.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 9 Camp Cascades, 2018 Double-crested Cormorant ( Phalacrocorax auritus ) – A few seen in the Puget Sound region, plus one near Yakima.

Pelicans ( Pelecanidae ) *American White Pelican ( Pelecanus erythrorhynchos ) – Seen daily at Crockett Lake; flock size varied, with a max of 98; also, three soaring over Yakima.

Herons and Egrets ( Ardeidae ) *Great Blue Heron ( Ardea herodias) – Seen daily in the Puget Sound region, plus one in the Yakima Valley.

New World Vultures ( Cathartidae ) Turkey Vulture ( Cathartes aura ) – Seen on eight days.

Osprey ( Pandionidae ) *Osprey ( Pandion haliaetus ) N, Y – Seen on nine days.

Hawks and Eagles ( Accipitidae ) *Bald Eagle ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus ) – Seen on seven days; numerous in the Puget Sound Region.

Bald Eagle © Michael O’Brien

*Northern Harrier ( Circus cyaneus ) – Seen on seven days. Sharp-shinned Hawk ( Accipiter striatus ) – Singles at Paradise and Packwood. Cooper’s Hawk ( Accipiter cooperii ) – Singles at Seattle and Oak Creek. Swainson’s Hawk ( Buteo swainsoni ) – Several near Yakima. *Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis ) – Seen on nine days. Golden Eagle ( Aquila chrysaetos ) – Pairs soaring over Oak Creek and Sunrise.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 10 Camp Cascades, 2018

Typical Owls (Strigidae) Western Screech-Owl ( Megascops kennicottii ) – Heard at Yakima Valley. *Great Horned Owl ( Bubo virginianus saturatus ) – Hear at Camp Casey; juvenile being mobbed by songbirds at Fort Ebey S.P.

Great Horned Owl © Michael O’Brien

Kingfishers ( Alcedinidae ) Belted Kingfisher ( Megaceryle alcyon ) – Seen on five days.

Woodpeckers ( Picidae ) Lewis’s Woodpecker ( Melanerpes lewis ) – Thirteen at Oak Creek Wildlife Area. Williamson’s Sapsucker ( Sphyrapicus thyroideus ) – One female at Wenatchee National Forest. Red-naped Sapsucker ( Sphyrapicus nuchalis ) – One juvenile at Wenatchee National Forest. Red-breasted Sapsucker ( Sphyrapicus ruber ruber ) – Two adults at South Whidbey State Park. *Downy Woodpecker ( Picoides pubescens ) – Seen on six days. *Hairy Woodpecker ( Picoides vilosis ) – Seen on six days. White-headed Woodpecker ( Picoides albolarvatus ) – One at Wenatchee National Forest. *Northern (“Red-shafted”) Flicker ( Colaptes auratus cafer ) – Seen on ten days. *Pileated Woodpecker ( Dryocopus pileatus ) – Single fly-by at Camp Casey.

Falcons ( Falconidae ) American Kestrel ( Falco sparverius ) – Seen on four days. *Peregrine Falcon ( Falco peregrinus ) – Singles at Camp Casey and Oak Creek. Prairie Falcon ( Falco mexicanus ) – Pair at Frozen Lake on the Sunrise hike.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 11 Camp Cascades, 2018 Tyrant Flycatchers ( Tyrannidae ) *Olive-sided Flycatcher ( Contopus cooperi ) – Seen daily on Whidbey Island, plus several at White Pass. These birds were of the Western type as determined by song, though current subspecies boundaries do not recognize this East/West break. Western Wood-Pewee ( Contopus sordidulus ) Y – Seen at Marymoore Park; numerous on the dry east side of the Cascades (e.g., Oak Creek and Wenatchee NF).

Western Wood-Pewee © Michael O’Brien

*Willow Flycatcher ( Empidonax traillii brewsteri ) – Seen at Camp Casey and Anderson Lake. Hammond’s Flycatcher ( Empidonax hammondii ) – Seen at Paradise and White Pass. Dusky Flycatcher ( Empidonax oberholseri ) – Heard at Oak Creek; seen at Wenatchee N.F. Pacific-slope Flycatcher ( Empidonax difficilis ) N – Seen on five days, mainly in the Puget Sound region. Say’s Phoebe ( Sayornis saya ) – Seen at Oak Creek. Ash-throated Flycatcher ( Myiarchus cinerascens ) – A few at Oak Creek. Western Kingbird ( Tyrannus verticalus ) – Seen at Oak Creek and Yakima. Eastern Kingbird ( Tyrannus tyrannus ) – Several around Yakima.

Vireos and Allies ( Vireonidae ) Hutton’s Vireo ( Vireo huttoni ) – Seen at Fort Casey and South Whidbey S.P. Cassin’s Vireo ( Vireo cassinii ) – Heard at White Pass. Warbling Vireo ( Vireo gilvus swainsoni ) – Seen at Oak Creek and Yakima Canyon.

Crows and Jays ( Corvidae ) Gray Jay ( Perisoreus canadensis obscurus ) – Seen daily in the Cascades, but no juveniles were seen, perhaps reflecting a poor breeding season. Steller’s Jay ( Cyanocitta stelleri ) Y – Seen on eight days, mainly in the Cascades. All birds seen well were of the Pacific Coast group with blue markings on the forehead.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 12 Camp Cascades, 2018 Clark’s Nutcracker ( Nucifraga columbiana ) – Two at Sunrise. Black-billed Magpie ( Pica hudsonia ) – A few around Oak Creek. American Crow ( Corvus brachyrhynchos ) – A few bona fide American Crows were seen and heard in and around the Cascades, particularly on the east side. *American/Northwestern Crow ( Corvus brachyrhynchos/caurinus ) Y – Crows were abundant throughout Puget Sound region, from Seattle to Whidbey Island and the Olympic Peninsula. Although many of these looked and sounded phenotypically appropriate for Northwestern Crow (smallish with hoarse, weak voices), there is no clear break between these birds and coastal populations of crows, which are generally considered American Crows. It seems likely that many of these birds are intergrades between American and Northwestern. *Common Raven ( Corvus corax ) Y – Seen every day.

Larks ( Alaudidae ) Horned Lark ( Eremophila alpestris ) Y – Several family groups seen on the Sunrise hike.

Horned Lark © Michael O’Brien

Swallows ( Hirundinidae ) *Purple Martin ( Progne subis arboricola ) N – Small colony seen daily at Crockett Lake; also a colony at Port Townsend. *Tree Swallow ( Tachycenita bicolor ) – Seen on six days, mainly in Puget Sound region, but also one at White Pass. *Violet-green Swallow ( Tachycineta thalassina ) – Seen on ten days. * Northern Rough-winged Swallow ( Stelgidopteryx serripennis ) – Seen at Crockett Lake and Leech Lake. *Bank Swallow ( Riparia riparia ) – Several at Crocket Lake. *Cliff Swallow ( Petrochelidon pyrronota ) Y – Seen on nine days. *Barn Swallow ( Hirundo rustica ) N, Y – Seen every day.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 13 Camp Cascades, 2018

Chickadees and Titmice ( Paridae ) *Black-capped Chickadee ( Poecile atricapillus fortuitus ) – Seen on six days, mainly at lower elevations with deciduous undergrowth. Mountain Chickadee ( Poecile gambeli baileyae ) – Seen on five days, including at Paradise and Sunrise, as well as on the east slope ponderosa forest. *Chestnut-backed Chickadee ( Poecile rufescens rufescens ) – Seen every day.

Long-tailed Tits (Aegithalidae ) *Bustit ( Psaltriparus minimus saturatus ) – Seen daily in the Puget Sound region.

Nuthatches ( Sittidae ) *Red-breasted Nuthatch ( Sitta canadensis ) Y – Seen on ten days. Pygmy Nuthatch ( Sitta pygmaea ) – Two at Wenatchee N.F.

Creepers ( Certhiidae ) *Brown Creeper ( Certhia americana ) Y – Seen or heard on ten days.

Wrens ( Troglodytidae ) Rock Wren ( Salpinctes obsoletus ) – Single males heard singing at Sunrise and Yakima Canyon. Canyon Wren ( Catherpes mexicanus ) – Pair at Oak Creek; heard at Yakima Canyon. *House Wren ( Troglodytes aedon parkmanii ) – Seen or heard on six days. *Pacific Wren ( Troglodytes pacificus ) Y – Seen or heard on seven days. *Marsh Wren ( Cistothorus palustris browningi ) – Seen or heard daily at Camp Casey; numerous at Kah Tai Lagoon. *Bewick’s Wren ( Thryomanes bewickii calophonus ) – Seen or heard on five days.

Dippers (Cinclidae ) American Dipper ( Cinclus mexicanus ) Y – Wonderful views of an adult and juvenile at Narada Falls; also seen briefly near Oak Creek and near the swimming hole at Ohanapecosh Campground.

American Dipper © Michael O’Brien

Kinglets ( Regulidae ) *Golden-crowned Kinglet ( Regulus satrapa ) – Seen or heard on eight days. Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 14 Camp Cascades, 2018 Ruby-crowned Kinglet ( Regulus calendula ) – Singles at Paradise and White Pass.

Thrushes and Allies ( Turdidae ) Western Bluebird ( Sialia sialis ) – Seen at Naches River and Wenatchee N.F.. Mountain Bluebird ( Sialia currucoides ) – Numerous at Sunrise. *Swainson’s Thrush ( Catharus ustulatus ustulatus ) – Singles at Fort Casey and Cougar Rock Campground. *American Robin ( Turdus migratorius ) Y – Seen every day. Varied Thrush ( Ixoreus naevius ) – Seen or heard on six days; excellent views at Paradise.

Starlings ( Sturnidae ) *European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris ) ( I ) Y – Seen on seven days.

Waxwings ( Bombycillidae ) *Cedar Waxwing ( Bombycilla cedrorum ) Y – Seen on nine days.

Old World Sparrows ( Passeridae ) House Sparrow ( Passer domesticus) I – Seen on eight days.

Wagtails and Pipits (Motacillidae ) American Pipit ( Anthus rubescens pacificus ) Y – Seen at Paradise and Sunrise.

Finches ( Fringillidae ) Evening Grosbeak ( Coccothraustes vespertinus ) Y – Seen or heard on five days; best views at White Pass; these birds belonged to the Pacific Northwest “Type 1” group, based on flight call. Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch ( Leucosticte tephrocotis ) – Several at Paradise; these were of the Pacific Northwest “Hepburn’s” (littoralis ) group. *House Finch ( Carpodacus mexicanus ) Y – Seen on seven days; most numerous at Oak Creek.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 15 Camp Cascades, 2018 *Purple Finch ( Haemorhous purpureus californicus ) – Seen or heard daily in the Puget Sound region. Cassin’s Finch ( Haemorhous cassinii ) – Replaces Purple Finch at high elevations; seen at Wenatchee N.F. and Sunrise. *Red Crossbill ( Loxia curvirostra ) Y – Recorded on eight days, at both Whidbey Island and Mt. Rainier. Red Crossbill taxonomy is complex, with as many as ten different types in North America, differentiated mainly by flight call and named based on preferred food source. All birds critically identified by flight call were of the Western Hemlock (“Type 3”) group, including birds at Fort Casey, South Whidbey S.P., and Ohanapecosh Campground. One bird at Cougar Rock Campground was probably of the Douglas-fir (“Type 4”) group, and several along the Naches River were probably of the Ponderosa Pine (“Type 2”) group. *Pine Siskin ( Carduelis pinus ) – Seen every day. Lesser Goldfinch ( Spinus psaltria ) – Two at Oak Creek were a bit of a surprise, though this species is gradually moving north. *American Goldfinch ( Spinus tristis ) Y – Seen on nine days.

Sparrows and Allies ( Emberizidae) *Spotted Towhee ( Pipilo maculates montanus ) Y – Seen on six days. Puget Sound birds belonged to the dark Pacific Northwest ( oregonus ) group, while those east of the Cascade Crest belonged to the more heavily spotted Interior ( maculatus ) group. Chipping Sparrow ( Spizella passerina ) Y – Seen on five days, mainly at high elevation meadows, but also at Oak Creek and Wenatchee NF. Brewer’s Sparrow ( Spizella breweri ) – Two at Oak Creek. Vesper Sparrow ( Pooecetes gramineus ) – One at Paradise and another at Yakima Canyon. Lark Sparrow ( Chondestes grammacus ) – Several at Oak Creek and Yakima Canyon. *Savannah Sparrow ( Passerculus sandwichensis ) – Seen on six days, both in Puget Sound Region and at above treeline in the Cascades. Fox Sparrow ( Passerella iliaca ) Y – Seen at White Pass and Sunrise; these belonged to the “Slate- colored” (schistacea ) subspecies group.

*Song Sparrow ( Melospiza melodia morphna ) Y – Seen on seven days. These birds belonged to the large and very dark Pacific Northwest group. Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 16 Camp Cascades, 2018 Lincoln’s Sparrow ( Melospiza lincolnii ) – One at White Pass. *White-crowned Sparrow ( Zonotrichia leucophrys ) Y – Seen on ten days; most numerous in the Puget Sound Region, where birds belong to the Pacific (Z. l. pugetensis ) group; a few above treeline on Mt. Rainier were not identified to subspecies (both pugetensis and gambelii are know to occur there). *Dark-eyed Junco ( Junco hyemalis ) Y – Seen on ten days. All those seen well belonged to the Oregon (J. h. oreganus ) subspecies group.

Blackbirds and Allies ( Icteridae ) Western Meadowlark ( Sturnella neglecta ) – Two around Yakima Canyon. Bullock’s Oriole ( Icterus bullockii ) – Seen at Oak Creek and Yakima Canyon. *Red-winged Blackbird ( Agelaius phoeniceus ) – A few around Crockett Lake. *Brown-headed Cowbird ( Molothrus ater ) – Seen on eight days. *Brewer’s Blackbird ( Euphagus cyanocephalus ) – Seen on six days.

New World Warblers ( Parulidae ) *Orange-crowned Warbler ( Oreothlypis celata ) – Seen on eight days, on both Whidbey Island and Mt. Rainier; all those seen well were of the bright Pacific subspecies ( O. c. lutescens ).

Nashville Warbler ( Oreothlypis ruficapilla ) – Seen on five days in the Cascades, mainly at high elevation meadows. All of these were presumed to be of the Western subspecies ( O. r. ridgwayi), and, though subspecies ID is typically only reliable by song (and none of these birds were singing), one individual showed an obvious yellow-washed rump typical of ridgwayi . MacGillivray’s Warbler ( Geothlypis tolmiei ) – Seen at Marymoor Park, Sunrise, and Yakima Canyon. *Common Yellowthroat ( Geothlypis trichas arizela ) – Seen on six days. *Yellow Warbler ( Setophaga petechia ) – Seen at Camp Casey, Oak Creek, White Pass, and Yakima Canyon.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 17 Camp Cascades, 2018 *Yellow-rumped (“Audubon’s”) Warbler ( Setophaga coronate auduboni ) Y – Seen on nine days; numerous at Whidbey Island and abundant at high elevation meadows on Mt. Rainier. *Black-throated Gray Warbler ( Setophaga nigrescens ) Y – Single at Camp Casey and adult with young at Packwood. *Townsend’s Warbler ( Setophaga townsendi ) – Seen on six days, including one at Camp Casey and numerous at high elevation meadows on Mt. Rainier. Hermit Warbler ( Setophaga occidentalis ) – Three at Paradise. *Wilson’s Warbler ( Cardellina pusilla ) – A few seen on seven days at both Whidbey Island and in the Cascades.

Saltators, Cardinals, and Buntings ( Cardinalidae ) Western Tanager ( Piranga ludoviciana ) Y – Seen on eight days. *Black-headed Grosbeak ( Pheuticus melanocephalus ) Y – Seen on six days. Lazuli Bunting ( Passerina amoena ) – Seen at Marymoor Park and Oak Creek.

MAMMALS Douglas’s Squirrel ( Tamiasciurus douglasii ) – Small numbers at both Whidbey Island and Mt. Rainier. Yellow-pine Chipmunk ( Tamias amoenus ) – Common at higher elevations on Mt. Rainier, as well as in the drier ponderosa forest on the east side. Townsend’s Chipmunk ( Tamias townsendi ) – The common chipmunk in humid forests, both in the Puget Sound Region and on Mt. Rainier; generally darker and duller than Yellow-pine Chipmunk. Cascade Golden-mantled Ground-Squirrel ( Spermophilus saturatus ) – Numerous at higher elevations on Mt. Rainier.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 18 Camp Cascades, 2018 California Ground-Squirrel ( Otospermophilus beecheyi ) – Fairly numerous at Oak Creek. This is about the northern limit of this species’ range. Hoary Marmot ( Marmota caligata ) – Numerous, mainly above treeline on Mt. Rainiar, where they frolicked in lush mountain meadows.

Townsend’s Vole ( Microtus townsendii ) – One eating a dandelion at Fort Casey. American Pika ( Ochotona princeps ) – It was a real highlight watching these wonderful animals gathering their winter food supplies at White Pass and Sunrise. *Eastern Cottontail ( Sylvilagus floridanus ) ( I ) – Seen daily around Fort Casey. Snowshoe Hare ( Lepus americanus ) – One at Ohanapecosh Campground. European Hare ( Lepus europaeus ) ( I ) – Feral population thriving in Langly. *Coyote ( Canis latrans ) – Seen twice on Whidbey Island. Northern Elephant Seal ( Mirounga angustirostris ) – One basking at Protection Island. Harbor Seal ( Phoca vitulina ) – Seen daily in the Puget Sound Region; large numbers backing at Protection Island. American Marten (Martes americana ) – One along roadside in Naches River Valley. Northern Raccoon ( Procyon lotor ) – One at Fort Ebey S.P. *Mule Deer ( Odocoileus hemionus ) – Seen on ten days. Those from the Puget Sound Region to western portions of the Cascades belonged to the very dark “Black-tailed” subspecies (O. h. columbianus ); one seen farther east in Yakima Canyon was much paler and belonged to the widespread nominate “Rocky Mountain” subspecies ( O. h. hemionus ). Elk ( Cervus elaphus ) – Seen on three days, mainly on the east slope of the Cascades. Mountain Goat ( Oreamnus americanus ) – One at Sunrise. Bighorn Sheep ( Ovis canadensis ) – Group of thirteen at Yakima Canyon. *Killer Whale ( Orcinus orca ) – For the second year in a row, we saw one of these magnificent animals offshore from Camp Casey – distant, but really cool to see!

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 19 Camp Cascades, 2018 *Harbor Porpoise ( Phocoena phocoena ) – Seen at several locations around Puget Sound, including from Fort Casey.

AMPHIBIANS & REPTILES Western Toad ( Anaxyrus boreas ) American Bullfrog ( Lithobates catesbeianus ) Painted Turtle ( Chrysemys picta ) Sagebrush Lizard ( Sceloporus graciosus )

Northwestern Garter Snake (Thamnophis ordinoides )

BUTTERFLIES Western Tiger Swallowtail ( Papilio rutulus ) Pale Swallowtail ( Papilio eurymedon ) Pine White ( Neophasia menapia ) Becker’s White ( Pontia beckerii ) Cabbage White ( Pieris rapae ) Clouded Sulphur ( Colias philodice ) Mariposa Copper ( Lycaena mariposa ) Silvery Blue ( Glaucopsyche lygdamus ) Melissa Blue ( Plebejus melissa ) Anna’s Blue ( Plebejus anna ) Boisduval’s Blue ( Plebejus icarioides )

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 20 Camp Cascades, 2018 Greenish Blue ( Aricia saepiolus ) Coronis Fritillary ( Speyeria coronis ) Mormon Fritillary ( Speyeria mormonia ) Purplish Fritillary ( Boloria chariclea )

Edith’s Checkerspot ( Euphydryas editha ) Satyr Comma ( Polygonia satyrus ) Hoary Comma ( Polygonia gracilis ) Milbert’s Tortoiseshell ( Aglais milberti ) California Tortoiseshell ( Nymphalis californica ) Red Admiral ( Vanessa atalanta ) Lorquin’s Admiral ( Limenitis lorquini ) Common Wood-Nymph ( Cercyonis pegala ) Great Basin Wood-Nymph ( Cercyonis sthenele ) Woodland Skipper ( Ochlodes sylvanoides )

DRAGONFLIES Common Green Darner (Anax junius ) Blue-eyed Darner ( Aeshna multicolor ) Eight-spotted Skimmer ( Libellula forensis ) Twelve-spotted Skimmer ( Libellula pulchella ) Flame Skimmer ( Libellula saturata ) Cardinal Meadowhawk ( Sympetrum illotum )

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 21 Camp Cascades, 2018 Variegated Meadowhawk ( Sympetrum corruptum ) Cherry-faced Meadowhawk ( Sympetrum internum ) Blue Dasher ( Pachydiplax longipennis ) Black Saddlebags ( Tramea lacerata )

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 22 Camp Cascades, 2018