There were surprisingly few insects as we headed out on the trail and came across some Fireweed, Deer Cabbage and Copperbush right at the start of the path.  A Townsend’s Warbler was spotted and then chickadees of both species, Black-capped and Chestnut-backed, soon appeared. A little way further along we came across four Olive-sided Flycatchers, possibly a family group. While we were watching these birds, four juvenile Red-breasted Sapsuckers were spotted in the snag next to one of the flycatchers. A small group of Red Crossbills did a quick flyover calling as they went. Several juncos and robins also showed up as we moved along and a Rufous Hummingbird made a brief appearance. We snacked on berries as we went. Birds were quieter this time, as expected and there were stretches of the trail that were quiet. Surprisingly we didn’t hear a single Sooty Grouse, though there must be quite a few around, or any Hermit thrushes.

We headed off to the old growth loop it was completely silent and shrouded in clouds so it was like going into the night, but as usual right at the beginning there were many flowers to observe next to the ponds along the trail, and we saw Slender Bog-orchid and Sticky False Asphodel beside the path. Along the old growth loop, some fading Western Coralroot that we had found on last month’s outing could still be seen just off the trail. Once out of the old growth we found some flowering Indian Hellebore. We stopped at the end of the trail to look at the Round-leaved Sundew at the base of the ski hill. We decided to head up the ski hill a bit and came across St. John’s Wort and Canada Goldenrod, below a mixed flock of about 10 Red Crossbills and 30 Pine Siskins in the conifers just near the ski lift. The siskins could be seen feeding young in the tops of the trees they were in. A flock of about 10 Band-tailed Pigeons was spotted landing in some conifers further up the hill. As we came to the end of the walk, Cedar Waxwings were heard then seen in exactly the same place as our last hike in July. In all we found 17 bird species, and no new species different from the previous two walks (list here https://ebird.org/checklist/S264831198) and noticed about 20 flower species.

August bird list: https://ebird.org/checklist/S264831198

In June it was misty and cloudy, snow on the ground in patches and parts of the trail still, no insects, no bears, lots of fungi, a few wildflowers.

July we were welcomed by a bear right by the lodge first thing, munching on clover. Conditions were clear, warm, no snow, wildflowers were everywhere and thick, and the start of berries, and SO MANY INSECTS, but no butterflies. I wonder if it was too early in the day. Most of them were non-biting thankfully, but many of us ate some and they kept us moving.

June bird list: 23 species https://ebird.org/checklist/S245773494

Different birds we didn’t see/hear in July:

Warbling Vireo

Vaux’s Swift

Varied Thrush

Yellow-rumped Warbler

June flower list:

Oval-leafed Huckleberry/Blueberry/Bilberry (Vaccinium ovalifolium)

Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis)

Western Bog Laurel (Kalimia microphylla)

Alpine White Marsh-marigold (Caltha leptosepala)

Skunk Cabbage (Lysichiton americanum)

Deer Cabbage (Fauria crista-galli)

July bird list: 25 species https://ebird.org/checklist/S259575219

Different birds we didn’t see/hear in June:

Hairy Woodpecker

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Western Flycatcher

Brown Creeper

Cedar Waxwing

Spotted Towhee

July flower list (what I remember, I’m sure I missed some):

Copperbush (Cladothamnus pyroliflorus)

False Azalea (Menziesia ferruginea)

White-Flowered Rhododendron (Rhododendron albiflorum)

Oval-leafed Huckleberry/Blueberry/Bilberry (Vaccinium ovalifolium)

Sitka Mountain Ash (Sorbus sitchensis)

Western Bog Laurel (Kalimia microphylla)

Subalpine Spirea (Spire densiflors)

Mountain Arnica (Arnica latifolia)

Deer Cabbage (Fauria crista-galli)

Buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliata)

Skunk Cabbage (Lysichiton americanum)

Round-leaved Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia)

Slender Bog-Orchid (Platanthera stricta)

Rosy Twistedstalk (Streptopus roseus)

Indian Hellebore (Veratrum viride)

Sticky False Asphodel (Tofieldia glutinosa)

Partridgefoot (Luetkea pectinata)

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Foamflower (Tiarella trifoliata)

Bunchberry/Dwarf Dogwood (Cornus canadensis)

Queen’s Cup (Clintonia uniflora)

Western Coralroot (Corallorhiza maculata)

Subalpine Daisy (Erigeron peregrinus)

Large-leaved Lupin (Lupinus polyphyllus)

Merten’s Sedge (Carex mertensii)

Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium)

Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea)

Cotton-grass (Eriophorum)

Yellow Pond-lily (Nuphar polysepalum)

Trip report by Angela Hansen and Neill Vanhinsberg