The Backyard & Beyond  - September 2003

      While visiting my sister in Spokane, I heard this bird calling from outside her door and looked out to see what was causing all the noise. Sitting alone in the middle of the deck was a very young Black-capped Chickadee. He was calling to his parents to come feed him and he wasn't about to let up. He flew briefly up to the edge of a bucket and that is where he sat for a long time while he continued to beg for more food. We walked out on the deck and the little guy was not a bit afraid of us as he probably wouldn't have

been of a cat either. YIKS!! We both took several pictures and then let him be. Later he had flown a yard or so to the top of the dog house and called again. He was learning to fly as he stretched his wings. Next stop was the ground and I was afraid the horse hear him would step this tiny ball of feathers but the last place I saw him, he was sitting in the top of a rose bush almost 6 feet off the ground.

Flyway Articles

      Since mid-July there have been many reports of White-tailed Ptarmigan along the Paradise trails on Mt. Rainer. The first chance that Arden and I had to check it out was August 9. They weren't being seen as regularly by then but had been seen 2 days before so we decided to go. If nothing else it would be a nice day on the mountain. On the way up I-5 we ran into a rain storm but I had faith and as we turned north-east toward the mountain it started clearing up. It was cloudy on the way up the trails which made for cooler hiking and them was mostly sunny. It was beautiful and YES we did find the Ptarmigan. I got within 15 feet for close up photos. They paid little attention to me and continued to eat and preen. As long as Mom knew where the 2 little ones were she was content as she continued to make her little calls to keep in touch with them.

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Mt. Rainier Wildflowers

      The wildflowers were beautiful and I added a new life butterfly and photograph as they fluttered about.
     
                             Sherry Hagen,    Happy Birding   J