Synopsis
We returned to camp up at Colockum Pass one hot June weekend. We were surprised to find the area largely deserted much like the last time we were here in July. With the exception of a few ATVs and dirt bikes who passed through, we were the only ones around.

Of course there were still the large elk herds (I think I counted up to 35 in one herd) and the ever present cows, both of which were very vociferious. Unlike last time we were at the pass, the area was not as overgrazed. There were actual meadows with grass and grasshoppers. The meadow loving open country birds such as the Brewer's, Vesper's and Lark Sparrows were numerous right at the pass. Also in the area, Mountain Bluebirds, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, and Williamson's Sapsuckers were tending to their nest cavities.

The early arrival of a hot summer meant most of the wildflowers had past their peak and were now on their way to producing seeds. Still we managed to find a few spots with flowers, though the display would have been better two weeks previous.

Despite the danger of encountering a pissed off bull or the constent whiff of cow pies in the air, this area remains a productive place to see elk, montane and sagebrush birds, wildflowers, and Mount Rainier (on a clear day). The added bonus seems to be the lack of use during the summer months.

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Pictures (click on thumbnail)

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Bird List

Wild Turkey	2
Turkey Vulture	1
Cooper's Hawk	1
Common Nighthawk	5
Black-chinned Hummingbird	1
Rufous Hummingbird	2
Williamson's Sapsucker	5
Hairy Woodpecker	3
Northern Flicker	4
American Kestrel	2
Western Wood-Pewee	3
Dusky Flycatcher	6
Pacific-slope Flycatcher	1
Warbling Vireo	2
Clark's Nutcracker	4
Common Raven	2
Mountain Chickadee	5
Red-breasted Nuthatch	3
White-breasted Nuthatch	2
Brown Creeper	2
House Wren	5
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	5
Mountain Bluebird	8
Townsend's Solitaire	2
Hermit Thrush	5
American Robin	9
Yellow-rumped Warbler	5
Townsend's Warbler	2
Chipping Sparrow	15
Brewer's Sparrow	5
Vesper Sparrow	6
Lark Sparrow	5
Dark-eyed Junco	5
Western Tanager	10
Lazuli Bunting	2
Western Meadowlark	1
Brown-headed Cowbird	5
Purple Finch	3
Cassin's Finch	5
Red Crossbill (Ponderosa Pine or type 2)	12
Pine Siskin	8
Evening Grosbeak	8
critters:
Golden-manteled Squirrel
Chipmunk
Douglas Squirrel
Coyote	heard
Elk	large herds, antlers growing in
flowers:
Lupine
Meadow death camas
Desert buckwheat
Wenatchee paintbrush
Alpine paintbrush
False hellbore
Cushion fleabane
Mountain monkeyflower
Kittitas larkspur
Tapertip onion
Woolly goldenweed
Shrubby cinquefoil
Desert yellow daisy
Gold stars
Mountain sandwort
Butterflies:
Red admiral
Boisduval's blue
Painted lady
fritillary sp.
checkerspot sp.
swallowtail sp.

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Information
Colockum Wildlife Area

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