Icicle Ridge, Leavenworth, WA
May 2014


Synopsis
In my continuing quest for Washington hikes that combines both a scenery with a good variety of birds, I tried the Icicle Ridge Trail near Leavenworth. The trail climbs a series of switchbacks through small stands of open pine and Ponderosa pine interspersed with meadows of lupine, vetch, and paintbrush. In mid-May the wildflowers were blooming all the way up to the saddle of the ridge. At the saddle of the trip, there is a view of the surrounding mountains, Leavenworth, the Wenatchee River and a few waterfalls.

Along the trail, Nashville Warblers were singing constantly from the chokecherries and thimbleberries. Western Tanagers and Black-headed Grosbeaks sang in tandem for great comparisons. Townsend’s Solitaires, Lazuli Buntings, and Dusky Flycatchers also added to the forest choir. Near the ridge, a female White-headed Woodpecker drilled into wells on the trunk of a ponderosa and a male was seemingly interested in a nest hole in a snag.

The trail had a good variety of birds, wildflowers, and views. Plus it is also very close to the Leavenworth Hatchery, another great place to walk around after climbing up the ridge. I also checked out the Icicle Gorge loop trail which was farther up Icicle Creek Road. Although I’m sure the birding was very similar to the ridge trail, it was very difficult to hear anything over the roar of the creek.

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Pictures (click on the pictures to enlarge)

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Bird List

Canada Goose	IR
Common Merganser	IC
California Quail	IR
Turkey Vulture	IR (2), H (2)
Red-tailed Hawk	IR, H
Spotted Sandpiper	H
Mourning Dove	IR
Vaux's Swift	IR
Rufous Hummingbird	H
Hairy Woodpecker	IR
White-headed Woodpecker	IR
Northern Flicker	IR
Olive-sided Flycatcher	IC
Western Wood-Pewee	IR
Dusky Flycatcher	IR, IC
Pacific-slope Flycatcher	IR
Warbling Vireo	IR (1), H (1) heard only
Steller's Jay	IR
American Crow	IR
Common Raven	IR, H
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	H
Tree Swallow	H
Violet-green Swallow	IR
Black-capped Chickadee	H
Mountain Chickadee	IR
Golden-crowned Kinglet	IC, heard only
Red-breasted Nuthatch	IR, H, IC
White-breasted Nuthatch	IR
Brown Creeper	IR
House Wren	IR
American Dipper	IC
Townsend's Solitaire	IR
Hermit Thrush	IC, heard only
American Robin	IR, H
European Starling	IR, H
Cedar Waxwing	H
Yellow Warbler	H, IC
Nashville Warbler	IR
Yellow-rumped Warbler	IR, IC
Townsend's Warbler	IR, IC
Wilson's Warbler	IR
Spotted Towhee	IR
Song Sparrow	H
Chipping Sparrow	IR
White-crowned Sparrow	IR
Dark-eyed Junco	IR
Western Tanager	IR, IC
Black-headed Grosbeak	IR
Lazuli Bunting	IR
Brewer's Blackbird	IR
Brown-headed Cowbird	IR
House Finch	H
Purple Finch	IR
Red Crossbill	IR
Evening Grosbeak	H

Critters
Yellow-Pine Chipmunk
Douglas Squirrel
Golden-mantled Squirrel
Western Fence Lizard
Blooming Flowers
Lupine	IR, IC
Harsh Paintbrush	IR, IC
Thimbleberry	IR
Spreading dogbane	IR
Chokecherry	IR
Shrubby penstemon	IR
Vetch	IR
False Sunflower	IR
Parsley desert buckwheat	IR
Barestem desert parsley	IR
Chickweed	IR
Elegant cats ear	IR
Cutleaf lunia	IR
Small-flowered penstemon	IR
Orage honeysuckle	IR
Arrowleaf balsamroot	IR
Catchfly	IR
Antelope-bush	IR, H
Alumroot	IR
Arnica	IR
Hookers fairybell	IR
Spotted coralroot	IR
Notka rose	IR
Pacific starflower	IR
Yarrow	IR
Larkspur	H
Bitterroot	H
Calypso orchid	IC
Stream violet	IC
Merten's saxifrage	IC
Rosa twisted stalk	IC
Trillium	IC

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Information
National Forest info
Washington Trail Association description

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