July 6, 2004
Independence Day weekend Day 1: Crater Lake
This weekend again saw birds playing second fiddle to stunning scenery, as I participated in a hiking trip to northern California and Oregon. Our party was truly international, consisting of Haining from China, Abhi from India, Anna from Sweden, Lisa from Australia and myself from Britain! Today we took the long drive up I5 to reach the wonderful Crater Lake, a vast, impossibly blue lake in a volcanic cone surrounded by snow-capped mountains.
In this photo, one of the few crags rising from the lake can be seen - this one is known as 'The Ship':
Our attempts to climb to the rim of the crater were thwarted by heavy snow cover, but we still reached some pretty spectacular scenery.
Here's a nice group shot (L-R me, Anna, Lisa, Abhi, Haining)
As for wildlife, we saw several Golden-mantled Ground Squirrels and Chipmunk spp, as well as a single Yellow-bellied Marmot. Birding was also good, with adult Bald Eagle, Cassin's Finch, Pine Siskin, Mountain Bluebird, Townsend's Solitaire, Violet-Green Swallow, Steller's Jay and Clark's Nutcracker (pictured below) all relatively easy to find. Unfortunately we didn't run into the Gray Jays or Rosy Finches which are also supposed to be in the area - however, I won't need much persuading to make a return visit!
Our lodgings for the night were at the Rocky Point campground, in pine forest at the edge of Upper Klamath Lake. As well as superb lake vistas, this place was teeming with birds, including nesting Red-breasted Sapsucker, Bullock's Oriole, Orange-crowned and Yellow Warblers, Cassin's Vireo and Black-headed Grosbeak. The lake itself held large numbers of Black Terns along with a few Caspian and Forster's, plus White Pelican, Sandhill Crane, Western and Pied-billed Grebes, and this Belted Kingfisher.
The day was rounded off in the best possible way with good company, beer and excellent Mexican food in Klamath Falls.
Posted by rjhall at July 6, 2004 6:56 AM