Out to the E & N goldstream lookout

Hiked up along Arbutus Ridge trail today, out the E and N Railine, to the lookout above the Trans Canada highway. It was a bright high overcast morning at the start but cool, still some ice on the rail ties. I was actually checking out the trail I was going to take on the Christmas bird count in a few weeks. It will be pitch dark when I head out that day so I was familiarizing myself with the route again. I often see golden eagles from this lookout so I was hoping one would appear today. no luck, it was pretty quiet except for  a few Pacific Wrens and a Bald Eagle.

Laccaria amethysteo-occidentalis

On the way back along the rail tracks I came across a pretty large group of Kinglets and Chickadees. I decided to "pish" for a few minutes to see if I could call in a Townsend's Warbler. I was rewarded in a few minutes with a nice bright male that I could see feeding in Fir trees above the line. Later on down the line I came across some bear scat. I am not sure if the bear "pished" on the tracks but I certainly know he pooped, because I stepped in it.

I Left the tracks and dropped down to the Goldstream creek, and walked the rivers edge back to the entrance to the park. The sun was shinning and it was foggy so it was very picturesque in the deep moss covered maples and cedars in the valley.