Birds

Spring–Summer

Offshore, Rhinoceros Auklets, Pigeon Guillemots, cormorants, and gulls. Scan around Protection Island for Tufted Puffins. Song birds in woods: Vireos, wrens, warblers, and Black-headed Grosbeaks. Purple Martins cavort through the skies.

Fall–Winter

Look for waterfowl on ponds. Offshore, Long-tailed and Harlequin Ducks, scoters, mergansers, loons (including Yellow-billed), grebes, Pigeon Guillemots, Ancient and Marbled Murrelets. Watch for Bald Eagles, Merlins and Peregrine Falcons.

Directions

• To Gardener Beach: From US 101 (MP 276.2) turn north on Gardiner Beach Rd. Follow signs to boat launch.
• To Diamond Point: From US 101 (MP 274.5) take Diamond Point Rd north 3.8 miles to T at Diamond Shore Lane; follow 0.3 miles loop around lake. Park on lake side respectfully. Boat launch is a No Parking area.

Spring–Summer

Scan mudflat and offshore for waterbirds and nearby trees for migrant and nesting songbirds. Killdeer and Spotted Sandpipers nest along estuary.

Fall–Winter

Look for shorebirds on mudflats and estuary. Offshore waterfowl include scoters, goldeneyes, mergansers, Buffleheads, and scaup. Green-winged Teal muck in the mud. Search fall gulls for Bonaparte’s and Franklin’s. Look for Bald Eagles, Merlins and Peregrine Falcons.

Directions
From US 101 (MP 271.2) at Blyn turn north on Blyn Crossing.

Spring–Summer

Pigeon Guillemots, Rhinoceros Auklets, Marbled Murrelets on bay. Bald Eagles nest nearby. Check creek mouth for Black Oystercatchers, other shorebirds, gulls, and ducks.

Fall-Winter

Search gull roost at creek mouth for Heermann’s, Mew, Ring-billed, Bonaparte’s, and Franklin’s. Shorebirds roost on breakwater, including Black-bellied Plovers, Black Oystercatchers, Sanderlings, Dunlins, and others. On the bay Marbled Murrelet, Long-tailed Duck, grebes, loons, both goldeneyes, scoters, and mergansers. Barred Owls in conifer-deciduous woods.

Directions

From US101 [MP 262.2] turn northeast onto Whitefeather Way. Drive 0.6 miles downhill. Turn left (north) onto W Sequim Bay Rd. Drive 0.1 miles. Turn right into marina.

Spring–Summer

Bald Eagles nest along the shoreline north and south of Washington Harbor, watch for them hunting fish and waterfowl on the bay. Northern Harriers and Savannah Sparrows nest in the grasslands along Schmuck road. From Port Williams watch for the elusive Tufted Puffin traveling to and from Protection Island as well as Rhinoceros Auklets and Marbled Murrelets. Pigeon Guillemots nest in the high cliffs at Port Williams.

Fall-Winter

Washington Harbor supports huge numbers of American Wigeons along with the occasional Eurasian Wigeon. Significant numbers of Green-winged Teal also use the harbor. The rare Eurasian (Common) Teal has also been found here. Great Blue Heron work the tideflats while Merlin and Peregrine Falcon hunt different kinds of prey. From the woods listen for Varied Thrush’s wheezy call and an occasional over-wintering Hermit Thrush. Along Schmuck road watch for Western Meadowlarks, explore the grasslands for Lincoln’s Sparrow, and watch the plowed agricultural fields for shorebirds, American Pipits and Horned Larks. Schmuck road is one of the local use-areas by Trumpeter Swans, and a once-in-a-while Tundra Swan. From Port Williams scope for all three scoters, Long-tailed Duck, Eared Grebe, and the rarities: Yellow-billed Loon, Thick-billed Murre, and Cassin’s Auklet. Listen for the Pileated Woodpecker’s resonating call notes from the deep woods. Don’t forget to watch for the small herd of Roosevelt Elk that winters in this area.

Directions

Continue northwest from John Wayne Marina on West Sequim Bay road to Washington Harbor road 2.2 miles, turn north looping 1.2 miles to Washington Harbor at the Battelle NW Lab. Park in pull out. Schmuck road turns north off Washington Harbor road and runs 1.2 miles to Port Williams road. Park respectfully [Do Not Trespass] along Schmuck road in several agricultural pull outs. Port Williams is reached by turning east from Schmuck road at T on Port Williams road. Travel 0.6 miles to parking lot.

Spring–Summer

Northern Harrier, Purple Martin, Virginia Rail, American Bittern, Marsh Wren, along with blackbirds and sparrows all nest here. Also watch swallows’ aerobatic flights and listen for a few Wilson’s Snipes winnowing. Caspian and Arctic Terns nest on The Spit and hunt this area. Purple Martin nest throughout the area.

Fall–Winter

Shorebirds return! Sandpipers include Western, Least, Pectoral, Stilt, and Baird’s. Dunlins number into the hundreds. Sanderling, Black-bellied and Semipalmated Plover, Black and Ruddy Turnstone, Whimbrel, Marbled Godwit and others are all seen here. And the gulls – this is the place to study them: Heermann’s, Ring-billed, Mew, Bonaparte’s, Glaucous-winged, Glaucous, California, Thayer’s, Herring, Western, and the hybrid Glaucous-winged x Western, known colloquially as the Olympic Gull. Jaegers are sometimes found in these waters, so watch for them offshore. American Wigeons can number into the thousands. Brant and other waterfowl also abound in spectacular numbers. Check tall leafless alder trees for perched falcons and accipters along with a possible Northern Shrike topping smaller trees or shrubs in the grasslands.

Directions

From US101, turn north at Sequim Ave exit. Continuing north on Sequim-Dungeness Way, drive north 5+ miles through town of Dungeness. Park at WDFW access near Three Crabs Beach. Access Dungeness Landing Park from Oysterhouse Road on west side of Dungeness River.

Spring–Summer

Nesting birds are many: Great Horned, Barn, and Western Screech Owls, California Quail, Mourning Doves, and the  Eurasian Collared Dove, are all found here. Songbirds from warblers, vireos, flycatchers, chickadees, kinglets, wrens, finches, and sparrows are common. Western Bluebirds sometimes nest here, which is real a treat. From the bluffs, scoping for birds may produce a mixed lot from loons and grebes to alcids, gulls, and terns.

Fall–Winter

Short-eared Owls, although rare, are usually found every winter. Watching this owl interact with the Barn Owl during hunting flights is a winter’s evening treat. Red-tailed Hawks spend long days perched from tree tops watching for elusive voles while Northern Harriers hunt the grasslands. Cooper’s and Sharp-shined Hawks are common. Some winters bring the occasional Snowy Owl to this habitat. Sparrows in winter include Lincoln’s, White-crowned, Golden-crowned and an occasional White-throated. Scoping the Strait from the bluffs can yield a plethora of loons, grebes, waterfowl, gulls, and alcids along with an occasional flock of shorebirds moving from one place to another. Always watch for Bald Eagles and falcons.

Directions

From US101, turn north on Kitchen-Dick Rd. Drive 3.1 mi. Road turns right (east) becoming Lotzgesell Rd. Drive 0.1 mi. Turn left (north) onto Voice of America Rd.

Spring–Summer

On The Spit Black Oystercatchers, Caspian Terns and the rare Arctic Tern nests here; as do Savannah Sparrows. Off shore Marbled Murrelets, Tufted Puffins, and other alcids can be scoped. Late at night listen for Great Horned and Western Screech Owls calling from the deep woods.

Fall–Winter

During invasive years, this is the place for the Snowy Owl. Winter is also prime time for Merlin and Peregrine Falcon, with the rare appearance of a Gyrfalcon, Prairie Falcon and Short-eared Owl. Black-bellied Plover, Dunlin, and Sanderling can be abundant along the inside of The Spit during ebb tide. Brant, in large numbers, are found on the inside waters with other typical wintering waterfowl from wigeons, scaup, goldeneye, scoters, to mergansers.

Directions

From Hwy 101 [MP 260.0] turn north onto Kitchen-Dick Rd. Drive 3.1 miles. Road turns right (east) becoming Lotzgesell Rd. Drive 0.1 mile. Turn left (north) onto Voice of America Rd. Drive 1.0 mile through recreation area/campground to refuge parking area. This is a USFWS Fee Area.

Spring–Summer

Spring-Summer/ This area is an important site for breeding songbirds including Swainson’s Thrush, Pacific-slope and Willow Flycatchers, Western Tanagers, Evening Grosbeaks, Orange-crowned Warblers, Red-breasted Nuthatches, and Hutton’s, Warbling, Cassin’s, and occasional Red-eyed Vireos. Both Rufous and Anna’s Hummingbirds nest here. Rough-winged and Violet-green Swallows create ongoing aeronautical displays. Bald Eagles nest in the area.

Fall–Winter

Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch, and other small passerines frequent the riparian woodlands. Sometimes a single Hutton’s Vireo will call out or a Song Sparrow will give singing lessons. Common Ravens sit in old cedars making sounds that are often strange, whimsical, and even musical. Listen for Winter Wren’s plethora of sounds from deep in the underbrush and the sweet barrage of chickadee songs, scoldings, and name-calling.

Year-round

Downy, Hairy, and Pileated Woodpeckers, Red-breasted Sapsuckers, Golden-crowned Kinglets all occur by day while Great Horned and Western Screech Owls talk at night. Always check the river for American Dippers plying their underwater skills while Belted Kingfishers perch stoically over the river and Common Mergansers harass small fish.

Directions

From US101, take River Rd exit. Turn north on River Rd. Drive 0.2 miles. Veer right (east) on Washington St roundabout. Turn left (north) onto N Priest Rd. Drive 0.6 miles. Turn left (west) onto Hendrickson Rd. Drive 0.7 miles to Dungeness River Nature Center. Guided bird walks every Wednesday at 8:30 am at Center.

Spring–Summer

In the upper reaches of the Dungeness Trailhead Hermit and Townsend’s warblers sing, and here also is where the Hermit x Townsend’s hybrid may be found. American Dippers nest along rivers; Hermit, Swainson’s and Varied Thrushes nest in wooded thickets; while in subalpine American Pipits, Horned Larks, and Red Crossbills can be found. Owls nesting here include Saw-whet, Great Horned, Western Screech, and Barred. Listen for the low hoots of the Sooty Grouse and the drumming of Ruffed Grouse in early spring.

Fall–Winter

Add Northern Pygmy Owl to the list for winter; listen for its hoots in early morning around 7:00am. Winter woods can be quiet, but listen for mixed guilds of foraging chickadees, kinglets, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Brown Creepers, Red-breasted Nuthatches and a few lingering Townsend’s warblers.

Directions

From US101, take Palo Alto Rd south 7.3 miles to Olympic National Forest. At first Y, either stay left on Forest Service Rd 28 towards Mt. Zion, or go right on FS Road 2880 towards the Upper Dungeness Trailhead. Forest Service maps recommended. Fee area.

Spring–Summer

In addition to mountain birds noted for Site No. 9, watch for Common Raven, Steller’s and Gray Jays, Townsend’s Solitaire, and Band-tailed pigeon; rarities include Clark’s Nutcracker and Gray-crowned Rosy Finch. Golden Eagles are a gift when seen dancing on thermal updrafts. Listen for Varied Thrush in deep woods and watch for Black and Vaux’s Swifts riding storm fronts inbound from the northeast. Wake early at Heart-O-The-Hills campground and listen for the flight-calls of Marbled Murrelets as they circle over the old-growth forest at dawn returning to their nests to feed young.

Fall–Winter

Stark, but still lively with birds. Ravens still haunt all habitats while Steller’s and Gray Jays move to lower elevations. Guilds of forest dwellers gleaning winter insects can be found almost anywhere wandering through trees. Listen for the nasalness of the Red-breasted Nuthatch and then go searching. Watch for pine-nut wings falling, look up to find Red Crossbills foraging cone-seeds in tops of conifers.

Directions

From Hwy 101 in Port Angeles, turn south onto Race Street. Drive 1.0 mile to Olympic National Park Visitor Center. Continue right at Y on Heart O’ the Hills Pkwy 5.0 miles to park entrance, continue 12 miles to Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center. Heart O’ the Hills campground is 0.2 miles south of park entrance. For subalpine species, take Obstruction Point Rd 8 mi east on a gravel road from Hurricane Ridge to Obstruction Point, or walk up Hurricane Hill, or visit Blue Mtn/Deer Park area to the east. Fee area.

Spring–Summer

Shorebird migration provides a diverse challenge from the most common to the very rare. Don’t pass up the LBJs: American Pipit, Horned Larks, Lapland Longspurs, and rare sparrows have been found here. And onshore spring storms often drive a Black-legged Kittiwake or stray jaeger in off the open ocean. All in all, quiet is the best way to describe The Hook during summer.

Fall–Winter

The floating log rafts in the harbor provide roosting sites for shorebirds, gulls, cormorants, and Harbor seals. Turnstones, plovers, and peeps usually stay harbor side. Look for Rock Sandpiper, Surfbird, Wandering Tattler and Whimbrel. Check the plovers carefully for the treat of a Golden or American. A few Snow Buntings are found most winters. This is a key wintering area for Thayer’s (Iceland) Gull and a good place to locate a rare Glaucous Gull. The Hook is an excellent place for watching Barrow’s Goldeneye and Harlequin Duck at close range. A small flock of Western Grebes over-winters in the harbor most years; check them closely for a Clark’s. Off shore are all the usual suspects: Common Murre, Pigeon Guillemot, Marbled and Ancient Murrelet, and occasional Cassin’s Auklets or Red Phalaropes. Check the loons closely, the Yellow-billed is often seen from shore here.

Birding by Ferry–Fall

Take MV Coho from downtown PA to Victoria, British Columbia, for a 1½ hour crossing of Strait of Juan de Fuca. Watch for Northern Fulmars, Sooty and Short-tailed Shearwaters, Parasitic Jaegers, Marbled and Ancient Murrelets. [Remember: Passport or Enhanced WA State DL mandatory for Canadian travel].

Directions

Westbound into Port Angeles on Hwy 101 through light where 101 turns north. This is Front Street. At 1.0 mile Front turns into W Marine Dr. Continue 2.5 miles through industrial site to The Hook. Use pullouts to park.

Spring–Summer

Listen for Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, and Warbling Vireo in the woods. Green Herons are known to put in appearances. Watch the skies for Barn, Violet-green, and Rough-winged Swallow which nest along the river, and the American Dipper as it hops from rock to water to rock. Off shore murres, auklets, and, an occasional Tufted Puffin can be found. Check the ponds for the occasional Pied-billed Grebe, Ruddy Duck or Spotted Sandpiper.

Fall–Winter

An excellent site for Iceland/Thayer’s Gulls along with Herring, California, Mew, Ring-billed, and Glaucous. The numerous ponds collect Hooded Merganser, American and Eurasian Wigeons, Greater and Lesser Scaup, and sometimes a Hooded Merganser. Off shore all four loons can be found along with Red-necked, Horned, and Western Grebes. Waterfowl include Long-tailed Duck, Common and Barrow’s Goldeneye, Harlequins and all three scoters: Black, Surf, and White-winged. In the river watch for Common and Red-breasted Merganser. Shrub woods harbor kinglets, chickadees, wrens, woodpeckers, and a once-in-a-while Hermit thrush.

Directions

From Port Angeles traveling west on Hwy 101 turn north [right] onto Hwy 112. At MP 58.9 turn north onto Place Rd. Drive 1.8 miles and at the Y turn right; park in spaces marked. Read signs on visitation.

Spring–Summer

Black Oystercatchers nest here. Listen for their loud yelps and piping whistles as they fly about. In the woods listen for Hutton’s Vireo two-note phrase repeated over and over. Also nesting here are Pleated Woodpecker, Winter Wren, Swainson’s Thrush, Black-headed Grosbeak, Western Tanager, and Band-tailed Pigeon. Check thickets for Wilson’s and Orange-crowned Warblers. And watch for Osprey, who nest in the area, fishing the Strait.

Fall–Winter

Black Oystercatchers congregate on the rocky tidal flats in good numbers. Rock Sandpipers may also turn up. The Strait can yield all four loons, the four grebes, most wintering waterfowl, and deep-water diving alcids. Gull species are few. Peregrine Falcons are regularly seen, as are Merlin, Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned Hawks. Bald Eagle are residents and are often seen hunting in pairs for waterfowl out over inshore waters.

Fall Turkey Vulture Migration

This is the site of the annual Turkey Vulture Count from mid-September through October as the birds fly south from Vancouver Island to the Olympic Peninsula

Directions

From Port Angeles traveling west on Hwy 101 turn north [right] onto Hwy 112. At MP 53.8 turn north onto Camp Hayden Rd. Drive 3.4 miles. Veer right at Y into park entrance. Drive 1.2 miles through campground to Tongue Point parking

Spring–Summer

Leach’s Storm-Petrels are specks on the water, shearwaters include Sooty, Short-tailed, Pink-footed, and Buller’s. Black-legged Kittiwakes will catch you by surprise. Northern Fulmar are often found. Alcids abound: Marbled and Ancient Murrelets, Rhinoceros and Cassin’s Auklets, Common Murres, Pigeon Guillemots, and Tufted Puffin are all out there. All three jaegers often put in appearances. Common, Red-throated, and Pacific Loons are catch phrases in scopes. Pelagic and Brandt’s Cormorants fish deep waters. Black Oystercatchers fly back and forth talking their talk, as do Wandering Tattlers and Surfbirds. And watch for Black Swifts cavorting though the air along the rocky bluffs. Peale’s Peregrine Falcon nests annually here. Bring a lunch; stay a while and smile a lot.

Year-round

In addition to typical coastal species, search the entire Neah Bay area for vagrant birds, which may show up anywhere.

Directions

Travel west on US 101, turn north on Hwy 113 at Sappho. Hwy 113 merges with Hwy 112 in 11 miles. Travel 25 miles west to Neah Bay. Continue along waterfront to Fort St, turn left. Drive 1 block. Turn right on 3rd. Drive 1 block. Turn left onto Cape Flattery Rd. Drive 7.4 miles to Cape Flattery trail parking. Walk trail 0.75 miles to viewing platform.

[*Recreational Permit required on Makah Tribal Lands – purchase at Washburn’s Store, Makah MiniMart, or Makah Museum.]