Bird Hood Canal Aboard the Lady Alderbrook

Alderbrook Resort 10 East Alderbrook Drive, Union, WA, United States

Cruising and birding Hood Canal aboard the Lady Alderbrook has proven a very popular field trip, and here it is again! We will board the Lady Alderbrook at the Alderbrook Resort at 9:00 a.m. The Lady Alderbrook has two decks, and if the weather happens to be rainy and cold, one can go inside and look ... Read more

Skokomish Valley Farms

Skokomish Valley Farms Sweetgrass Lane, Shelton, WA, United States

Skokomish Valley Farms (http://www.skokomishvalleyfarms.com) is located at the foot of the Olympic Mountains in Western Washington. The 735-acre farm is owned by 18 families who work together to provide tasty vegetables and eggs for the local community. Their goal is to be the best possible stewards of the land they farm. To that end, they ... Read more

Birding by Ear at Priest Point Park

Priest Point Park 2600 East Bay Drive S.W., Olympia, WA, United States

Although this field trip requires you to get up early, bear in mind that early mornings can be magical, especially spring's early mornings. Meet at the Flora Vista entrance to Priest Point Park bright and early to hear bird songs at their freshest. Learn the songs of common natives as well as listen for migrants ... Read more

Fort Steilacoom

Fort Steilaoom 8714 87th Avenue S.W., Lakewood, WA, United States

Lakewood's 342-acre park offers a diversity of habitat ranging from open meadows, brushy areas, hillsides, deciduous groves, coniferous woodland, and Waughop Lake. There are numerous foot trails throughout the park making exellent access for birding that has included over 150 species identified within the park. Every season in the park has its birding rewards. This ... Read more

Birding by Ear at Priest Point Park

Squaxin Park 2600 East Bay Drive N.E., Olympia, WA, United States

You never know what birds may appear – or sing – on any given day. Consider joining Kevin this morning, even if you joined him last Tuesday, to hear birdsongs at their freshest. Learn the songs of cmomon natives as well as listen for migrants who have come in overnight. Please e-mail Kevin Head if ... Read more

Protection Island Cruise

Port Townsend Marine Science Center 532 Battery Way, Port Townsend, WA, United States

Protection Island is an amazing National Wildlife Refuge located just outside Port Townsend. Nearly 70 percent of the nesting seabird population of Puget Sound and the Strait nest on the island. This includes one of the largest colonies of Rhinoceros Auklets in the USA. Although the refuge is closed to the public, visitors can view ... Read more

Darlin Creek

Darlin Creek Preserve 8910 Lake Lucinda Drive S.W., Olympia, WA, United States

This beautiful property was conserved by Capitol Land Trust in 2016 and is comprised of 312 acres, protecting hundreds of acres of healthy forest, 70 acres of diverse wetland habitat, Lake Lucinda, and two miles of streams. Expect to spend at least a couple of hours at the preserve. As always, dress for the weather; ... Read more

Birding Hood Canal Aboard the Lady Alderbrook

Alderbrook Resort 10 East Alderbrook Drive, Union, WA, United States

Foul weather forced the rescheduling of this trip from April 6 to April 28.  Please note also that the cruise will take place 12:00 noon - 2:00 p.m. Cruising and birding Hood Canal aboard the Lady Alderbrook has proven a very popular field trip, and here it is again! We will board the Lady Alderbrook ... Read more

Birding by Ear at Priest Point Park

Priest Point Park 2600 East Bay Drive S.W., Olympia, WA, United States

Although this field trip requires you to get up early, bear in mind that early mornings can be magical, especially spring's early mornings. Meet at the Flora Vista entrance to Priest Point Park bright and early to hear birdsongs at their freshest. Learn the songs of common natives as well as listen for migrants who ... Read more

Glacial Heritage Preserve

Glacial Heritage Preserve 15044 Miima Rd SW, Olympia, WA, United States

Conservationists, biologists, and many others have worked hard to restore and maintain stretches of the ancient South Sound prairie, and Glacial Heritage Preserve is one epitome of those efforts. I remember helping The Nature Conservancy pull Scotch Broom there when I first moved to Olympia, and to see the preserve's open grasslands now makes me ... Read more

Glacial Heritage Preserve on Prairie Appreciation Day

Glacial Heritage Preserve 15044 Miima Rd SW, Olympia, WA, United States

Come celebrate the 24th annual Prairie Appreciation Day at Glacial Heritage Preserve. Learn about and experience one of the rarest plant communities (and its inhabitants) in the South Puget Sound region located right here in Thurston County. The celebration is full of activities for all ages, including wildflower walks, tractor rides, and butterfly and bee ... Read more

Capitol Land Trust’s Blooms Preserve

Blooms Preserve

Acquired by Capitol Land Trust in 2018 and not open to the public, 60-acre Blooms Preserve includes 2000 feet of Blooms Ditch, which provides essential habitat for Coho and Steelhead Salmon, sea-run Cutthroat Trout, and the threatened Oregon Spotted Frog. Coincidentally, the preserve also provides habitat for diverse birds. Migratory species and courting and nesting ... Read more

South County Bird Binge

South County birding sites 475 West Sussex Avenue, Tenino, WA, United States

THIS TRIP, LIMITED TO 12, IS NOW FULL.  (May 6, 2019) This trip is for birders with ambition and stamina. Southern Thurston County has several marvelous birding hotspots, a variety of habitats, which Paul Hicks knows intimately. The trip will visit a variety of locations in South County in a quest to find 70+ species. ... Read more

McLane Creek

McLane Creek Nature Trail 5043 Delphi Road Southwest, Olympia, WA, United States

The McLane Creek Nature Trail consists of an easy 1.4-mile loop trail winding through a variety of habitats. This is a perfect area for birders of all abilities to spot and hear large numbers of our local birds courting, nesting, feeding, and protecting territory. The heart of the area is a large beaver pond which ... Read more

Woodard Bay for Beginning and Intermediate Birders

Woodard Bay Natural Resources Conservation Area 7000 Whitham Rd Ne, Olympia, WA, United States

This walk is designed primarily for beginning and intermediate birders. We will look and listen for woodland birds such as Swainson’s Thrushes, Wilson Warblers, Pacific Wrens, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Western Tanagers, and Pileated Woodpeckers as we walk through the deep forest of cedars and Douglas fir to reach Henderson Inlet where we may see Cormorants, Purple ... Read more

LBA Woods

LBA Woods 3333 Morse-Merryman Rd SE, Olympia, WA, United States

All of our migrant forest birds should have arrived and will be filling the forest with their songs. We will cover two to three miles of trails in two hours (at a birder’s pace), on a clean dirt path with only a couple of small hills. Bring binoculars and footgear to match the weather. Tennis ... Read more

West Rocky Prairie

West Rocky Prairie Wildlife Area 143rd Avenue Southeast, Tenino, WA, United States

Located near Millersylvania State Park, West Rocky Prairie is a large, high-quality, native prairie with oak, ash, and fir woodlands managed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. This trip includes a good variety of open country and forest birds such as Chipping Sparrows, House Wrens, and six warbler species. Dress for the weather ... Read more

Lewis County Birding Hotspots

Here is a chance to see birding hotspots in Lewis County near Centralia, sites probably unfamiliar to most of us.  We'll travel to Goodrich Road, Borst Park, Hillburger Pond, and Alexander Park to find native birds and spring migrants nesting and fledging.  If  time allows, we'll swing by the airport, Galvin Road, and the coal ... Read more

Grays Harbor County Birding Hotspots

Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge Hoquiam, WA, United States

Black Hills Audubon Society has not ventured into Grays Harbor County in several years. Plan on a full day's outing to scout shorebirds and myriad others in hotspots around the bay and along the Cranberry Highway. We will meet at Mud Bay Park and Ride at 7:00 a.m. Stops may include Hoquiam STP, Ocean Shores, ... Read more

Biking and Birding: Sauvie Island and Swifts in Portland

The Chapman School 1445 N.W. 26th Avenue, Portland, OR, United States

This is a trip in which you can participate for part or all of it. Car pool assistance provided. Each September Vaux’s Swifts return south, stopping to roost, rest and rejuvenate in chimneys or snags along the way. The Chapman School in Portland boasts a tower that hosts thousands of swifts during September. We begin ... Read more