November 29 - December 12

• About 30 killer whales were seen headed south near Whidbey Island between Double Bluff and Foulweather Bluff. Further north, a minke whale was spotted near Deadman Bay along San Juan Island, according to a report on the Orca Network (http://www.orcanetwork.org/sightings/map.html)

• A number of humpback whale sightings have occurred recently in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, just south of Victoria, British Columbia. A total of eight humpbacks have been seen in the area, along with 200 Steller sea lions, a peregrine falcon and a couple of brown pelicans.

• Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge - spotted more than 100 sandhill cranes

• In Lewis County, flooded areas are drawing large numbers of waterfowl to the region.  Spotted a greater white-fronted goose, six tundra swans and an Aleutian cackling goose among a small flock of cackling geese foraging in a corn field just beyond the "lake" at Goodrich Road. That area and other flooded areas along Big Hanaford Road near the Centralia Steam Plant drew the greatest numbers of waterfowl and shorebirds.

• Easter WA: mule deer bucks are in the peak of their breeding season - or rut - and can be more visible now. "Check out winter wheat fields.

• Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, south of Cheney off the Cheney-Plaza Road, is conducting its annual winter festival Dec. 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Guided elk viewing tours are the most popular activity, but space is limited. Pre-registration is recommended by calling 509-235-4723. There's also a raptor rehabilitation program presented from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., self-guided hiking and bird-watching, music at refuge headquarters throughout the day, and chili and snacks. Donations are requested to benefit the refuge's environmental education programs. Call 509-235-2760 for more information.

• Bighorn sheep are becoming more visible along the Tonasket-to-Oroville stretch of Hwy. 97 in Okanogan County, said Jeff Heinlen, WDFW wildlife biologist. "The sheep come down from higher elevations at this time of year to browse orchards and perhaps get down to the Okanogan River across the highway,"

November 23 - December 7, 2004

• There are nearly 3,000 swans in Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish counties - most of them trumpeter swans, but also a number of tundra swans. Tens of thousands of snow geese can be seen in agricultural lands near the mouths of the Skagit River.

• There are hundreds of thousands of dabbling ducks scattered from the U.S.-Canadian border south to Snohomish County. The most populous species include northern pintail (104,000), mallard (95,000) and American wigeon (69,000). The best places to see big concentrations of birds include Samish Bay, Padilla Bay and Skagit Bay.

• Wintering bald eagles are starting to congregate in the Methow and Okanogan valleys. 

• "With the first significant snowfall, bighorn sheep will likely be visible on rocky slopes in or near the town of Loomis," he said. 

• "In the Methow, large concentrations of mule deer are becoming more evident on the foothill slopes, including significant portions of the Methow Wildlife Area. Late November is the latter part of the breeding season and it's a good time to view mature bucks now that the late permit seasons have ended."

• In the Columbia Basin, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Randy Hill of the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge says that tundra swan numbers are up, although the birds are scattered widely.  "Unlike last year at this time, there were no great egrets seen, possibly moved out by the higher water levels in Potholes Reservoir,"

• WDFW Oak Creek Wildlife Area manager John McGowan agrees that weather has been relatively mild and winter feeding of elk and bighorn sheep has not started. 

• Winter migrating bald eagles are starting to show up along the Tieton River along Highway 12 and the Naches River along Highway 410.  Local birders report an apparent irruption of mountain chickadees in the valley lowlands.
  

November 26 - December 9, 2003

• Late fall is a great time for a saltwater birding trip, and Washington State ferry routes are one of the best ways to get into prime bird-viewing areas.  Scoters, loons, grebes, bald eagles, ternsgull species can all be seen on a leisurely trip through the San Juan Islands, from Keystone to Port Townsend, Mukilteo to Clinton, or Edmonds to Kingston. and a number of

• Look for increasing numbers of bald eagles along the region's major river systems, particularly the Skagit River.  One interesting sidebar to the recording flooding earlier in November is that untold thousands of salmon carcasses were likely washed downstream and into the estuaries and nearshore marine environment.  Spawned-out salmon carcasses provide food for numerous species, and are a primary food source for wintering bald eagles along the Skagit. 

• Snow goose numbers are building in the lower Skagit River valley, as are trumpeter and tundra swans throughout the region.  Look for small pockets of the big birds scattered in agricultural lands from Mount Vernon north to Lynden.  

• Swans are making an impressive showing of their own in the cornfields of the Chehalis Valley.
  Jack Smith, WDFW regional wildlife manager, has observed flocks of swans throughout the Chehalis Valley, including one 150 birds strong in a field along State Route 8 between Elma and Oakville.

• Seeing chum salmon spawning in area streams is virtually a sure thing at this time of year. The half-mile-long Kennedy Creek Salmon Trail in Mason County will be open for salmon-viewing from10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 28-30.  To get to Kennedy Creek, turn off Highway 101 onto the Old Olympic Highway at milepost 356.  The road crosses a bridge over Kennedy Creek (another vantage point) just before the marked road to the trail's parking lot. 

• The wetlands next to the State Route 503 bridge at Salmon Creek in Brush Prairie are getting large numbers of ducks, along with the numbers of wigeons, mallards, bufflehead, and a cormorant. 

• A recent Ridgefield refuge visitor reported seeing at least 1,000 Canada geese, several hundred pintails, coots and mallards, some 50 swans, and several sandhill cranes among two-dozen species sighted.

• In the Vancouver Lake lowlands, 73 great egrets were seen on Post Office Lake, which also hosted a flock of 54 hooded mergansers.  More than 80 sandhill cranes were recently seen in the field across from Frenchman's Bar County Park, along with thousands of cackling Canada geese. 

• Snow buntings, common redpolls, gyrfalcons and other visitors from the north have arrived in the Columbia Basin since recent winter storms.  More mallards and other ducks are also down from Canada, settling on Moses Lake, Pothole Reservoir and Wanapum Dam pool on the Columbia River.
  

November 27 - December 10, 2002

• Trumpeter swans spend the winter months along the agricultural bottomlands in Whatcom and Skagit counties. One flock was recently seen flying over Cockreham Island on the Skagit River between Lyman and Hamilton, according to a report on the Tweeters website on the Internet. Snow geese have also begun to arrive in the region.  A total of 22,000 snow geese were spotted in two locations – south of Stanwood and west of Conway. Also, about 12,000 dunlin were seen flying over the south fork Skagit River estuary. 

• Lots of raptors moving through as well, including some bald eagles beginning to congregate along the Skagit River to feed on a portion of the record Puget Sound chum run. Biologists estimate the total return of chum to Puget Sound streams might top 3 million fish, about one third of which will be in northern Puget Sound streams, like the Skagit, Stillaguamish and Snohomish rivers. The fish are an immensely important component of healthy ecosystems, providing nutrients for all manner of life along the food chain. 

• Spectators routinely gather on the Delphi Road bridge to watch chum salmon splash up McLane Creek off Highway 101 near Olympia. "They've just started arriving in the past couple of weeks," Ludwig said. "For us, they've become a sign that we're moving into winter." 

November 28 - December 11, 2001

• Wintering raptors and more common bird species are in sight in the lower Chehalis Valley. Try Brady Loop Road, where gyrfalcons, peregrine falcons, black-shouldered kites and red-shouldered hawks have been spotted recently. 

• The WDFW wildlife area at Oyehut Sink near Ocean Shores and nearby Catala Lagoon are other good spots to look for wintering birds. 

  Large numbers of buffleheads and some gadwalls, along with other more common resident winter ducks, are visible at the Julia Butler Hansen National Wildlife Refuge near Cathlamet.

November 30 - December 13, 2000

• Some 18,000 snow geese are on hand at the Fir Island Farms snow goose viewing site. Visitors are reminded to use the parking lot; there is no parking on Fir Island Road. The site is ADA accessible. 

• The Cedar River is teeming with some 10,000 sockeye salmon returning to the Cedar River Hatchery in Ravensdale. Get a glimpse of the run from nearby trails overlooking the river. 

• The first cold, wet weather of winter is driving the elk herds down from the slopes of the Olympic Mountains, which now wear a mantle of new-fallen snow. That is making these magnificent animals more accessible to viewing than ever. Big bulls and their cows can sometimes be seen in the parking lots of the Hoh, Quinault and Queets entrances to the Olympic National Park. They also can be seen crossing Highway 101 on a fairly regular basis near Sequim as they look for forage at the northern edge of their range. 

• (All of December - Eastern and North Central Washington) Watch for snow buntings among the horned larks along the open country roadsides, and northern shrikes on fence and power lines. 

December 1-15, 1999

• The Destruction Island lookout off Hwy. 101 is a good place to spot gray whales as they migrate along the Washington coast en route from Alaska to the calving grounds off Baja California. 

December 3-16, 1998

• Puget Sound and Hood Canal Canada geese, mallard, widgeon, snow geese and trumpeter swan populations peak during the darkest days of winter. Look in shallow, protected shoreline areas, and agricultural fields near water, for concentrations of fowl stopping for food and rest on their southward journeys. Birds are often heard before they are seen, creating an incredible symphony. Try Thelar Wetlands, near Belfair, Nisqually Reach Nature Center and Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge near Olympia, and the Skagit Valley near Mount Vernon.

• Roosevelt elk can be seen in many lowland areas around the Olympic Mountains. This is the state's most popular big game species for viewing, according to Jack Smith, WDFW regional wildlife biologist in Montesano. Good viewing areas are the Johns River Wildlife Area near Westport, the Quinault and Hoh rivers in Olympic National Park and the farmland east of Port Angeles.  Also watch for Canada geese, mallard, widgeon, snow geese and trumpeter swans, whose populations peak during the dark days of winter. 

• Another good winter elk viewing opportunity is within 45 minutes of Olympia on WDFW's Skookumchuck Wildlife Area. The elk spend much of the year in the Upper Skookumchuck watershed, but when the snow starts to fall they move down along the Skookumchuck River to forage in the fields. The elk can be found foraging in the fields along the road to the south of the entrance. The best time to spot them is just at sunrise before they wade across the Skookumchuck River and disappear from view. The elk are usually present in these lowlands from mid December through February. To get to the Wildlife Area, head south on Interstate 5 from Olympia and take Exit 88 to Tenino on Old Highway 99. From Tenino take State Route 507 south approximately 2.5 miles and turn left onto Skookumchuck Road. The wildlife area entrance is five miles down the road. For more information call Richard Kessler at (253) 589-7180.
  

December 13, 2006 - January 9, 2007

• Between 400 and 500 trumpeter swans have moved into the Chehalis Valley, providing good viewing opportunities from Chehalis to Montesano. 

• Ridgefield NWR: Prairie Falcon, red-shouldered hawk and a white-tailed kite. Red-shouldered hawks, large raptors with red-brown shoulders, are fairly rare in Washington, while the white-tailed kites are found in high densities during the winter. White-tails have nested along the Willapa River and in the Chinook Valley in Pacific County, near Hanaford Creek and the Chehalis River in Lewis County, and along the Skamokawa, Naselle, Deep and Grays rivers in Wahkiakum County.

• Bald eagles are foraging on ducks and fish along many of the region's waterways, from the Pend Oreille River up north to the Walla Walla River down south. 

• It's a good time to take a drive along the Tonasket-to-Oroville stretch of Hwy. 97 in Okanogan County to see bighorn sheep.

• Winter feeding and close-up viewing of elk are under way at WDFW's Oak Creek Wildlife Area west of Yakima - about 1000 at headquarters. Another 500 or more elk are fed near the junction of Hwy. 12 and 410 to the east.   About 100 bighorn sheep are also fed and viewable on the Cleman Mountain unit.  No WDFW vehicle use permit is required until April 1.
  
  WDFW's L.T. Murray Wildlife Area just west of Ellensburg in Kittitas County is also feeding elk now in several locations, including the Joe Watt Canyon unit where public viewing is welcome. WDFW area manager Cindi Confer says 500 to 1,000 elk can be seen at the Joe Watt feeding station through the winter. Visitors can take the Thorp exit off Interstate 90 to the south on the Old Thorp Highway to Thorp Cemetery Road to Joe Watt Canyon Road up to the winter closure gate on the wildlife area; elk viewers are advised to remain in or near vehicles at the gate to watch the feeding elk.  Both the Robinson Canyon and Joe Watt Canyon gates into the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area, and the Mellotte gate on the Wenas Wildlife Area to the south of Ellensburg, close each winter.

December 8 - January 11, 2005

• The annual gathering of bald eagles along the Skagit River is under way. The Skagit hosts one of the largest winter eagle populations in the lower 48 states, with the peak count of 400 or more birds coming near the end of December.

• A trip to the Ridgefield Wildlife Area and the Dike Access near Woodland yielded sightings of more than 200 sandhill cranes and over 350 tundra swans. 

• Another birdert recently described Doug's Beach just east of Lyle as "a very birdy spot," occupied by yellow-shafted female northern flicker, canyon wren, slate-colored junco, ruby-crowned kinglet, hermit thrush, varied thrush, sooty-type fox sparrows, ring-necked pheasant, western bluebirds, and song, golden-crowned and white-crowned sparrows.

• A normally hard-to-find species is becoming easier to spot in Spokane County as winter advances - small groups of elk are delighting residents and commuters in the Peone Prairie area in the northeast end of the county and the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge area near Cheney in the southwest. Elk viewing in these areas is becoming a seasonal treat, with snow moving growing populations of the big animals closer to roads in search of forage.

• Spawning kokanee (landlocked sockeye salmon) are now visible as they move up Harvey Creek from Lake Sullivan in northeast Pend Oreille County. Spawned-out kokanee also attract bald eagles, which feed on their carcasses.

• Due to mild early winter conditions, winter feeding of elk and bighorn sheep on WDFW's Oak Creek Wildlife Area southwest of Yakima had not begun as of this writing. However, WDFW area manager John McGowan said that some animals can already be seen on the lower hills near the headquarters area off Highway 12.

• Bald eagles, bobcats, coyote, otters, mink and other wildlife may be foraging on the nearly 16 tons of spawned-out salmon carcasses recently distributed in the Little Naches, Bumping and American rivers as part of a salmon nutrient enhancement program. WDFW district fish biologist Eric Anderson explained that the salmon carcasses provide much-needed ocean-derived nutrients for depleted salmon, steelhead, bull trout and resident fish stocks.

• Birders may have more spectacular viewing choices across the North Puget Sound region this month than at any other time of year, if for no other reason than the sheer numbers of wintering birds. Let's start with the biggest tally of them all - 546,000. That's the number of waterfowl counted by veteran WDFW biologist Mike Davison when he made his most-recent aerial survey along the intertidal stretches of the region. Davison said it's the largest count he's ever had for an early December bird survey. 
• Mallard, wigeon and pintail are all represented in large numbers, while huge gaggles of snow geese (40,000 total in the region) are growing weekly as well. 
• Add to these totals several hundred tundra swans scattered in smaller groups across the region's agricultural lands. The giant birds can be seen in many areas, most notably the fields between Lynden and Sumas, and south to Everson. They're also visible in fields around Mount Vernon in the Skagit River Valley. 
• Organizers of the annual Skagit Bald Eagle Festival (Feb. 7-8, 2004) have reported a count of more than 260 bald eagles on the banks of the Skagit, stretching from Sedro Woolley to Newhalem, with the largest concentration of birds between Rockport to Marblemount. The figure represents a 200 percent increase in bald eagles from the same time last year. Bald eagle numbers typically peak along the Skagit in late December; last year's highest count came Dec. 26 when 375 eagles were tallied. 

• Deer sightings and numbers are increasing on the Klickitat Wildlife Area and surrounding lands. Several groups of wintering Canada geese have also been seen using the wildlife area and surrounding farms. 

• WDFW wildlife biologist Steve Zender suggests planning a trip to view wintering bald eagles along Lake Roosevelt at this time. "The route along Highway 25 through Hunters-Gifford-Kettle Falls-Marcus is especially good.

December 10, 2002 - January 7, 2003

• More trumpeter swans, tundra swans and bald eagles are arriving in northern Puget Sound. The swans are easy to see in the stubble fields and other agricultural areas in the lowlands, especially in Whatcom County, while eagles can be spotted along riverside gravel bars feeding on spawned-out salmon, or roosting in cottonwoods and other tall trees along waterways. Eagle-watching won't hit its peak in the upper Skagit until after year's end, but there are already plenty of birds to observe during the holiday season.

• Both novice and veteran birdwatchers are welcome to join Christmas Bird Counts.

• Methow Valley mule deer are on winter ranges in visible numbers now. The portion of WDFW's Methow Wildlife Area northeast of Winthrop is a good area to watch them. Deer viewers need to stick to roads and established trails to minimize disturbance to the animals as they enter the most stressful time of year.

• Area manager John McGowan notes several changes at the elk feeding station at WDFW's Oak Creek Wildlife Area northwest of Yakima this season, (509) 653-2390. A mechanized operation to drop hay bales to the elk will be used because it's safer and more efficient. But because it also eliminates the chance for volunteers to ride along, AmeriCorp members will operate a tour truck around the herd for close-up views. Each 30-45 minute tour, which can accommodate 14-18 persons, will be conducted continuously each day of the feeding season; no appointments or pre-scheduling are needed, although donations to support the effort will be encouraged. An independent contractor will provide full-menu food and drink concessions and minor supplies and souvenirs at the Oak Creek headquarters site. The parking lot at Oak Creek headquarters has been increased by about 40 percent to alleviate some of the traffic congestion along Highway 12 and in the parking area itself. McGowan also noted that as visitors drive to Oak Creek, they might look for the influx of wintering bald eagles that are showing up along the Naches and Tieton Rivers.

December 12, 2001 - January 8, 2002

• Bald eagles can be viewed along Lake Roosevelt through the winter from the comfort of your car. Just travel the highways along the reservoir, stopping periodically to look for eagles perched in waterfront trees where they're on the lookout for fish or deer carcasses. Traveling the shoreline by boat is even more productive, but of course requires bundling up well. Roosevelt's wintering eagles are rarely seen in groups of more than 10 birds, but total numbers are high - annual winter counts conducted by WDFW, National Park Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and the Spokane and Colville tribes have shown up to 200 birds just in the section between Hunters and the Colville River alone.

• Wintering bald eagles are visible from Yakima's Greenway Trail along the Yakima River, according to WDFW habitat biologist Perry Harvester. He also notes that with fresh snow, bighorn sheep and mule deer are very visible from Hwy. 823 in the Yakima Canyon between Yakima and Ellensburg. 

December 14-27, 2000

• Fir Island Farm Viewpoint continues to draw some 18,000 snow geese. Large flocks of shorebirds also use the site (and even the parking lot) on high tide and falling tide, says Lora Leschner, regional wildlife manager. Meanwhile, swans are scattered throughout Skagit County, feeding on potatoes and corn in fields; look for them in the Nookechamps Valley (Francis Road). 

• If you want to see ducks – lots of ducks – the place to go is the Satsop Development Park off Highway 12 in the shadow of the old Satsop cooling tower. This year, like every year, a two-acre settling pond at the site is packed with mallards along with some widgeons, pintails and other waterfowl that live in or pass by the area. "The pond is basically wall-to-wall duck," said WDFW's Jack Smith, who said he has seen as many as 5,000 birds there at one time. "It's really quite a sight." Why so many ducks in one spot? For one thing, the area is clearly posted "No Hunting." To get there, take the Highway 101 exit from Olympia (or Highway 12 from Aberdeen), exit at Elma and go 1½ miles on Wakefield Road toward the cooling tower until you get to a "Y" in the road. Go right and follow the signs to West Park until you spot a pond overflowing with ducks. 

• Birdwatchers around Kalama should keep an eye open for geese in the thousands, reportedly showing between Kalama and Grays Bay.

• Lots of raptors are being spotted throughout the Palouse and the central part of Eastern Washington, perhaps due to lack of forage in winter-ravaged habitat further north and/or what some believe is an "explosion" of field mice and other rodent populations locally. 

• Try snowshoeing for snowshoes in the Conconully area of Okanogan County! Snowshoe hares are occasionally seen and their tracks often found. Snow cover in the north end of this region makes this a good time to watch and track all kinds of wildlife. From a vehicle on the backroads, you can look for raptors, deer, coyotes, and other critters out and about day and night to make a living. On foot or snowshoes or cross-country-skis, look for the tracks those and other animals have made; take a tracking field guide to identify the signs left in the snow, and you'll be amazed at the variety of species that are toughing it out in these wintery conditions. 

December 15-29, 1999

• Good bald eagle viewing opportunities exist on the North Fork of the Nooksack River, says Steve Negri, WDFW wildlife biologist. He recommends the Welcome Bridge area on State Route 542 east of Highway 9 as a prime spot now. 

• Bird watching, particularly for waterfowl, is excellent now throughout the Sun Lakes chain, from Soap Lake to Banks Lake. There are hundreds of tundra swans, Canada geese, diving ducks, dabbling ducks, and even a few bald eagles working on making meals of them. The waterfowl are mostly resident birds, since most northern ducks and geese have yet to move into the Columbia Basin; mild weather in Canada has kept most of those birds there for now, but mass migrations into northcentral Washington undoubtedly will occur when more wintery conditions arrive. 

December 17-30, 1998

• Nothing expresses Mother Nature's power like storms. And nowhere can they be more fully experienced than on the ocean beaches of the rugged Washington coastline. Fierce winds, drenching rains, surging tides and crashing beach logs are part of the exciting panorama. 

• After the storm is over, the beach and its wildlife re-emerge. High waves will have left gifts from the ocean—masses of kelp with a variety of creatures attached, flotsam from ocean-going vessels, maybe a treasured Japanese glass ball. Newly exposed beach will offer its treasures to shorebirds, gulls, otters and mink. Beach logs will be re-arranged. Beach erosion will have occurred, providing examples of natural processes. This is the time to explore. 
• "The key to seeing wildlife is sitting very still for a couple of hours, essentially becoming part of the beach environment," said Alan Rammer, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) marine education specialist. Rammer recently spent a week exploring the northern Washington coast.  "If you stay put for a while you'll see amazing sights" he added. 
• After a recent storm in the Olympic National Park, Rammer saw river otters, bald eagles, raccoons and black oystercatchers by sitting very still on a coastal tide pool rock near Kalaloch Lodge, 78 miles north of Ocean Shores. 

• A 54-acre wetland and forest preserve with visitor's center, The Tacoma Nature Center is located at the intersection of South 19th and Tyler streets. This urban sanctuary is an ideal place to walk through wildlife habitat and enjoy the sights and sounds of the hundreds of species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates that live here.

• With milder-than-usual winter weather in eastern Washington, this may be the year for a holiday canoe and wildlife-watching trip on the Little Spokane River. This tributary of the Spokane River is accessible through a natural area located on the northwestern outskirts of Spokane. The 7.5-mile stretch of the river is ideal for canoeing and there is a good put-in spot just west of the intersection of Rutter Parkway and Waikiki Road, near WDFW's Spokane Trout Hatchery. The well- marked take-out spot is on Boat Launch Road, off State Route 291 just a mile north of the intersection with Rutter Parkway. 

• The same stretch of river can be explored on foot starting at the Indian Painted Rocks trail-head, where Rutter Parkway crosses the river, in the middle of the natural area. The Little Spokane Natural Area is best known for its Great blue heron rookery (communal nesting site) about a mile downstream from the trail-head. But lots of other wildlife are often seen throughout the year, including beavers, muskrats, bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, mergansers, mallards, wood ducks, woodpeckers and a myriad of wintering songbirds. For more information contact Riverside State Park at (509) 456-3964.