October 4-17, 2006

• Guided waterfowl and other bird watching will be available Oct. 14 after a public dedication of the state's acquisition of Reardan's Audubon Lake, a 277-acre wildlife viewing site in Lincoln County.  The property, 30 miles west of Spokane and just north of the town of Reardan, is made up of wetlands, vernal ponds, grasslands and channeled scablands. Howard Ferguson, WDFW district wildlife biologist, said it supports more than 250 species of birds and other wildlife, including 13 species and four habitat types of special concern. The dedication starts at 1 p.m. at the access point on the south side of the property, off Railroad Avenue, east of Highway 231 and north of Highway 2.

September 29 - October 12, 2004

• More than a dozen orcas were spotted venturing into Puget Sound as far south as Kingston, just as they have done at this time of year since 1997.

• If you haven't heard a bull elk bugle or clack antlers with a rival, the Quinault River valley upstream from Lake Quinault is a great place to observe this rite of fall. Several groups of elk are visible along the loop road along the South Shore and North Shore roads. The Graves Creek Campground is an even better spot, although it is not accessible by vehicle??? and requires a hike. The elk are most active during the early morning and evening hours.

• As of late September, over a half-million chinook had passed Bonneville Dam. With more than 5,000 fish a day still passing the dam, visitors can enjoy the show from the dam's fish-viewing windows.
• Other options include WDFW's Elochoman Hatchery near Cathlamet, the Cowlitz Hatchery complex near Salcum, the Washougal Hatchery near the town of Washougal or the Lewis River Hatchery outside Woodland. 
• Federal facilities, such as the Spring Creek National Hatchery above Bonneville Dam on State Route 14, also are good spots for salmon-viewing

• Preliminary raptor survey data from the Chelan Public Utility District's Burch Mountain transmission line route suggests this area may support higher concentrations of migrating raptors than Chelan Ridge, which is one of seven national raptor migration-monitoring sites operated by Hawk Watch International.
  
  • On Sept. 20 and 21, migrating raptor passage rates of 10.7 and 12.7 per hour, respectively, were observed from Eagle Rock. By contrast, the maximum daily passage rate for Chelan Ridge in 2003 was 7.3 per hour on September 24. 
  • Accipiters were the most prevalent group observed, and species of particular concern observed included bald eagle (federal and state threatened species), northern goshawk (federal species of concern and a state candidate species), golden eaglemerlin (both state candidate species).

October 1-14, 2003

• Migration -- there are "tons" of birds throughout the region this time of year, including year 'round homebodies and seasonal migrant visitors. The locals include beautiful cedar waxwings and killdeer on Spencer Island near Everett, plus a great egret on a Skagit River slough near the community of Hamilton. 

• How about 3,000 turkey vultures kettling overhead? Canadian birders reported just such a sight Sept. 25 off the coast of Vancouver Island, where the graceful birds are congregating before their annual flight across the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Most should reach the shores of Clallam County within the next few weeks, providing a spectacle that keeps birders coming back year after year. The Salt Creek Recreation Area, about 16 miles west of Port Angeles in Clallam County, is a prime spot for viewing.

• An altenative for viewing elk in rut is Northwest Trek in Eatonville, where visitors can observe the spectacle from a safe distance.  The wildlife park is at 11610 Trek Dr. East in Eatonville, about 35 miles east of Tacoma, on the road to Mount Rainier.  Details: 360-832-6117 or at their website.

• Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge -- American bitterns, great egrets and sandhill cranes are putting on a show here.  Mid-September trip on the River S driving loop -- six American bitterns and a dozen great egrets, as well as some 50 sandhill cranes in the distance to the south.  A week later -- 16 American bitterns, 54 great egrets and over 100 sandhill cranes from the same auto tour route.

• American white pelicans, Canada geese, and a variety of ducks and songbirds will take center stage at WDFW's Oct. 2 dedication of the newly-acquired acreage for wetlands preservation and "watchable wildlife" at Sprague Lake (at WDFW's water access site on the southwest end of the lake).  Eastbound travelers take Tokio I-90 exit and travel six miles east on Danekas Road, westbound travelers take Sprague I-90 exit and travel six miles west on Max Harder Road. 

• Wenas Lake -- great egrets, surf scoters, hooded mergansers, pectoral sandpipers, long-billed dowitchers, American pipits, killdeer and Wilson's snipe. 

• Fort Simcoe to Toppenish Wildlife Refuge -- western grebe, green-winged teal, merlin, belted kingfisher, Lewis' woodpecker, red-naped sapsucker, white-breasted nuthatch, Bewick's wren, orange-crowned warbler, yellow-rumped warbler, spotted towhee, song sparrow, white-crowned sparrow, and golden-crowned sparrow. 

• Current fish-viewing opportunities include spring chinook salmon spawning in the Easton reach of the Yakima River and Rimrock Lake kokanee spawning in the North Fork Tieton River below Clear Lake. WDFW fish biologist Jim Cummins recently estimated 8,000 fish spawning in these areas.
  

October 2-15, 2002

• The southerly migration of shorebirds, ducks and raptors continues throughout northern Puget Sound. Birders visiting such popular sites as Birch Bay, Padilla Bay, the Samish Flats and virtually any other shoreline area are likely to see big flocks of migrating birds, including black-bellied plover, northern pintail, green-winged teal and American widgeon. High above the shorebirds and ducks are more birds heading south for the winter, including turkey vultures. The big birds are easy to spot as they corkscrew on rising air currents with their wings pitched upward in a slight "V." Other large migrating birds, including most hawks, tend to soar with their wings at level. 

• October is also a prime time to watch salmon spawning in most local rivers and streams. Check out the sockeye salmon spawning in the Cedar River upstream of Renton – the brightly colored sockeye are quite visible in the low water conditions of early fall. 

• With the arrival of fall, birds are on the move throughout the region- sandhill cranes, great blue herons, pied-billed grebes, red-tailed and Northern harrier hawks, American kestrals, coots, and a variety of waterfowl species are commonly spotted at this time of year. The seasonal bird activity will be celebrated Oct. 12 and 13 with the Annual Bird Fest, sponsored by the Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Activities include lectures, slide presentations, guided field tours, raptor shows, art and equipment exhibits and sales and children's crafts; a detailed schedule is available at the Friends of Ridgefield (New URL 10/25!) website.  For a seasonal list of watchable birds visit the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge's website.

October 3-16, 2001

• During the past week flocks of sandhill cranes were easy to locate along Lower River Road in the Shillapoo Wildlife Area (near Vancouver) and flocks of Canada geese including the Cackling subspecies were also seen. Dusky Canada geese have also been reported. Wildlife watchers will also want to keep an eye out for common egrets which have also been spotted in the area.

October 5-18, 2000

• This is a fine time for mountain goat viewing. (She) suggests the Barometer Mountain Trail off the Mount Baker Highway, the cliffs on Mount Si (off Interstate 90), or Mount Index (State Route 2). The trick to glimpsing a goat is to hike high trails with good views of cliffs and avalanche chutes and to scan those areas with binoculars or spotting scopes. Early morning hours are best. 

• At lower elevations, elk may be on view – try an early morning visit to fields along the river in the North Bend area, off Highway 9 near Acme in Whatcom County, or where Bell Creek crosses the Mount Baker Highway.

• It's a good time to get out in a canoe or kayak on the Little Spokane or Colville rivers to see deer, birds, and beautiful fall colors. There will probably be a bald eagle or two along most stretches of the Colville. More bald eagles will be moving into the Spokane area soon to winter here along with those that nest here.

• The Wahluke Slope and WB-10 Wasteway Wildlife Areas in the Hanford area near the Tri-Cities are great spots to watch now for literally millions of birds using the waters and marshes for resting and feeding on their annual migrations along the Pacific Flyway. Waterfowl to be seen include Canada geese, mallards, redheads, canvasbacks, ringnecks, ruddy ducks, gadwalls, blue and greenwing teal, shovelers, pintails, and goldeneyes. Also seen are various shorebirds, Caspian terns, pelicans, ring-billed gulls, and Brewer's, red-winged, and yellow-headed blackbirds.

October 7 - 20, 1999

• Now through the rest of the month is peak time for viewing summer chinook salmon and colorful fall foliage in the Tumwater Canyon area of the Wenatchee River, from about 1.5 miles west of Leavenworth and continuing about six miles upstream. The fish can be seen from Highway 2 where it winds through the canyon; there are lots of turnouts; the Swiftwater picnic area about six miles from town is a good base for a family outing.

October 8 - 21, 1998

• They're moving out fast but you still may be able to catch a glimpse of migrating sandhill cranes. Traveling in flocks of up to 200, cranes arrive in the Columbia River basin from mid-September through October to congregate in the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge near Othello. Unlike many other birds, cranes usually can be watched from the road.  Randy Hill, a U. S. Fish and Wildlife biologist, reported seeing 5,000 birds two weeks ago, west of Othello. The cranes have been seen on Royal Slope, between Royal City and Othello. They also have been seen near Crab Creek, landing in grain fields, irrigated pasture and grain stubble. The best times to see the cranes is two- to three-hours after daylight and before sundown. They feed in morning and evening and roost mid-day and evening. 

• White pelicans and great egrets can be seen scattered throughout the (Columbia National Wildlife Refuge) in wetter areas north of Potholes Reservoir.  Birds can be seen by driving the Dodson Road west of Moses Lake. For more information call the refuge at (509) 488-2668. 

• Another great birding area is the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, located about 15 miles north of Vancouver WA. Abundant waterfowl, cranes and swans can be seen in the northern section of the refuge. This area is always open to birding during daylight hours. For more information call (360) 887-4106.

• As summer fades brown pelicans start moving north up the coast from their breeding grounds in California and Mexico. They always come as far as Oregon but sometimes venture farther north during strong El Nino years such as the one we just had. Brown pelicans are uncommon along the Northwest coast but, as mentioned above, hundreds frequently can be seen in a few locations when conditions are right. Some good viewing sites are near Point No Point, Eglon Beach, and the Nature Conservancy Foulweather Bluff Preserve. All of these sites can be accessed by Hansville Road NE.

• The creatures that reside in our state's ancient forests are busy preparing for winter. Douglas squirrels are collecting cones and hanging fungi in trees for use later in winter. Thrushes, robins and other birds are searching for the last of this year's huckleberries. Redlegged and Pacific chorus frogs may be seen taking one last hop or two before they select their final winter resting spot. Along trails and roads where the fall sun still reaches the ground, look for garter snakes as they soak up a few last rays before hibernation. Temperate rain forests in Washington can be found in the Hoh, Quinault and Queets river valleys in the Olympic National Park. For more information call (360) 452-4501, ext. 230.
  

October 18-31, 2006

• Meanwhile, Diann MacRae of the Olympic Vulture Study, continues to receive reports of turkey vultures coming through on their fall migration southward. Groups of the birds reported seen around the area during September included the following: 30 between Rochester and Elma; 20 spiraling over the Elwa River; 7 at Bottle Beach; 5 at Brady Loop; 32 near Tenino; 36 on the Enumclaw plateau; 7 over Olympia; 22 over the Tahuya area; 16 over Eatonville; 7 soaring over Tokeville; and 6 at the Port Angeles Airport.

• October is the time to see sandhill cranes at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. Most of the big birds are likely to be gone from the refuge within a month, as cold weather drives them south. But as of mid-October, birdwatchers reporting to the Tweeters bird-watching website (http://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/) have consistently seen cranes at the refuge, along with an assortment of great egrets, great blue herons, Canada geese, northern pintails, greater yellowlegs and other species.

• October is a great time to watch the annual migration of hawks and other raptors flying south over Chelan Ridge. Bird watchers can see golden eagles, peregrine falcons, northern rough-legged hawks, goshawks and red-tailed hawks up close at the Chelan Ridge Raptor Migration project,

October 13-26, 2004

• Late September and early October mark the migration of lesser sandhill cranes through the lower Columbia River area. Regional WDFW staffers and local birders are reporting the return of sandhill cranes to the Shillapoo Wildlife Area and surrounding lands outside Vancouver. Each year the cranes visit this area to feed and rest to finish their southward migration. The cranes feed in croplands as well as grazed pastures, wetlands and mowed areas where they obtain nutrients from insects and native seeds not available in grain crops. 
• WDFW Wildlife Area Manager Brian Calkins reports seeing up to 800 cranes in the North Unit of the wildlife area. 
• Regional Wildlife Program Manager Fred Dobler reports spotting a large group of cranes at the northern end of Vancouver Lake. 
• And a Tweeters website correspondent reports sighting almost 200 sandhill cranes Oct. 10 in a field just east of the road on WDFW's Shillapoo Wildlife Area North Unit.

October 15-28, 2003

• Fall bird migrations are in full swing. Big flocks of snow geese have been arriving into the region from northern climes. Look for the brilliant white birds to continue filling the agricultural lands of the lower Skagit River valley and other rural lowlands throughout well into next year. Snow geese spend their summers in the Arctic and will winter anywhere from the lower portion of the British Columbia mainland and Puget Sound all the way to the Mexico.

• Roosevelt elk are just finishing the year's rut, complete with bugling and clacking of antlers. The Quinault River valley upstream from Lake Quinault is a prime location to observe this rite of fall, particularly in the early morning and evening.

• October is the time to see sandhill cranes at the Ridgfield National Wildlife Refuge. Most of the big birds are likely to be gone from the refuge within a month, as cold weather drives them south. For now, crane counts are higher than historic averages, with 4,000 birds recently tallied, said Joe Engler, a wildlife biologist at the refuge.
  

• There's still time to enjoy the fall spectacle of returning salmon -- late-run coho can be seen swimming and jumping at the head of the fish ladder at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery near Salcum.

• Birdwatchers will want to take in the sixth-annual Fall Festival of Foliage and Feathers, Oct. 25-27 in Walla Walla, where the abundance of waterways and associated riparian area deciduous woodlands are colorful and attracts lots of birds. For more information on the festival, see http://www.downtownwallawalla.com on the Internet, or call (509) 529-8755.

• This time of sunny days and freezing nights is one of the best for taking a detour off Interstate 90 to see birds in the Columbia Basin. Migrating ducks, geese, swans, raptors, songbirds and other birds are spectacular now in this area of small waterways, wetlands, and shrub-steppe habitat. Take your binoculars and camera along the back roads between Vantage and Ritzville, through the Frenchman Hills, Winchester Wasteway, and Columbia National Wildlife Refuge. Or go north from George to Soap Lake, Startford, Wilson Creek, and Odessa. Near dawn and dusk keep your eyes peeled for deer, too.
  

October 16-29, 2002

• Look for big groups of red-throated loons in sheltered bays and coves throughout the San Juan Islands. 

• One birder reporting to the Tweeters website noted that several thousand surf scoters had amassed in Penn Cove. 

• On the Washington coast, thousands of seabirds pass through on their fall migration. One newspaper naturalist recently wrote about seeing hundreds of brown pelicans fly past the mouth of the Quillayute River between Rialto Beach and La Push. These impressive birds, bound for nesting areas off the California coast, have shown a dramatic increase in numbers in the 30 years since the pesticide DDT banned. Even more numerous are the California, herring and western gulls, thousands of which are currently congregated near the mouth of the Hoh River. 

• Farther north, cormorants may be the predominant species of seabirds visible on the rocky cliffs of Cape Flattery, but rhinoceros auklets, common murres, oystercatchers and dozens of other species are also on display. The Makah Tribe has built a trail and four viewing platforms at the tip of the cape, offering a spectacular view of this pelagic pageant. 

• Many birders are taking to the water to view the fall migrants. One passenger aboard a bird watching cruise to Protection Island, wrote of her sightings in Tweeters, the on-line birders' chatroom. Her lists included several different types of loons, scoters, cormorants and ducks (harlequin and bufflehead) as well as a marbled murrelet and more than 1,000 harbor seals. That particular cruise was offered by the Port Townsend Marine Science Center, which is currently booking trips through the end of the year. For more information, call 1-800-566-3962.

• Recent visitors to the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge are sandhill cranes, with counts as high as 1,500 individuals recently, according to the Tweeters birding website. The crane is listed as a "species of concern" on the state endangered species list. The big birds can be seen along State Route 501, near the wildlife refuge, and throughout the North Unit of the Shillapoo Wildlife Area.

• Brightly colored kokanee trout, the landlocked version of sockeye salmon, are spawning in Cougar Creek and present a great show. A tributary to the Yale Reservoir, Cougar Creek can be found about 30 miles north of Woodland on State Route 503, just near the town of Cougar. Look for spawning 10- to 12-inch trout near the SR 503 bridge.

• WDFW fish biologist Jim Cummins reports there is an opportunity for the next couple of weeks to observe Rimrock Lake kokanee spawning in the North Fork Tieton below Clear Lake. "These are 11- to12- inch fish," Cummins said. "Since kokanee are salmon, they die after they spawn and that means there might also be an opportunity to see a bald eagle feeding on kokanee carcasses." Cummins says an adult bald eagle was recently seen in the area. The North Fork Tieton below Clear Lake Dam is closed to fishing to protect spawning kokanee and bull trout. 

• The fifth-annual Walla Walla Fall Festival of Feathers and Foliage, Oct. 26-29, is a great opportunity to learn about and enjoy the incredible diversity of birds in the Walla Walla area. Free programs include the ever popular "owl prowl" in the local cemetery, field trips to nearby McNary National Wildlife Refuge, and landscaping for wildlife workshops. New this year are tours by WDFW's Upland Wildlife Restoration manager Ted Johnson of local habitat developments, bird identification programs by WDFW Wildlife Biologist Howard Ferguson, and a booth on WDFW's Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary program. For more information, see http://www.downtownwallawalla.com/.

• Fall foliage colors are not brilliant in many of eastern Washington's streamside areas where deciduous trees thrive and migrating birds congregate. WDFW Wildlife Biologist Steve Zender especially notes upper Ferry County, along the Kettle River from Curlew to Danville, and the northern end of Pend Oreille County along the Pend Oreille River, are extraordinary with color at this time. 

October 17-30, 2001

• The first southbound dunlins have started to arrive at Totten Inlet (South Puget Sound), a popular overwintering spot. WDFW biologist Joe Buchannon recently saw 23 in a day and anticipates the arrival of 2,000 to 4,000 by the end of October. Black-bellied plovers are also beginning to arrive at the Inlet, says Buchannon, who counted a flock of 166 birds on the same outing.

October 19-November 1, 2000

• This is a good time of year to see sea ducks at spots such as Anacortes or Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island. Watch for waterfowl on lakes or from shoreline viewpoints like Bayview State Park. Watch for sea bird migrations from shorelines, boats and ferries.

• Tundra swans are back in the region (eastern Washington), at least for their migratory stopovers of a few weeks. Good places to see swans, including occasional Trumpeters are: Spangle ponds and sometimes Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge in Spokane County, Reardan ponds and other lakes and potholes in Lincoln County, and Calispell Lake and the Pend Oreille River in Pend Oreille County.

October 21 - November 3, 1999     (nothing new)

October 22 - November 4, 1998

• It's a great time to go waterfowl watching along the coast and in many other areas of the state. Hundreds, even thousands, of ducks and geese are grouped for feeding and resting before colder weather moves them south. The Willapa National Wildlife Refuge is a great spot for bird watching. Located in the southwest corner of Washington along the Long Beach Peninsula, the reserve offers diverse habitats that make it a regular stopover for migrating waterfowl. The most popular spot is Leadbetter Point which features a network of trails that lead to a sandy ocean beach. The refuge reports plenty of ducks, including mallards, teal, wigeon and pintail as well as Canada geese and a few white-fronted geese. Bird numbers and species vary day to day.