Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Travel / Outdoors


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published Thursday, September 4, 2008 at 12:00 AM

Comments      E-mail article     Print view

Birders' Top Spots

Bird-watching in the Cowlitz Wildlife Area

Audubon Washington offers tips on bird-watching on the Cowlitz River.

Get ski and boarding conditions all winter long with webcams, snow alerts and more at seattletimes.com/snowsports

Location: Off U.S. Highway 12 near Ethel, Lewis County

Habitat: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife site, riparian deciduous forest, along gravel bar of Cowlitz River.

Best seasons for birding: Spring through fall.

Birds commonly seen: Calling adventuresome birders! Ospreys, bald eagles, belted kingfishers — even American kestrels — fly through riparian corridor. On gravel bar, killdeer feign broken wings. Look in scrub trees for red-eyed vireos, common yellowthroats, varied thrushes and American goldfinches spring-summer, plus western scrub jays and Townsend's solitaires spring-fall. Downy woodpeckers and northern flickers favor cottonwoods. Check river and sloughs for common and hooded mergansers, and common and Barrow's goldeneyes spring and fall.

Viewing: Primitive site with no amenities. Walk around metal gate onto gravel bar to view river. Walk up river a half-mile on fishermen's paths or 100 yards down river.

Getting there: From eastbound Highway 12 after Milepost 74.1, turn south. Drive 3 miles. Turn left onto Spencer Road, then right (east) immediately onto unimproved dirt road leading down to small, bumpy parking area.

Source: Audubon Washington, Great Washington State Birding Trail maps. To order maps (Cascade Loop, Coulee Corridor, Olympic Loop or Southwest Loop), go online to www.wa.audubon.org. Call toll-free, 866-922-4737, for more information.

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

Mount Baker ski area to open this week

Ask Travel: Thanksgiving in Belgium

Community sports & recreation datebook

Summit East Ski and Snowboard Area at the The Summit at Snoqualmie aiming to reopen next season

Three Sheets Northwest | Crew arrives in Seattle after journey through Northwest Passage

Advertising

Video

Ken Auletta talks about "Googled"
Ken Auletta talks about Google with Brier Dudley at the Seattle Central Library.

Medal of Honor
Pelosi answers questions at Swedish Medical Center
Pelosi speaks at Swedish Medical Center
"Pistol" Pete Ryan
Mourners gather at KeyArena for slain officer's memorial
Procession for slain SPD officer
Election Night: Approve R-71
Election Night: Reject R-71
Election Night: Joe Mallahan

Marketplace

nwautos

2009's most fuel-efficient sedansnew
Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment

Open Houses

Find this weekend's open house listings.
Or search by location:

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 
Advertising