Twanoh State Park is a good place to spot water birds

Location: On east shore of Hood Canal south of Belfair, Mason County.

Habitat: 182-acre state park with Hood Canal shoreline, conifer forest.

Best seasons for birding: Fall through spring.

Birds commonly seen: Use scope to see divers: common loons, marbled murrelets, western and red-necked grebes, surf and white-winged scoters, common and Barrow's goldeneyes, red-breasted mergansers, buffleheads, greater scaups, ruddy ducks.

Viewing: Waterfront affords spectacular 200-degree view of Hood Canal. November-April, best viewing 2 hours before/after high tide. Check trees by parking lot for brown creepers, red crossbills. Cross highway for 2.5-mile trail up through forest. Bonus: salmon in creek summer to fall.

Getting there: From Highway 101 at Milepost 337, turn east onto Highway 106. At Milepost 12.3, turn left (north) into Twanoh State Park boat launch, or right (south) into trailhead parking.

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.