Camano Island preserve hosts feathered multitude

Iverson Spit Preserve, Site 67 from "Cascade Loop" of Audubon Washington's Great Washington State Birding Trail.

Location: Camano Island

Habitat: Island County's 300 acres of Port Susan Bay mud flats and beach; agricultural fields, shrubs, forested hillside.

Best seasons for birding: Year-round.

Birds commonly seen: Varied environment supports a multitude of species. See year-round residents: pileated woodpeckers, northern flickers, bald eagles, marsh wrens. Spring-fall, watch migrating whimbrels, killdeers, black-bellied and semipalmated plovers, and Say's phoebes. Common yellowthroats, rufous hummingbirds, and Swainson's thrushes stay spring-fall. Cedar waxwings and Caspian terns come for summer. In winter, spot red-throated loons, brant, peregrine falcons, long-tailed ducks.

Viewing: 1-mile Loop Trail leads to viewing platforms, then through fields and forest. Scan bay with scope; cross dike toward open water.

Getting there: From Interstate 5 north of Everett, take Exit 212 (Stanwood/Camano Island). Turn west onto Highway 532. Drive west 9.7 miles. At Y, veer left onto East Camano Drive. Drive 0.3 mile. Turn left onto Sunrise Boulevard. Drive 2.5 miles. Turn left onto Iverson Beach Road. Drive 0.4 mile. Turn left onto Iverson Road. Drive 0.7 mile to parking area.

Source: Audubon Washington, Great Washington State Birding Trail maps.

To order maps (Cascade Loop, Coulee Corridor, Olympic Loop, Southwest Loop or Sun & Sage Loop), see the Web site www.wa.audubon.org. Details, call 866-922-4737.