Shorebirds (and birder festival) coming to Grays Harbor

Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge, Site 8 from "Olympic Loop" of Audubon Washington's Great Washington State Birding Trail.

Location: Hoquiam, Grays Harbor County.

Habitat: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge, 1,500-acre marsh and mud flats also known as Bowerman Basin.

Best seasons for birding: Spring and fall.

Birds commonly seen: Five-star spring birding! Shorebirds arriving now. Migration peaks end of April/first of May with tens of thousands of birds: red knots, least and western sandpipers, sanderlings, dunlins, short-billed dowitchers, black-bellied and semipalmated plovers, greater yellowlegs — all doing their best to avoid hunting Peregrine falcons and merlins. In fall, check marsh for greater white-fronted geese, Eurasian wigeons, plus occasional white pelicans, Ross's and snow geese, and sandhill cranes.

Viewing tips: Walk west to 0.7-mile Sandpiper Trail boardwalk. Best viewing 2 hours before/after high tide.

Coming event: Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival, April 29-May 1. Numerous guided field trips, most with fees, depart from wildlife refuge office and nearby Hoquiam High School. Topics include "Shorebirds for Beginners." Preregistration recommended. Also lectures, seminars and workshops. Some free events, guided walks and Nature Fun Fair. More information: 360-289-5048 or www.shorebirdfestival.com.

Getting to the refuge, From Highway 109 west of Hoquiam, at Milepost 1.5, turn south onto Paulson Road. Drive 0.5 mile. Turn right onto Airport Way. Drive 0.9 mile. Park on right.

Source: Audubon Washington, Great Washington State Birding Trail maps. See maps online (or order hard copies, $4.95 apiece), at wa.audubon.org.