Birders' Top Spots |

Dosewallips State Park, Site 45 from "Olympic Loop" of Audubon Washington's Great Washington State Birding Trail

Location: Off U.S. Highway 101 at Brinnon, Jefferson County, on west side of Hood Canal.

Habitat: State's 431 acres of conifers, deciduous riparian trees, river, salt marsh.

Best seasons for birding: Autumn through spring.

Birds commonly seen: Fall bird-salmon migrations coincide in viewing bonanza: surf and white-winged scoters, greater and lesser scaups; horned and red-necked grebes, American wigeons, northern pintails. Fall to spring, find forest dwellers: black-capped and chestnut-backed chickadees, downy and hairy woodpeckers. Singers come in spring: yellow and orange-crowned warblers, Hutton's vireos, golden-crowned kinglets, plus rufous hummingbirds.

Viewing tips: Watch for bald eagles by 0.2-mile alder-lined North Tidal Trail to observation deck. From campground — Take 3.5-mile Steam Donkey Trail or 1.5-mile Maple Valley Trail from group campsite.

At picnic area — Walk by river, salt marsh sloughs. Bonus: Roosevelt elk, harbor seals.

Getting there: North Tidal Trail: From Highway 101 at Milepost 306.5, immediately north of Dosewallips River bridge, turn east onto unnamed road that goes 0.1 mile through field with interpretive signs, kiosk, trailhead parking. Campground and picnic area: From 101 at Milepost 307, turn west into park campground or east into picnic area. Discover Pass required.

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