Birding in Washington State

Rock Sandpiper and Surfbird @ the Ocean Shores Jetty.  Photo by Ryan Shaw

Along with a Westport Seabird Pelagic trip, there are many other places in Washington State
that offers great birding.  Washington is one of the premier birding states for several wanted
species in the lower 48, such as Yellow-billed Loon, Bar-tailed Godwit, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper,
Rock Sandpiper, Gyrfalcon, and many many more species.

Of course depending on what time of year you visit Washington State the bird life will vary.  But
at any season land birdingcan be quite splendid.  Spring time brings the regular western neotropical
warblers, vireos, tanagers, flycatchers, and hummingbirds.  And a visit to central washington is
always good for a White-headed Woodpecker or two!

Summer is a great time to look for mountainous species such as Boreal Chickadee, Three-toed and
Black-backed Woodpeckers, Pine Grosbeak, Ruffed and Spruce Grouse, and White-tailed Ptarmigan.
Good places to look include the North Cascades National Park, and the boreal zone of Washington in
Okanogan County.  Owls, several core species that are good at any time of the year are quite findable
at this time, including Saw-whet, Flammulated, Barred, Spotted, Western Screech, and if you are lucky,
Boreal.

Fall brings forth shorebird migration!  What fun awaits you as you sort through the amazing peep flocks
trying to pick out that gem stint!  Or searching that Pectoral Sandpiper flock for the coveted juvenile
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper.  Who knows, maybe even a Ruff awaits you!

Winter is mild, and usually wet in Western Washington (cold and snow always possible east of the
Cascade Mountains).  But still some fantastic birding for the out-of-towner.  The regular residents are
usually feeding in full force, and a Gyrfalcon or two has returned to the Sammish Flats in Skagit County.
Alcids line the straits and sound, Ancient Murrelets sometimes are quite plentiful.  Yellow-billed Loon is a
treat to behold most winters residing in a quite cove of the Puget Sound.  In irruption years, Snowy Owls
are usually sitting out in the open, and East of the Cascades, winter is the prime time for Snow Buntings,
flocks of Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Bohemian Waxwings, Gray Partridge, Chukar, and Sharp-tailed Grouse.

These are just a sample of the fantastic birding possibilities that await the visiting birder to Washington State.
For more information, please see the following sources:

A Birder's Guide to Washington
Hal Opperman
American Birding Association, 2003

A Birders Guide to Coastal Washington
Bob Morse
Olympia, WA : R. W. Morse Co, 2001
 

Looking for more Washington State birding sources?