During the first year of Covid, when all of our field trips were cancelled, a group of dedicated field trip leaders went out on their own to describe destinations that our members and visitors could use to pursue Do-It-Yourself trips. The results were posted on our website and are still available. There are 28 of these excursions with all kinds of adventures for you to enjoy. They range from Taylor Wetlands in Olympia which is around half a mile of walking to hiking through the mountains of east Lewis County. There are outings in all three of our counties – Thurston, Lewis and Mason – for all levels of birders to explore. Please avail yourself of the expertise of our field trip leaders who give directions, bird lists, and other hints to make your outing a success.
The mountains in East Lewis County are beautiful and majestic places to visit. Each place I list is free to access, though only the pullouts and scenic viewpoints are (mostly) ADA-friendly.
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Deschutes Falls is a 155 acre Thurston County day-use park opened to the public in 2017. It is located at the end of Bald Hills Rd about 15 miles southeast of Yelm (25005 Bald Hill Rd.). There are a myriad of driving routes to the park, some very scenic, from the Olympia area.
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Mission Creek Nature Park is a 37 acre city park nestled in northeast Olympia. It encompasses a wide variety of habitats, including wetlands, open grasslands and mixed forests.
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In the northeast quadrant of Mason County, the long waterway of Hood Canal makes a sharp turn to the east, nearly surrounding a little-visited, bird-rich landscape with stunning Olympic Mountain views (weather permitting).
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The Chehalis-Western Trail runs over 20 miles on an old rail bed from Woodard Bay to Yelm and Tenino. It traverses diverse habitats, from thick older-growth woods with both conifer and deciduous trees to open meadow and farmland.
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Scatter Creek Wildlife Area is one of Thurston county's best birding destinations. It offers a variety of habitats as well as the chance to observe species that are seldom seen in Western Washington.
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Take a walk on an easy trail through maple and conifer woodland, which sometimes becomes open scrubland. The trail borders the wetland which can be open water or simply water among the trees.
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This scouting report from April 16, 2021, is for the Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge (aka Bowerman Basin) and Oyhut Wildlife Area (aka Oyhut Game Range), plus six additional sites in Ocean Shores and Grays Harbor County.
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West Rocky Prairie is a state wildlife area managed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and is one of three areas open to the public in southern Thurston County that protect significant remnants of native prairie.
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As most birders know, sometimes it’s the small, overlooked, easy-to-miss spots that offer the greatest experiences outdoors.
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In 2017 the Thurston County Stream Team asked BHAS to do bird surveys and conduct a couple of field trips at four locations in Olympia; I was assigned to this site. It’s been my birding "patch" ever since...
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The Evergreen Beach Trail is a pleasant walk through a mature forest of cedar, Douglas-fir and the usual northwest tree species.
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This trip covers an area of the Lewis County countryside, with stops at three access sites to the mighty Cowlitz River...
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Theler Wetlands is a great place to explore even if there aren't a lot of birds. On Hood Canal, its three and one half miles of well-signed level paths offer diverse habitats.
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The Hawks Prairie Settling Ponds are a hidden birding gem in Thurston County. Situated amidst giant warehouses and new developments, these ponds provide a welcome respite for wildlife.
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Whittier Johnson – January 26, 2021
Map: Potlatch State Park; eBird: Potlatch State Park
The Hood Canal and surrounding area offer excellent birding. Here is an outline for a surprisingly easy trip to the area where you can scan for sea birds and expect to find a mix of bush birds. There will likely be gulls at every stop. This may be either a challenge or curse depending...
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The area known to birders as "Brady Loop" encompasses farm country just south of the small town of Brady and is just east of Montesano. The loop is easily accessed from Hwy 12 (Monte Brady Rd) and is a great stop for birders on their way to and from the coast.
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Gary Wiles – January 9, 2021
Map: Black Lake Meadows; eBird: Black Lake Meadows Ditch
Photo by Mick Thompson
This 46-acre site is a pleasant birding destination located in southwest Olympia next to Mottman Industrial Park and is especially convenient for birders living on the west side of Olympia and nearby Tumwater. The property is administered by the City of Olympia as a stormwater...
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Bonnie Wood – December 15, 2020
Much beloved by Thurston County residents seeking
Rough-Skinned Newts, Wood Ducks, and birdsong, McLane Creek’s paths and
boardwalks wend through diverse second-growth forest and along the edge of a
beaver pond. A visit in the winter
offers an advantage because deciduous trees are bare and you may locate birds
more easily than in summer’s...
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Mary McCallum – December 13, 2020
Map: Frye Cove County Park eBird: Frye Cove County Park
Photo by thurstontalk.com
Frye Cove is a Thurston County Park located on the west
shore of Eld Inlet just north of Flapjack Point on the Steamboat Island
Peninsula.
Address: 4000 61st Ave NW, Olympia WA, 98502
(Use of GPS or map is suggested, as the Park signs are small and easily overlooked.)...
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