The Pacific Northwest: An Introductory Birding Tour Jul 22—26, 2011
Posted by Bob Sundstrom
Bob Sundstrom
Bob Sundstrom has led VENT tours since 1989 to Hawaii, Mexico, Belize, Trinidad and Tobago, Iceland, Papua New Guinea, the Southwest Pacific islands, Antarctica, the B...Related Trips
Puffins, grouse, oystercatchers, dippers, sapsuckers, crossbills, and murrelets. An eye-catching selection of birds to fit into a short tour, with the added bonus of brilliant displays of wildflowers and magnificent mountain and coastal scenery. Our Pacific Northwest Introductory Tour offers a five-day glimpse of the region—mostly on the scenic Olympic Peninsula—at a very rewarding season for nature travel.
We met at the Seattle airport in the afternoon, and headed to the south end of Puget Sound to get in some valuable birding later that day, along the upper reaches of Scatter Creek. We were quickly into some Western specialty birds. A MacGillivray's Warbler, typically a shy species, popped out in open view of the group for minutes. A Pacific-slope Flycatcher, a secretive bird of the mid-canopy, perched in the open for all to see. Soon after, two young Red-breasted Sapsuckers were spotted. During an outdoor dinner at Bob Sundstrom's home in the country, we watched Rufous Hummingbirds buzz furiously around the yard. Black-headed Grosbeaks, boldly-patterned in black and orange, visited the bird feeders, alongside cranberry-hued Purple Finches. A male California Quail crowed from the rooftop. In a visit to nearby areas the next morning, we turned up Wilson's and Orange-crowned warblers, Bushtit, Western Tanager, and Willow Flycatcher, among others.
We next headed to the scenic Olympic Peninsula just a couple of hours away, where we spent most of the tour. The Peninsula is home to the steep-sided Olympic Mountains, still showing snow at the top in mid-summer, as well as the immense saltwater bays that give western Washington ready access to marine birds. With three days to explore up into the mountains and along the shoreline, we spent three nights in a forest edge lodge in Sequim, close to great dining.
We had great views of a bounty of seabirds. As we walked the gravel beach at the mouth of one bay, we scoped Rhinoceros Auklets with beaks full of silver anchovies and Pigeon Guillemots flashing their bright red feet as they dove. At a tide rip just a bit farther down the beach we found the much anticipated Tufted Puffins. Although only a couple of dozen nest nearby, we had close views of several puffins in full breeding regalia of immense orange bills and long blonde head plumes. Another day, we rode the ferry across Admiralty Inlet, from Port Townsend to Whidbey Island, one of the best inshore seabird crossings. From the ferry we saw several pairs of endangered Marbled Murrelets, had close views of Common Murres, and watched flock after flock of Rhinoceros Auklets. Other shoreline birding gave us nice views of Black Oystercatcher and Harlequin Duck, plus Black and Ruddy turnstones side by side.
A morning drive into Olympic National Park took us from sea level up to over 5,000 feet elevation, with dramatic changes in vegetation and birds en route. Early in the drive, a hen Sooty Grouse stood at the roadside keeping watch over three small chicks. At one pullout with a scenic view north to British Columbia, a tiny Northern Pygmy-Owl perched close by for great views and photos, as a pair of Varied Thrushes filled their bills with insects to take back to nestlings. A male Golden-crowned Kinglet repeatedly flashed the fiery orange feathers usually concealed under its yellow crown. Dozens of species of wildflowers graced the roadside: orange lilies, blue larkspurs and lupines, yellow wallflowers, red columbines, and white orchids, to name a few. Along another mountain road—at one stop—we had the close company of a flock of Gray Jays, as well as Hermit Warbler, Red Crossbill, and more Varied Thrushes. Just down the road, a Townsend's Solitaire foraged at the roadside.
It was a memorable five days of fine birds and wildflowers, superb scenery, wonderful meals, and great camaraderie.