Rainier Audubon Area Birding Locations

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While birding can be done at home, in local parks or even parking lots, some locations offer a variety of habitats in one stop, thereby attracting a wider variety of species. Check out the following birding spots on your own or on a future Rainier Audubon field trip.

Boeing Ponds

Boeing Ponds
Boeing Ponds, photographer Jay Galvin

The ponds are part of the Green River Natural Resource Area.

Clark Lake Park

Clark Lake Park
Clark Lake Park, photographer Jay Galvin

A total 187 species of raptors, waterfowl, seabirds, shorebirds, and songbirds have been documented in the park.

Dash Point State Park

Sour Scoter
Surf Scoter, photographer Dan Streiffert

Home to shorebirds and raptors.

Dumas Bay

Dumas Bay Sanctuary
Dumas Bay Sanctuary

Dumas Bay, located in Federal Way, is a Nature preserve on Puget Sound which has small beach and provides plentiful wildlife & bird watching.

Flaming Geyser

Flaming Geyser State Park
Otters at Flaming Geyser, photographer Jay Galvin

Flaming Geyser is a good place to see Dippers.

Interurban Trail

Interurban Trail

Drainage ditches account for natural habitat next to the trail and provide nesting for ducks and marsh birds.

Lake Wilderness Park

Lake Wilderness Park
Lake Wilderness Park, photographer Jay Galvin

Osprey, Ring-necked Duck, and American Wigeon. Mixed woodlands and the adjacent 40-acre South King County Arboretum offer Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned kinglets, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Northern Flicker, Purple Finch, and Pine Siskin.

Saltwater State Park

Saltwater State Park
Saltwater State Park, photographer Carley Randall

Check out the campground area for woodland birds. In summer, Pigeon Guillemots nest in the sandy cliffs slightly north of the park boundary.

Soos Creek Trail

Soos Creek Botanical Garden
Soos Creek Botanical Garden, photographer Jay Galvin

There is a great diversity of plant life where birds such as kingfishers, herons, Virginia Rail, a variety of ducks in winter, and an occasional snipe can be found.

Tukwila Pond Park

Tukwila Pond
Tukwila Pond, photographer Jay Galvin

Birds at the park include Yellow-Rumped Warblers in fall and spring. Duck species, including the Hooded Merganser and the Northern Shoveler, can be seen from fall to spring. Red-Tailed Hawks and Cooper’s Hawks are in the area from fall to spring. Swallows and ospreys can be seen in spring and summer.

West Hylebos Wetlands Park

West Hylebos Wetlands Park
West Hylebos Wetlands Park

Look and listen for Varied and Swainson’s Thrushes; Winter, Marsh, and Bewick’s Wrens; Hutton’s Vireo; and Red-tailed Hawks.

Soos Creek Botanical Gardens

Soos Creek Botanical Gardens – by Jay Galvin

A 22 acre semi-private limited access heritage landscape where you can experience the birds and the bees through all your lenses.