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
The ponds are part of the Green River Natural Resource Area.
Clark Lake Park
A total 187 species of raptors, waterfowl, seabirds, shorebirds, and songbirds have been documented in the park.
Dash Point State Park
Home to shorebirds and raptors.
Dumas Bay
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 is a good place to see Dippers.
Interurban Trail
Drainage ditches account for natural habitat next to the trail and provide nesting for ducks and marsh birds.
Lake Wilderness Park
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
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
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
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
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.