Birdwatching in Washington

Birding contacts and birdwatching information



Local Birdingpal Contacts

Local Birdwatchers Using the Birdingpal resources you must agree to the following: If you contact a local Birdingpal and make arrangement to go birding, you should note it is common courtesy to make sure you show up for the appointment. If for any reason you are unable to do this, the least you must do is contacting the local Pal right away. Please note that most Birdingpals are serious birdwatchers. It is a privilege to contact them, and your message should reflect it. A local Pal does not get paid, but should he/she offer to take you out birding, using their own vehicle, it would be courteous to pay for the fuel. A lunch and/or a small gift would also be appropriate, something as simple as a souvenir of your country, or a pin from your local birding club. _____________________________________________________________ We want to hear about your experiences with Birdingpals. Please contact us with any comments or suggestions you have. CONTACT US _____________________________________________________________
		Initial	Last Name	Area	Available	Language
		C	Warneke	Allyn	Anytime	English, German
		We are close to Theler Wetlands at the south end of Hood Canal as well as close to Case Inlet, the westernmost arm of Puget Sound. The Olympic Peninsula is north and west. There is an Audubon birding trail map for the Olympic Loop with 54 sites listed. We are a ferry ride across Puget Sound from Seattle.
		M	Willison	Auburn	Weekend	English
		M	Carpenter	Bellevue	Anytime	English
		C & F	Frost	Belllingham	Anytime	English
		Birding in this area since 2014. Proficient at birding by ear. I usually bird with my teenage children along, and I am game to share what I know with birders of all ages.		Area: Whatcom County / NW Washington State. Semiahmoo Spit, Samish Flats, Wiley Slough, Sandy Point, Mt Baker. Area Birds:	Interests: Nature: birdwatching, twitching. Travel: stroll, walking, hiking, train, car, long walk, canoe. Visit: tourist site, museum, monument, arboretum, architecture appreciation.
		S	Aronoff	Bellingham	Anytime	English, French, Spanish
		D	Hancock	Blaine	Anytime	English
		V	Biltz	Bonney Lake	Anytime	English
		Have done numerous surveys in the past, with a focus on bird calls, a bit rusty, but very willing to help someone out, and take places, when I am available. NOT on weekends, ever.
		C	Webb	Cle Elum	Weekend	English
		Kittitas county has habitat from alpine forest to desert shrub steppe, so it has a wide variety of birds. I am avid birder and photographer.
		J	Adams	Whidbey Island	Anytime	English
		I began birding in earnest in 1975. My initial focus was on New England birds but since 2000 I have birded all across the United States, including the Pacific Northwest, where I now live. Birdingpals have helped me many times over the years. I'd like to pay that back by helping people find new or target birds here on Whidbey Island.		Area: Crockett Lake, Deer Lagoon, Dugualla Bay Area Birds: Waterfowl, Passerines, Raptors, Shorebirds, Sea Birds	Interests: Nature, birdwatching, butterflies, history.
		L	Falb	Deer Harbor, San Juan Islands	Anytime	English
		H	Barbour	Deer Harbor, San Juan Islands	Anytime	English
		I live on Orcas Island in the San Juan Group, we have a mix of terrestrial, shoreline, water and pelagic species. I am by no means an expert birder, but I have been at it for 50 + years.
		S	Koon	Edmonds	Anytime	English, some Spanish
		There are a number of small wetland/bird watching parks in Edmonds as well as the puget sound that is right here. I love watching birds but have never gone on any organized birding trips. I would love to learn more about birds!
		H	Feddern	Federal Way	Anytime	English, German
		I have been birding since childhood and now lived in the Seattle area for 20 years. Mainly bird Western Washington, including Pacific Coast, but also bird Eastern Washington and Oregon. Being retired I am normally available anytime.
		L	Parshall	Gig Harbor	Weekend	English
		Interested in birds, nature and wildlife. Living in the Greater Puget Sound area, there is a lot of access to both fresh and saltwater habitats. Theler Wetlands is 10 miles from my home and Nisqually Wildlife Refuge is a 45 minute drive. Many of the local Audubon chapters have weekly walks in good areas for a broad range of birding skill levels. And, the local listserv, Tweeters, moderated through the Burke Museum provides daily alerts and information about sightings.
		B	Antler	Skagit Valley	Anytime	English,Spanish
		My name is Barry A. I live in the Skagit Valley which is world renowned for its birding (It even made a brief appearance in the movie, "A Good Year). The Skagit Valley is located in the Pacific Northwest in the state of Washington, USA. I speak English and a limited amount of Spanish. I got back into birding recently after a long hiatus. I was into it in my late teens/early 20's, and now here I am once again picking it up again in my mid-60's. I belong to the Skagit Audubon Society and join them on most of their field trips.		Area: There are numerous hotspots within a short drive from where I live. Wetlands, marshes, forests and extensive farmlands attract a wide range of endemic and migratory birds. Some of my favorite places for birding are Skagit Flats: Fir Island (48.349580 -122.392004) - (the area between the north and south forks of the Skagit River) fall to spring - good place to see Snow Geese, Trumpeter and Tundra Swans, as well as raptors, Western Meadowlarks. Jensen Access (48.338421 -122.433554) - geese, shorebirds, sea ducks, eagles, Snowy Owls. North Fork Access (48.355569 -122.460000) - Short-eared Owls and Northern Harriers. Skagit Bay- Skagit Wildlife Area - Wylie Slough Area (48.325001 -122.378109) - woodpeckers and other terrestrial species, Great-horned Owls, Northern Shrike. In summer there are many nesting species including Marsh Wrens, Virginia Rails, Soras, Blue-winged and Cinnamon Teal, Wood Ducks, Tree Swallows, and Northern Flickers.	Interests: Nature: Photography, hiking, sailing, swimming, road trips, world traveling Travel: plane, train, bus, car, ebiking, long walks, reading, volunteering at a local historic movie theater, and Covid-19 test site. Visit: Tourist sites, museums, restaurants Attend: Concerts, live music Participate: Rock, folk, world and classical music, craft beer
		C	Sandstrom	Kent	Anytime	English
		M	Johnston	Kent	Anytime	English
		Washington State hosts a wide variety of habitats that together provide exceptional birding opportunities throughout the year. I have led birding trips for Seattle Audubon and the Sierra Club for years and particularly enjoy showing folks from out of state or other countries what Washington has to offer. I'm available most days for trips in King and Kittitas Counties. I'm also open to considering other areas or searches for specific species on a case by case basis.
		M	Hobbs	Kirkland	Anytime	English
		M	Sheldon	Langley	Anytime, but prefer weekdays over weekends and afternoons over mornings.	English
		I am an intermediate-level birdwatcher, but I know some of Whidbey Island's hot spots quite well. My passion is photographing birds, which implies a leisurely pace and beautiful souvenirs of the outing. Samples of my photos can be seen on Instagram		Area: Deer Lagoon, Crockett Lake, Sunlight Beach, Penn Cove Area Birds: White Pelicans, Osprey feeding, Pigeon Guillemot, Bald Eagles, Harlequin ducks	Interests: Nature: birdwatching, , photography, , fishing, , swimming, beach Travel: stroll, walking, hiking, , car, , biking, long walk Visit: , museum, restaurant, club, cooking, vineyard, monument, arboretum, architecture appreciation, shop, antique, books Participate: rock, country, classical, wine, beer, liquor
		C	Bardue	Langley, WA	by appointment	English
		My wife and I are amateur birders who enjoy meeting new and different people who enjoy birding.		Area: Area Birds: varied thrush, bewick's wren, nuthatch	Interests:
		B	Hansen	Lyle	Anytime	English, Spanish
		T	Cunningham	Moses lake	Anytime	English
		Birding is an exciting hobby of mine! Any time spent outside is a time to bird! I would be able to show you local areas that are homes to many species. Moses Lake is also a great migration area for many birds too!		Area: Moses Lake, Banks Lake, Columbia Refuge Wildlife Preserve, Potholes Reservoir Area Birds: Ducks, swallows, birds of prey, geese, warblers, shrikes, sparrows	Interests: Nature: birdwatching
		N	Gayle	Montesano, Westport	Weekend	English
		K	Adelson	Olympia, Washington State	Anytime	English
		I am a volunteer at the Billy Frank Jr NWR (where I lead beginner bird and interpretative walks) and am very active in our local Audubon Society. Birding is my main hobby. Many birds that summer in Alaska winter in our area, so there is a lot to see all year round. I would be willing to bird locally or drive to the shore.		Area: BJF Nisqually NWR Area Birds: bald eagle, violet-green swallows, cackling geese, chestnut-backed chickadee	Interests: Nature: birdwatching, twitching Travel: walking, hiking, Visit: tourist site, museum, restaurant, vineyard, arboretum, architecture appreciation, Attend: concert, ballet, theatre, live music, political rally,
		T	Schooley	Olympia	Anytime	English
		C	McIntyre	Olympia	Anytime	English
		I am a new bird enthusiast, meaning I enjoy looking and watching, but am not totally driven to figure out exactly what I am looking at (altho I try). I particularly enjoy the birds at my feeder (Downy Woodpecker, Flicker, Chickadee, Nuthatch, Townsend Warbler, Goldfinch, Hummers, to name a few), and also the Sandhill Crane and Snow Geese that migrate along the west coast. Oh, yes, and the Great Blue Herons that hang out down by the lake. I've been doing some travelling lately, so I'm not always here, but generally available by e-mail. Olympia is located at the southern tip of Puget sound, lots of water, lots of nature easily available. Nisqually Wildlife Refuge is about 10 miles north; most of the trails have recently been closed as they put the finishing touches on reclaiming the salt marsh. I take a camera everywhere and occasionally catch a good shot!
		W	Hatfield	Olympia.	Anytime	English
		Nisqually Refuge is my favorite place to bird. I am not an expert, but am learning and always carry my field guide. I work graveyard and am always ready to go in the morning.
		J	Grettenberger	Olympia.	Anytime	English, Spanish, French
		I am close to a variety of habitats in Olympia, ranging from prairies to marine and mountains, but I'm willing to go farther afield. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, which is particularly good for waterbirds, is also nearby. I am more likely to be available during the week.
		K	Wood	Orcas Island	Anytime	English
		I live next to the Frank Richardson Wildfowl Refuge, on Orcas Island. This intact ecosystem has good populations of many of the lowland NorthWest species. There are also opportunities for arranging boat trips for local and migratory seabirds in the San Juan Islands.
		B	Man	Port Townsend	Anytime	English, Francais
		Beautiful location right on the water, with shore birds, raptors, many LBJ's, too.
		K	Nelson	Pu	Anytime	English
		I bird Steptoe Butte, Steptoe Canyon and Pullman. The Palouse, much more notorious for its landscapes than birds. We have a nearby arboretum at the University of Idaho, and a bountiful number of Red-tailed Hawks throughout the wheat fields of the Palouse.
		E	Pullen	Puyallup, WA	quite variable, I travel a lot, call and see.	Just English
		I am sometimes available for half day or full day trips. Full day trips could be to the coast, like Ocean Shores or Westport, WA. Half day or local trips could be to Nisqually NWR, local birding spots. I'm a fairly competent birder, not an expert.		Area: Nisqually NWR, Tacoma areas Area Birds: CBCH, CAVI, GWGU,	Interests: Nature: birdwatching, twitching, photography, butterflies, fishing, skiing, swimming, beach, surfing, snowmobiling, sky divingTravel: stroll, walking, hiking, climbing, train, bus, car, hitchhiking, biking, long walk, packpack, portage, canoe, ship, cruise, pilot, dog sled, snow mobileVisit: tourist site, museum, restaurant, club, vineyard, ski run/trail, monument, arboretum, architecture appreciation, shop, antique, fashion, techAttend: concert, horse race, ballet, dance show, theatre, live music, sports event, auction, antique, convention, political rally, protest, competition, swapParticipate: night life, party, dance, club, bar, rock, country, classical, hiphop, rap, swing, wine, beer, liquor, social games, computer games, casino
		G	Hendrickson	Redmond	Anytime	English
		G	Oliver	Redmon	Weekend	English
		Seattle Washing and surrounding area. Winter is good for large variety of waterfowl which winter here. Spring and fall are best for migrants and larger number of species. August is particularly slow; so going up to higher elevation to look for those speciality species is best in August.
		K	Hansen	Renton	Anytime	English, Norwegian
		I work various shifts, but prefer to do my birding on week-days. Maybe you are here in the Seattle area for business and would like to get out for some birding between work. That is what I do when I travel, so I'd love to be able to reciprocate. Intermediate to advanced is my level, but any level is welcome.
		R	Hill	Ridgefield, Washington	Anytime w/ sufficient notice, limitations during summer banding & soccer seasons	English
		I am a retired refuge manager, biologist, and now volunteer well connected to the birding community in WA through five years on the Board of the Washington Ornithological Society. In addition to Clark County I worked 20 years in the Potholes area of E WA, ran BBS routes for 20 years, and helped establish and coordinate the Sandhill Crane Festival in Othello. Also worked 5 years each in ND and NM/AZ, and started birding in CA.		Area: Ridgefield NWR, Vancouver Lowlands Area Birds: Waterfowl, marshbirds, shorebirds during migration, breeding songbirds	Interests:
		P.	Dunwiddie	Seattle, Washington	Anytime	English
		I am an ecologist, have lived in Seattle over 20 years, and enjoy birding throughout the Pacific Northwest. There are numerous opportunities to see both fresh and saltwater birds, as well as habitats ranging from lowland prairies to conifer forests, montane and alpine sites, and desert landscapes.		Area: Favorites sites in Seattle include Union Bay Natural Area, Magnuson Park, Discovery Park Area Birds:	Interests: Nature: Most aspects of nature – birds, photography, butterflies, plants, hiking, backpacking, kayaking
		R	Bartanen	Seattle, Washington	Anytime: Sundays, Mondays or Tuesdays	English
		As a bird guide, I focus on mindful, urban and accessible birding, promoting female bird guides through my ‘Female Bird Guide Resource List’ as well as writing about the culture and joy of birds and birding. My passions include inclusivity, diversity and accessibility in the outdoors.		Area: Union Bay Natural Area, Green Lake, Magnuson Park There are more than 500 bird species in Washington state and many great birding spots in Seattle and surrounding areas. I love sharing the joy of birds, birding and nature with those of all ages, abilities and diversities. My trips are focused on birding hotspots in Seattle's urban areas that are bus, train and or car accessible, the eastside of Lake Washington and an hour south of Seattle, all in the western Washington region. Depending season and location; song birds, waterfowl, raptors, shore birds, seabirds, woodpeckers, owls and hummingbirds can be seen. I speak English and I'm based in N.E Seattle, Washington State, U.S.A. Area Birds: Kingfisher, GB Heron, Ducks, Eagles, Grebes	Interests: Nature: birdwatching, photography, hiking, butterflies, boating, nature and travel
		P	Mann	Seattle	Anytime	English
		M	Wagenbach	Seattle	Anytime	English
		R	Lawson	Seattle	Anytime	English, minimal Spanish, French
		I live in Seattle, but will take birders on trips all over the state.
		C	Alexander	Seattle	Anytime	English
		G	Irving	Seattle	Anytime	English
		J	Flynn	Seattle	Anytime	English, French, Spanish
		C	Jobe	Seattle area & Camano Island	Weekend	English, Spanish, American Sign Language
		My fiance and I would like to connect with other people who enjoy birding in our local area, and also to possibly find people to bird with when we travel (which is mostly within the contiguous U.S. for now until his daughters are grown).
		M	Flint	Seattle	Weekends	English
		J	Bryant	Seattle	Anytime	English, workable Spanish, learning Italian
		Fall and winter are the worst seasons for weather, but the best for birding here. Come then for gulls, waterfowl and shorebirds, including a decent chance of Siberian rarities. I can show you a range of fresh- and saltwater habitats, deciduous/coniferous/mixed woodland, and small patches of prairie-type habitat, all in the Seattle metro area. Probably not available for longer trips, but happy to advise on sweet spots for some of our specialties, like all of Washington's Picoides woodpeckers.
		D	Mustin	Seattle	Anytime	English, Spanish
		Intermediate birder, retired physician. I like to visit many WA state habitats - coast, sound, mountains, central shrub-steppe.
		D	Cook	Seattle	Weekend	English
		As an intermediate skilled birder I bird a variety of habitats near Seattle.
		S	Thompson	Port Townsend	Anytime	English
		Port Townsend is about 2 hours by car and ferry from Seattle. I have a fairly flexible schedule, and if our schedules match up, I'm happy to share some great local birding spots. Even if I'm not available, I'm happy to provide suggestions on good places to go. This area is great for seabirds, shorebirds, ducks, geese, raptors (bald eagles nest here) and forest birds. Fort Worden, Fort Flagler, beaches, lagoons and forests offer a nice variety.		Area: Fort Worden, Fort Flagler, beaches, lagoons and forests Area Birds: Seabirds, shorebirds, ducks, geese, raptors, bald eagles nest here and forest birds	Interests: Nature: birdwatching, twitching, photography, hiking, butterflies, fishing, sport fishing, boating, skiing, swimming, surfing, snowmobiling, sky diving Travel: train, bus, car, hitchhiking, biking, long walk, packpack, canoe, portage, dog sled, snow mobile Visit: tourist site, museum, restaurant, club, vineyard, outdoors, nature spot, beach, lake, ocean, architecture, shop, antique, swap Attend: concert, horse race, ballet, dance show, theatre, live music, sports event, auction, antique, convention, political rally, protest, competition Participate: night life, party, dance, club, bar, rock, country, classical, hiphop, rap, swing, wine, beer, liquor, social games, computer games, casino
		C	Riddell	Seattle	Anytime	English, Spanish
		I live near Puget Sound, a major body of inland marine water and most frequently bird the Sound and Western Washington.
		D	McVay	Seattle	Anytime	English
		We are retired biology educators living on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle and on Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands. We enjoy meeting other birdingpals and showing them some of the birding sites in the Seattle area and in the islands. Don and Sandi McVay.
		M	Cassidy	Seattle	Anytime	English
		I have been birding all my life. Have lived in Washington for 30 years. Am familiar with both eastern washington and western washington areas. Am not a professional guide. I have a great scope, bins, and all the relevant birding field guides avaiable for day trips. Pack light, bring your bins, and lets explore.
		P	Baker	Sedro-Woolley	Anytime	English
		Near the Skagit Flats in the Skagit Valley well known for birding in Winter. Due to large numbers of waterfowl and shorebirds many raptors also congregate. Further upriver is known for the Bald Eagle winter population. We own a small organic farm that has nice habitat for warblers.
		G	Bletsch	Sedro-Woolley	Weekend	English
		C	Johnson	Sequim	Anytime	English
		I live at Diamond Point with the Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge two miles offshore
		R	Raine	Shoreline	Weekend	English
		Keen Photographer.
		T	Minutolo	Spokane	Anytime	English
		P	Girres	Tacoma	Weekend	English
		F	McAdams-Hands	Tacoma	Anytime	English, some French
		Pierce county has a wide range of habitats, including the estuary & tidal flats of Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, inlets & beaches of Puget Sound, and the mountain streams and meadows of Mt. Rainier National Park. I enjoy birding throughout the state, including eastern Washington, and know a variety of good birding spots.		Area: Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, Puget Sound, Mt. Rainier National Park Area Birds:	Interests: Nature: birdwatching, twitching, photography, hiking, butterflies, fishing, sport fishing, boating, skiing, swimming, surfing, snowmobiling, sky diving Travel: train, bus, car, hitchhiking, biking, long walk, packpack, canoe, portage, dog sled, snow mobile Visit: tourist site, museum, restaurant, club, vineyard, outdoors, nature spot, beach, lake, ocean, architecture, shop, antique, swap Attend: concert, horse race, ballet, dance show, theatre, live music, sports event, auction, antique, convention, political rally, protest, competition Participate: night life, party, dance, club, bar, rock, country, classical, hiphop, rap, swing, wine, beer, liquor, social games, computer games, casino
		S	Markowitz	Tacoma/Seattle/Gig Harbor	Weekend	English, limited Spanish, Japanese
		I am a teacher, so I am available weekends from September through June, with wider availability during the summer months. Tacoma has a varied habitat, with ducks being the highlight in the winter. I am a regular at Nisqually NWR, which is productive for ducks, bald eagles, and two species of chickadee. There are many other species, including owls, bitterns, and Perigrine falcons. Lots of other species in varied habitat, from Mount Rainier (Grey Jay, Grey-crowned Rosie-Finches) to the Olympic Peninsula (Chestnut-backed Chicadee, singing Swainson's Thrush) in season. I'm sure you've done your research. Expect a day of birding fun, with an emphasis on actually watching the species we find. So much is learned (and remembered) about species with which we've spent time. Birding by ear is a part of how I play the game, and the forests here are thick. Let's enjoy a day of birding!
		T	Lankenau	Turnbull, Washington	Spring & summer, weekends	English, some Spanish
		I teach and am away much of the summer - spend 2-3 weeks in the Yellowstone area. Happy to take people around if available.		Area: Turnbull NWR, Mt. Spokane, Yellowstone, N Idaho, Area Birds: Woodpeckers, grouse, passerines, NW specialties	Interests: Nature: birdwatching, twitching, photography, butterflies, walking, hiking, biking, long walk, arboretum, architecture appreciation, concert, theatre, live music, sports event, classical, wine, beer, liquor,
		V	McClelland	Vancouver	Anytime	English
		C	Howard	Walla Walla	Anytime	English
		B	Barchenger	Freeland/Whidbey Island	Anytime	English
		Retired to Whidbey Island 11 years ago. Audubon member, amateur bird photographer. I photograph Eagles, many Hawks, Ducks, Sea Birds, Osprey, Owls etc. We can see many of these most times of the year.
		W	Graves	Whidbey Island, Washington	anytime; not available Jan. 20-April 1 in 2015	English
		My wife and I are in early 70's but not slowed down much. She, Frances Wood, is the more expert birder of the two of us. Whidbey Island is an incredibly beautiful site. We would like to give back to a program we have used elsewhere in the world and we love to go birding.		Area: Deer Lagoon, Crockett Lake, S. Whidbey State Park, Skagit Valley Area Birds: migrating shore birds, wintering snow geese, endemic sea and land birds, w endemic to region, w	Interests:
		D	Granstrand	Yakima	Weekend	English
		Yakima County, WA, has many wonderful birding areas. If I can't make it for a day, I can provide information on the best places to visit.
Professional Guides If you contact a professional Birdingpal guide you must be prepared to pay a fee for guiding services.
		Initial	Last Name	Area	Available	Language
		C	Wilcox	Port Angeles	Anytime	English, Spanish
		My connection to the natural world was enthusiastically brought to a new level by Carolyn Wilcox. She embodies a great combination of conscience traits for a naturalist guide: great knowledge level and organizational skills; a desire to continue to learn; and she made great efforts to ensure I was comfortable while we searched out my target birds. - Jan Wilson, CA
Local Information
		Name			Description
		Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia			Washington
		Local weather			Yahoo
		Audubon Washington			Club
		Washington Ornithological Society			Club
		Admiralty Audubon Society			Club
		Black Hills Audubon Society			Club
		Blue Mountain Audubon Society			Club
		Central Basin Audubon Society			Club
		Eastside Audubon			Club
		Grays Harbor Audubon Society			Club
		Kitsap Audubon Society			Club
		Kittitas Audubon Society			Club
		Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society			Club
		North Cascades Audubon Society			Club
		North Central Washington Audubon Society			Club
		Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society			Club
		Palouse Audubon Society			Club
		Pilchuck Audubon Society			Club
		Rainier Audubon Society			Club
		San Juan Islands Audubon Society			Club
		Seattle Audubon Society			Club
		Skagit Audubon Society			Club
		Spokane Audubon Society			Club
		Tahoma Audubon Society			Club
		Vancouver Audubon Society			Club
		Vashon-Maury Island Audubon Society			Club
		Whidbey Audubon Society			Club
		Willapa Hills Audubon Society			Club
		Yakima Valley Audubon Society			Club
		Othello Sandhill Crane Festival			Festival
		Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest			Festival
		Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival			Festival
		University of Washington's Tweeters			Latest Sights
		BirdYak			Listserv
		Dungeness River Audubon Center			Sites
		BirdWeb			Sites
		Birds and birding in the Pacific Northwest			Sites
		Bob Hansen's Birding Klickita County			Sites
		Michael Hobbs's Marymoor Park, Lake Sammamish			Sites
		Westport			Pelagic
		Birding Hotspots around the world			Sites