Join us for a small sit and spend your evening observing marine birds of the nearshore foraging in the channel between Whidbey and Fidalgo Islands. There is no walking for this fieldtrip, just sit or stand and observe the birds. Bring a chair if you want one.
Photo by Madrone Ruggiero
Short-billed Gull, formerly known as a Mew Gull.
Most of the expected species for this sit will be on the water and include Rhinoceros Auklets, Pigeon Guillemots, Heerman’s Gulls and California Gulls. All three cormorants; Pelagic, Double-crested and Brandt’s are likely to be feeding in the channel and there are usually Bald Eagles soaring overhead or perched in the cliffside trees. In the trees and shrubs near the sitting area we may see or hear Spotted Towhees, Song Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Northern Flickers and if we are lucky a Swainson’s Thrush starting the evening chorus.
We will observe birds from the overlook above the water at the north end of the parking lot. There is no walking for this field trip, just sit or stand and observe the birds. Beginners and those with children are welcome and encouraged to attend. Trip leader Madrone Ruggiero will have one scope to share. Loaner binoculars and bird guides will be available for use during the sit. The viewing/sitting area is flat packed dirt and short grass. A wooden picnic table and a few folding chairs are available at the viewing area which is about 75 feet from the main parking area via a flat dirt path. The parking lot is paved. A restroom is located on the east side of the parking lot but access from the parking lot is uphill via a gravel path that is steeper than a five-percent grade. This restroom is about 75 meters from the viewing area. A second accessible restroom with flush toilets is located about 50 meters from the south end of the parking lot where there are six accessible parking spaces for handicap permitted vans. The path from this area of the parking lot to the bathroom is flat. It is paved, but there is a steep uphill grade to get to the viewing site at the north end of the parking lot from the van accessible parking area. A Discover Pass is required for each vehicle.
The sit will conclude promptly at 6:15 p.m. to allow participants enough time to get to the amphitheater and find seating prior to the concert at 7:00 p.m. Note that the park is very popular on weekends and the West Beach parking lot can fill during busy times. Additional day use parking is available at the East Cranberry Lake parking lot however it is a one mile walk along a dirt trail to get to the West Beach viewing site from this parking area. Island Transit’s #411 route provides limited Saturday service to the park entrance with the last southbound bus at 5:50 p.m. Questions or an interest in carpooling from a location south of the park, contact the trip leader, Madrone Ruggiero.