Birdwatching might have had a reputation as a slightly geeky activity for a particular subset of the tree-hugging population, but as the 15th most popular outdoor recreational activity (according to a survey by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Forest Service), it’s clear its appeal in recent years has broadened.
And for good reason: as many people work sedentary, indoor jobs, birdwatching provides an excellent way to encourage outdoor activity and deepens one’s relationship with the natural world. Spotting and trying to identify birds can turn the outdoors into the venue for a visual and mental game that can help engage even those who normally feel restless or bored on a stroll outside.
With the occasionally challenging nature of Seattle weather, Seattleites can use all the encouragement they can get to head outdoors. Fortunately, the times when weather is at its least appealing can also be excellent birding opportunities. Winter brings waterfowl, raptors, seabirds, and more. That tough stretch before summer starts is also the season of songbird migration. And any fitfully drizzly day can result in good spotting as birds take advantage of insects emerging from the soggy ground.
And for those who are curious but don’t know a Wood Duck from a Wigeon or where to go to see either, Seattle is also home to many resources and great locations for the novice.
The Seattle Audubon Society is, of course, a great place to start. Almost every month, they offer a free public guided walk. Binoculars are provided (although one does need to reserve them in a week in advance via a phone call to the Audubon Nature Store). They also offer classes and field trips to both members and non-members. Field trips generally have a shared car pool cost, and priority for sign-ups will go to members. Classes will have a higher cost for non-members.
The Seward Park Audubon Center also offers many bird-focused, family-friendly programs. There are regular evening “owl prowls” and themed program days most Saturdays, often focusing on birds or some aspect of bird life.
The Seattle Parks Department offers regular birding programs, many of which are free. Some are basic birding classes and walks; others might be focused on a particular species, like a visit to a Great Blue Heron rookery. While it’s not regularly scheduled, the Discovery Park “Birding by Ear” program is particularly excellent and worth signing up for when it is offered.
Once one’s up to speed on the basics, the best way to hone one’s skills is to practice, practice, practice. Fortunately, even within a busy city like Seattle, there are many places to see a great variety of birds while enjoying a walk outside.
The Union Bay Natural Area (aka Montlake Fill) is an especially busy birding spot. Despite its humble origins (underneath this grassland and riparian area is an old landfill), it is now a hotbed of bird action, with around 200 species having been recorded as visitors. You can see who’s been around lately via the white board in a kiosk at the east end of the area. It’s updated regularly by birder and author Connie Sidles, who’s written three books of essays about her near-daily visits to the Fill. The Fill can be usually be relied on for a variety of ducks on its several ponds, Redwing Blackbirds in the cattails by Lake Washington, Great Blue Herons on the shore or ponds, swallows and Savannah Sparrows flitting around the grasslands, and, sometimes, Bald Eagles flying from their nests down the shore.
Across Lake Washington from the Union Bay Natural Area is the Washington Park Arboretum, with more excellent opportunities for waterfowl and Bald Eagle spotting. And most large Seattle Parks are also great spots for birdwatching, especially Seward, Discovery, and Carkeek Parks.
For even more location ideas, including some beyond Seattle proper, Seattle Audubon Society’s BirdWeb.org includes lists of hot birding spots, and the Washington State Audubon organization offers seven colorful and informative “Great Washington State Birding Trail” maps covering seven regions within the state. These maps are a great road trip inspiration and can be viewed online for free.
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You don't have to travel to France to enjoy a good wine. In its tasting room, Tres Hombres Wine Group brings together fine wines from Belmonte Cellars, Icon Cellars, and Pleasant Hill Cellars.
Dan Williams, the owner of Belmonte Cellars winery, culls grapes from Washington vineyards to create rich cabernets and merlots. He then transforms the fruit into award-winning small batches that boast flavors ranging from light cherry to herbal and spicy.
Icon Cellars' Jim Garner also introduces palates to handcrafted, award-winning wines that focus on Rhone varietals. Larry Lindvig at Pleasant Hill Cellars handcrafts his wines, too, creating a variety of European blends.
Lindvig's Pleasant Hill Cellars 2001 Columbia Valley cabernet actually inspired Garner to spend time with Lindvig at Pleasant Cellars and learn the wine-making process. Eventually, Garner became an alternating proprietor with Lindvig at Pleasant Hill, opening Icon Cellars in 2010.
32305 Northeast 8th Street
Carnation,
WA
US
The son of a Navy officer, Mike Ainsworth spent much of his childhood island-hopping across the South Pacific. Regardless of the shore on which he landed, the budding fisherman celebrated the opportunity to test its surrounding waters for fish. Now, Ainsworth shares his passion and expertise for fishing on his guided trips. He tailors expeditions for beginners—teaching tricky maneuvers such as fly-casting and testing fish’s ability to grant wishes—and whisking groups to the best fishing spots in Washington State in his stable Hyde Professional Series drift boats.
Over the years, Ainsworth has helped tykes reel in fish that matched their height and watched amazed as a 78-year-old guest singlehandedly reeled in a 4-foot-long king salmon. Despite his own quest to mark off elusive prey from his personal fishing list, Ainsworth maintains that his favorite part of his fishing expeditions is the look on guests' faces when they reel in their very first catches, a moment he often captures on film.
4333 Tolt Avenue
Carnation,
WA
US
Something strange happens as soon someone steps through the gates outside of Camlann Medieval Village. The past seven centuries of human existence instantly disappear, and that same person?who once existed in a world of smart phones and talking fire hydrants?now finds his or herself in living history museum of the medieval era. A narrow street winds through a rural village, where villagers make their artisanal goods in full view.
Another attraction inside Camlann Medieval Village is The Bors Hede Inne Restaurant, which keeps its doors open year-round. An innkeeper greets guests and welcomes them into the dining room, which is usually warmed by a roaring fireplace. There, glasses of mead accompany rotating monthly entrees made using authentic recipes right out of the 14th century.
10320 Kelly Rd NE
Carnation,
WA
US
The roughly 5-kilometer Survivor Mud Run challenges athletes from around the country with 20 mud-soaked obstacles, including monkey bars, tire courses, giant slip 'n' slides, and net climbs. A team of licensed contractors builds all the obstacles, ensuring stability throughout. The dirt-drenched course allows participants to put their stamina, physical fitness, and mental determination to the test in a much more fun and safer way than challenging a Central African chimpanzee to a staring contest. Adrenaline and sheer force of will boost runners over walls and beneath low-slung wires in the mud-filled trenches, leading them to the finish line where a post-competition party awaits with beer, music, and food. After each race, announcers honor the top three male and female participants in each age division.
32610 Northeast 32nd Street
Carnation,
WA
US
Most 5Ks feature participants in sweat-wicking T-shirts and shorts sprinting toward the finish line. But The Sweater Dash is different. During the fun run, runners and walkers don ugly sweaters to ring in the holiday season. Following the festive jaunt, participants head to the Ugly Sweater Party to celebrate their achievement with live music and holiday food. To add to the merriment, the event includes an award ceremony for Ugliest Sweater and a meet-and-greet with Santa, during which the winner of the Ugliest Sweater award can ask him for more stylish clothing.
Remlinger Farms
Carnation,
WA
US
