Birding East King County Webpage Now Live
Written by Andy McCormick
Where would you like to go birding on the east side of Lake Washington? Eastside Audubon has now expanded the list and descriptions of birding locations on the chapter’s website to a total of 21 birding hotspots. You can find and explore the updated information on the Eastside Audubon website at Birding East King County. The 21 birding locations are within the Eastside Audubon service area which extends from the shore of Lake Washington to Snoqualmie Pass and includes locations along the Snoqualmie and Sammamish Rivers, Lake Sammamish, and the Issaquah Alps.
Information on each location can be accessed in two ways: By scrolling through the list of hotspots and also by selecting a pin on the chapter area map. Each entry includes a general description of the hotspot, lists of representative birds observed in spring/summer and fall/winter, and comments about accessibility and trail conditions. References to the book A Birder’s Guide to Washington (Hadley, 2015), or to the The Great Washington Birding Trail Map, Puget Loop offer a way to learn more about some of the larger hotspots. A link to directions to each location is also included.
EXCELLENT BIRDING
The service area of Eastside Audubon is home to wonderful birding in a variety of habitats and elevations on the western slopes of the Cascades. Many hotspots are located in the Snoqualmie and Sammamish River Valleys, and on the shores of our large Lakes - Washington and Sammamish.
The expanded list of birding hotspots include mountain and forest birding at Snoqualmie Pass and Tradition Lake in Issaquah. Eight of the locations are along or close to the Snoqualmie Valley Trail beginning at Rattlesnake Lake Recreation Area, and continuing through the Three Forks Natural Area, Snoqualmie Falls and Tokul Creek, Neal Road in Fall City, Tolt River-John MacDonald Park, Carnation Marsh, Chinook Bend-Carnation Farms-Sikes Lake, and the Stillwater Unit of the Snoqualmie Wildlife Area in Carnation, and McCormick Park in Duvall.
Five locations in the Sammamish Lake and River Valley area include Lake Sammamish State Park in Issaquah, Marymoor Park in Redmond, the Tolt Pipeline and Sammamish River Trails, and Gold Creek Park and 21 Acres in Woodinville. Four parks provide good access to the shore of Lake Washington. Juanita Bay Park in Kirkland and St. Edward State Park in Kenmore are on the northeastern shore of the lake, and Mercer Slough Nature Park and Newcastle Beach Park are along the lake in South Bellevue. The Lake Hills Greenbelt and the Bellevue Botanical Gardens offer birding in two city parks.
EXPLORE THE WEBPAGE
Take a few minutes now to follow this link to the new Birding East King County. On the Eastside Audubon home page, you will find the link for Birding East King County under the heading Birding. Then get your binoculars and go out to explore these excellent birding hotspots. Have fun and enjoy the birds.