Date: 2/1/26 1:31 pm From: Ann Kramer via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Ann Kramer question re Port Angeles birding spots
Wow, thanks to everyone who replied!!!!. I did not expect such a rich
supply of detailed suggestions! Three Crabs, incidentally, is one of the
sites I went to with Pilchuck Audubon that I was trying to remember.
After posting this request a few days ago, I noticed I had an open tab (my
husband says he will inscribe "open tabs" on my tombstone!) of the Olympic
Loop of the Great Washington State Birding Trail. I meticulously went over
the areas I could potentially visit in the course of 3 1/2 days, plotting
the exact travel times to each from our hotel with OCD accuracy, and came
up with this:
1. First day, arrival at Port Townsend terminal, birding there, Fort
Worden, Kah Tai Lagoon and Fort Flagler in Marrowstone, then to our lodging
in Sequim, which is 7 miles from the John Wayne Marina.
2. Next morning, off to Salt Creek, Elwha Estuary, Lake Crescent and
Ediz Hook. I'll need to look at tides to determine where to go first.
3. Following day, Dungeness NWR, Dungeness River audubon Center,
Dungeness Bay and John Wayne Marina
4. On the last day, heading toward Port Townsend, possibly revisit any
of the above and see if I have time for Johnnycomelately Creek.
Did I take on too much? Any suggestions about what to do first? last?
Anything not worth my time?
Judith, thank you for the details on the Elwha River Estuary. Sounds like
a must see and it's definitely a place I will visit now.
David, I've highlighted every place where I can see Long Tailed Ducks, in
hope for better images than I have. I didn't think Yellow Rumped Warblers
would be anywhere close by this deep in winter. Thanks very much!
Jane, I thought it was interesting how many of you recommend Three Crabs,
which is in the Birding in Washington big book but not listed on the
Olympic Trail map locations. I did find a map with its specific location
also. Thank you for giving me the detailed instructions and
alternate label. I did look up the Birder's Dashboard when I researched. I
will keep my eye on it.
Bob, Thank you for the additional resources; I'll take a look. I usually
go armed with way more information than I need or ever use so I'll have an
artillery. Big book is the BGA. What a wonderful resource that book is!!
As a newcomer to Skagit County and eventually Snohomish County, that book
was an amazing resource, now dog eared and tab marked almost into non
functional mayhem! Appreciate your complete list.
Also, Paul, thank you also for the Three Crabs and dining recommendations
also.
I can see why this would be a good region to visit throughout the
seasons, but I now see that I picked a good place for winter birding, which
had been something I was second guessing..
*Additional Question*: How much hiking should I be doing on the NWR Spit?
I'm concerned about spending too much time there at the cost of losing
other more valuable time in other, perhaps richer locations.
Kudos to you Washingtonians. Maybe it's because I was just a burgeoning
birder and photographer in Southern California, but the birding resources
and community paled in my area in comparison to up here. The Big Book
alone is a treasure trove. I'm so grateful to the great birders who put
that information together.
Also, I hope I'm replying correctly. I was trying to find a way to stay on
one thread but they seem broken up and I haven't yet figured out the
nuances of Tweeters.
thanks again, everyone,
Ann
On Sun, Feb 1, 2026 at 9:51 AM David Swinford via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Don't forget Ediz Hook. Easy looks at Harlequin Ducks, Black Turnstone
> and Black-Bellied Plovers. Often you can score all three species of
> Cormorant, Loon and Grebe. Common Goldeneye and sometimes a stray
> Barrows. Brant are likely, Red-Breasted Mergansers and Surf Scoters. Just
> after passing the Mckinley Paper Mill, find a parking area on the right and
> scope the boom logs on the inner harbor. Then look across the road and
> back to the Mill and there is an area where you can easily and safely walk
> to the top of the bouldered seawall revetment and scope out to the Strait.
> Long-Tailed Ducks are usually spotted there. Drive out the end and scope
> the inner bay and Strait from there. Grab the occasional pull out along
> the way. On the way back stop at the Mill pond and look for Hooded
> Mergansers. Then walk the trail that is on the opposite side of the road
> from the Mill Pond back towards PA and look for a wintering group of
> Yellow-Rumped Warblers.
>
> If I had a day I would probably do Ediz Hook, the Mouth of the Elwha and
> the Salt Creek Campground including Tongue Point.
>
>
>
> On Sat, Jan 31, 2026 at 12:11 PM Judith A. Howard via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>> Ann, there is a wonderful birding area, part of the Washington State
>> Birding Trail, just west of Port Angeles. Take Highway 112, turn right on
>> Place Road, and take it to the water. At Dike Access, turn right and
>> park. It’s where the Elwha enters the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Since the
>> dams were removed, it has become a beautiful estuary again. Enjoy!
>>
>>
>>
>> Judy Howard
>>
>> Clinton
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> <Tweeters...>
>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
