Washington State
Dwayne, Liam and I embarked on our third annual birding trip through the Evergreen State on Saturday morning. This trip took us to the incredible northwest corner of the continental U.S.
Our trip began with a quick family visit. Shortly after we landed, Elyse and Eivind met us at a local park located close to Sea-Tac. I was overjoyed to meet little Annamarie. She was all smiles! She is a happy, outgoing, adorable baby full of laughter. Meeting her for the first time was a fantastic way to kick off the trip. I wish we lived closer to Elyse and her awesome little family.
Without having to travel too far from Seattle, this pocket of our country packs a wicked good punch. Our travels took us from incredible ocean vistas, to majestic mountain passes, to shady groves of temperate rainforest. We hiked along landscapes that felt like a Tolkien inspired movie set. We wandered through fields of fragrant lavender. We breathed in the rich, clean air of ancient forests. We crossed fast-moving, icy waters of mountain streams. And we drank a lot of coffee.
Like almost any travel experience, we faced a few disappointments along the way. Our puffin boat tour was cancelled at the last minute due to stormy seas and a small-craft advisory. The following day, our plans to visit Cape Flattery were abandoned mid-way through the drive. A large "closed" sign informed us that the Makah Indian Tribe had closed all reservation land to outside visitors (including all trails). We assumed the reservation closure was driven by COVID. Nevertheless, the shutdown of a remote outdoor coastal site that is featured as a top birding destination came as quite an unpleasant surprise. In addition, the ferry to Canada, which normally offers great bird and whale viewing, was still closed due to COVID. Traveling in 2021 can be a challenge. But we made the best of it.
So, driven by those factors and the time of year, we saw fewer shorebirds and alcids than we had hoped for. Nevertheless, our trip was still considered a success. In the meantime, the elusive Tufted Puffin will have to wait.
During our second day, we watched pairs of peregrine falcons and bald eagles soar just overhead, riding strong gusts of wind as they hugged the dramatic cliffs along the coastline. From the banks of a stream at our second house, we watched hundreds of swallows, waxwings and dippers enjoy the fast-moving snowmelt. In addition to birds, we spotted local fauna unique to this northwest corner of our country, such as the Olympic Marmot. Apparently, marmots like to munch on wildflowers. Who knew?
In the end, our single journey felt like two separate trips merged into one. We first spent a few days perched above a cliff along the Olympic Peninsula, overlooking deep blue ocean waters, framed by the rocky Canadian shoreline in the distance. From there, we moved south and stayed alongside an idyllic stream located just below the shadow of Mount Rainier. Both houses offered unique, special experiences. When people ask: beach or mountains? The people of Washington state can answer: both!
Over the course of a busy five days, we spent almost every waking moment outdoors. We visited national parks, national wildlife refuges and several local parks. The weather was superb, although some mornings had heavy fog that this region of the country is famous for.
Along the way, we supported the local "caffeine dealers". Who can resist the quirky, independent espresso stands located all over the state? I think this region must be the most over-caffeinated part of our country. They don’t do drip. And lines are still formed late into each afternoon. Coffee is ingrained into the culture here, possibly unlike anywhere else on the planet. We ended the trip with a quick mid-day visit to Seattle. Yes, our first stop was a coffee joint (and no, not Starbucks).
Now that our trip has ended, an important question is on my mind: where will our 4th Annual Birding Trip take us?
