WDFW WEEKENDER REPORT
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov

June 24 - July 7, 2009

Contact:  (Fish) 360-902-2700
          (Wildlife) 360-902-2515 

Wildlife viewing: Alert birders hiking near many of the region’s rivers may hear, and hopefully see, one of western Washington’s special birds. Characterized by a distinct trill, the American dipper  is a small, aquatic songbird found year-round in mountainous areas and forested lowlands. Once known as the water ouzel , the dipper is unusual among most birds because it lives on insects and aquatic creatures found in rivers and streams. Observes can find dippers walking along the bottom of a river or using its wings to "fly" upstream under water. Their calls and songs are loud in order to be audible above the sound of rushing water. While the dipper is commonly found on the smany rivers and streams in the region, recent sightings were reported at the old Elkhorn Campground located on the Dosewallips River on the Olympic Peninsula near Brinnon, and the Mashel River near Eatonville in Pierce County. 

From the Olympics to Mount Rainier, day outings in early summer can be very productive for birders and other outdoor enthusiast. Lakes and wetlands are hosting a number of species, including wood duck, California quail, western wood pee-wee, savannah sparrow, yellow and orange-crowned warbler, willow flycatcher, red-winged blackbird, red-breasted sapsucker, osprey , and a variety of swallows ,. Along with the popular and gregarious gray jays , visitors to Mount Rainier are reporting sightings of Clark’s nutcracker, hermit warbler, sooty grouse , plus several mammals, including black-tailed deer, pika, yellow-pine chipmunk, hoary marmot, black bear and red fox .

A number of bird species can be found by taking a quick trip off Hwy 7 (Pacific Avenue) in Pierce County, heading west on 176th St. A short walk in a local riparian area offers sightings of nesting neotropical birds such as western tanager, black-headed grosbeak, willow flycatcher, common yellow throat , and yellow and Wilson’s warbler . Also in the area are rufous hummingbirds and nesting wood and ring-necked ducks .