OLYMPIA—Nothing expresses Mother Nature's power like storms. And nowhere can they be more fully experienced than on the ocean beaches of the rugged Washington coastline. Fierce winds, drenching rains, surging tides and crashing beach logs are part of the exciting panorama.
After the storm is over, the beach and its wildlife re-emerge. High waves will have left gifts from the ocean—masses of kelp with a variety of creatures attached, flotsam from ocean-going vessels, maybe a treasured Japanese glass ball. Newly exposed beach will offer its treasures to shorebirds, gulls, otters and mink. Beach logs will be re-arranged. Beach erosion will have occurred, providing examples of natural processes. This is the time to explore.
"The key to seeing wildlife is sitting very still for a couple of hours, essentially becoming part of the beach environment," said Alan Rammer, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) marine education specialist. Rammer recently spent a week exploring the northern Washington coast.
"If you stay put for a while you'll see amazing sights" he added.
After a recent storm in the Olympic National Park, Rammer saw river otters, bald eagles, raccoons and black oystercatchers by sitting very still on a coastal tide pool rock near Kalaloch Lodge, 78 miles north of Ocean Shores.
For those adventurers drawn to winter storms, the Department of Fish and Wildlife has a few tips for a safe outing: Stay off the beach until the storm has subsided. On the bluffs and uplands, watch out for falling trees and limbs. On roads, watch for downed power lines. For more information on beach walking and exploring in the area call the Kalaloch Ranger Station at (360) 962-2283, or the Mora Ranger Station at (360) 374-5460.
Other current recreational opportunities for fish and wildlife enthusiasts include:
Salmon fishing: There are two weeks remaining in the Puget Sound (south of the Narrows Bridge and Hood Canal) blackmouth sportfishing season. Although weather has been tough, anglers fishing around Ketron Island, Gibson Point on the east end of Fox Island and the sand spit (west of Fox Island) have been catching blackmouth as large as 12 to 13 pounds. The season closes Dec. 31. When weather allows, limits of hatchery chinook have been reported, especially around Misery Point, near Brinnon.
"This is your last chance to give yourself a nice holiday present and enjoy great blackmouth fishing before the end of the year," said Tony Floor, a WDFW spokesperson. All saltwater fishing will close from Jan. 1 to Feb. 15.
Steelhead fishing: Prospects for steelhead fishing are good and looking better as the season progresses. "We're seeing better returns of hatchery steelhead than last year when poor returns of hatchery steelhead resulted in the closure of some rivers," said WDFW Freshwater Biologist Bill Freymond. "Early reports show that on the average half of fishers catch a fish. The Hoh, Bogachiel, Calawah and Queets rivers have been very high and most successful anglers are plunking with Spin Glows with egg clusters or sand shrimp. As the rivers drop, drift boating will be the preferred method."
Crow's nest or squirrels nest?: If you live in a neighborhood with lots of large deciduous trees what do you see when the leaves fall off? Last summer's bird nests. Most abundant of all are crows' nests. A crow's nest is large, upside-down and cone shaped, almost 2 feet wide, a foot deep and made of small sticks. Squirrels' nests also are a common sight. There are three ways to tell the two apart: squirrels' nests are made of leaves, are spherical not conical and are usually lower and closer to the tree trunks than crows' nests. Squirrels would rather use tree trunks called dens, especially for breeding. For more information on nests check the library for a field guide.
Christmas Bird Count: The Audubon Society's annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) starts Friday and runs through the end of this month. Information collected during the CBC provides valuable statistics on declines and increases in particular species, geographical shifts in winter ranges and other indicators of the status of the bird population. Birders with all levels of experience are needed. This is a fun way to learn more about birds and local birding areas and to get acquainted with other birders. New volunteer bird counters can participate by contacting their local Audubon Society chapter. Information on dates and locations is available on the Audubon Website. The counts take place statewide. In Olympia call George Walter at (360) 459-8220.
Eastside winter fishing: With milder than normal weather, eastside winter fishing lakes remain ice-free. Fourth of July Lake, one of several winter-only trout lakes that opened Dec. 1, is still producing limits after a couple of hours of fishing. The rainbow trout there are 12- to 17-inches in length and in good shape. Other lakes open to year-round fishing, like Sprague and Newman, continue to draw fishers seeking both trout and warmwater species.
The Tacoma Nature Center: A 54-acre wetland and forest preserve with visitor's center, The Tacoma Nature Center is located at the intersection of South 19th and Tyler streets. This urban sanctuary is an ideal place to walk through wildlife habitat and enjoy the sights and sounds of the hundreds of species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates that live here. The visitor's center has hands-on interactive displays and animal costumes and puppets to bring nature alive for young visitors. Admission to the preserve and visitor's center is free. This month you can learn how to help city critters with a Critter Crunchies class. This class is designed for families and takes place Saturday, Dec. 19 from 10 a.m. until noon. For more information see their Website or call (253) 591-6439.
Little Spokane Natural Area: With milder-than-usual winter weather in eastern Washington, this may be the year for a holiday canoe and wildlife-watching trip on the Little Spokane River. This tributary of the Spokane River is accessible through a natural area located on the northwestern outskirts of Spokane. The 7.5-mile stretch of the river is ideal for canoeing and there is a good put-in spot just west of the intersection of Rutter Parkway and Waikiki Road, near WDFW's Spokane Trout Hatchery. The well- marked take-out spot is on Boat Launch Road, off State Route 291 just a mile north of the intersection with Rutter Parkway. The same stretch of river can be explored on foot starting at the Indian Painted Rocks trail-head, where Rutter Parkway crosses the river, in the middle of the natural area. The Little Spokane Natural Area is best known for its Great blue heron rookery (communal nesting site) about a mile downstream from the trail-head. But lots of other wildlife are often seen throughout the year, including beavers, muskrats, bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, mergansers, mallards, wood ducks, woodpeckers and a myriad of wintering songbirds. For more information contact Riverside State Park at (509) 456-3964.
