The waning days of summer are a good time to watch wildlife movements caused by shortening daylight hours, to make a few more fishing trips and to prepare for upcoming hunting seasons.

Anyone pursuing those activities at Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) water access sites or wildlife areas, is reminded that each vehicle parked at those sites must bear a WDFW Access Stewardship decal. WDFW enforcement officers recently have been issuing warnings to those without the decal. Failure to purchase a decal within 10 days of a warning can result in a $66 fine. Decals cost $10 but are free with the purchase of a fishing or hunting license.

Here is an overview of some of the seasons best recreational opportunities:

Wildlife viewing: The most obvious seasonal movements at this time are bird migrations, especially of shorebirds, such as sandpipers, willets, and plovers. The fall shorebird migration lasts over a much longer period than the spring "incoming," so birds can be seen moving throughout August and September. Willapa Bay on the coast is one of the best areas to witness fall shorebird movements; Willapa National Wildlife Refuge and Leadbetter Point State Park provide excellent views and information. The Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge just to the north, and the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge on the north side of the Olympic Peninsula in Clallam County, also are good destinations for fall shorebird viewing.

Throughout Washington other birds are beginning to group up as the declining hours of daylight signal them to move south before food sources become scarce. Birds of prey such as hawks, falcons and eagles might be seen moving in concentrations along mountain ridges where they save energy by soaring in thermals and updrafts. The Saddle Mountains, Yakima Ridge, and Rattlesnake Hills area, near the Columbia River in southcentral Washington are known raptor migration routes. So are Slate Peak and Hart's Pass in Okanogan County and Red Top Mountain between Wenatchee and Ellensburg.

Fishing: Coastal salmon fishing is always fun, it's the catching that is spectacular right now. Coho catches out of Ilwaco and Westport are very good now as these 8- to 14-pound fish gorge on baitfish, preparing to migrate to the rivers of their origin. Buoy 10 exploded with chinook last week and should continue through the end of the month. Ocean-run coho salmon are beginning to push through the Strait of Juan de Fuca . The three-quarter mile beach restriction will be lifted in the Strait (Areas 5 & 6) beginning Sept. 1. Willapa Bay is kicking out respectable catches of chinook at Washaway Beach and the confluence of the North and Willapa Rivers.

Also opening to rainbow trout fishing just for the month of September are the Pillar - Widgeon chain of small (1-10 acres) lakes on the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, south of Potholes Reservoir in Grant Country. This area offers uncrowded fishing and relaxing in some of the most beautiful scenery of eastern Washington. Pillar, Cattail, Gadwall, Hourglass, Lemma, Poacher, Sago, Shoveler, Snipe and Widgeon lakes all have walk-in access only from a parking area just below Soda Lake. Expect mostly 8 to 10-inch rainbows with the occasional 15 to 16-inch fish. Pillar, Sago and Widgeon are best. The best fishing is early in the morning or toward evening. Maps sometimes are available at the parking area or from WDFW's Ephrata office or the Refuge office in Othello (P.O. Drawer F, 99344).

Hunting: Pick up a copy of WDFW's free hunting prospects publication "Game Trails" at a license dealer or WDFW offices anywhere in the state to learn what you can expect in the seasons coming this fall. Scouting now for areas to hunt will save you time when seasons open.

Forest grouse, mourning dove, rabbit and hare, and early archery deer and elk hunting seasons open Sept. 1. Blue, ruffed and spruce grouse appear to be in fair to good numbers in most of Washington's forests, especially in streamside or spring areas. If cold weather doesn't move mourning doves south too soon, that two-week season should be productive, too, with lots of birds now in our area.

An early week-long Canada goose hunting season opens Sept. 7 statewide, with the regular goose season opening with duck hunting on Oct. 9. The waterfowl regulations pamphlet should be available at license dealers and WDFW offices any day. Other hunting seasons that open Sept. 7 are bobcat, raccoon, and fox.

Other opportunities:

• Eastern: Sprague Lake is the best all-around fishery at this time of year. Rainbow trout, walleye, largemouth bass, bluegill, and even some perch and crappie are being caught. Bullhead catfish up to 3 pounds are plentiful, and there are a few channel cats in the 5- to 10- pound range. Remember: the portion of Sprague Lake that includes Cow Creek and the marsh at the southwest end up to Danekas Road closes to all fishing Sept.15 to provide refuge for migrating birds. Take your binoculars along now to catch good views of everything from yellowthroats to Canada geese.

• Northcentral: Sept. 1 marks the opening of rainbow trout fishing through Mar. 31 at three Okanogan County lakes: 11-acre Campbell Lake and 3-acre Cougar Lake on WDFW's Methow Wildlife Area, as well as 39-acre Davis Lake, all southeast of Winthrop. The Methow Valley is always good for wildlife watching or hunting, too, including black bear, forest grouse and doves.

• Southcentral: Fall chinook salmon fishing in the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River opened Aug. 16, but really gets going sometime in September. Check U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dam fish counts in local newspapers or on the Internet at http://www.nwd.usace.army.mil/ps/ to get an idea when fish are showing. Fishing is mostly by boat, (launched at White Bluff or Ringold), trolling plugs in the early morning from Ringold to Priest Rapids Dam, with the Vernita area usually the most popular.

• Southwest: Steelhead fishing at Drano Lake in the Columbia River Gorge is now very good with counts at Bonneville Dam increasing. Still fishing with shrimp on the bottom or with "slip floats" are producing the best catches. You can view upriver bright chinook salmon at Bonneville Dam fish ladders, where counts are climbing over 500 a day. Large spring chinook salmon also can be seen spawning in the American River where no fishing is permitted; be careful not to disturb or harass them. Kokanee fishing is very good at Rimrock Lake but the fish are small (8 inches). Maggots with a spin fly, and pop gear are best for reaching the 16-fish limits. Hatchery sea-run cutthroat have begun entering the Elochoman and Washougal rivers. Osprey families make for good watching and photographing at nest sites close to Highway 4 at the mouth of Germany Creek and near Cathlamet. If you're still looking for huckleberries, try wetter areas on south slopes where the snow cleared early.

• Northwest: This is a good time for wildlife watching at Deception Pass State Park on Whidbey Island, where river otters may be seen leaving the park's Cranberry Lake. Blue herons in the lake, and in Cornet Bay and Pass Lake, are among more than 170 species of birds visible in the area. This is an especially good time for a hike and fishing expedition to an alpine lake; not only are these lakes more accessible, but the trout are more active now and annoying insects should start to decline as the weather cools. It's also a good time for Puget Sound crab pot fishing; check the regulations pamphlet for all rules.

• Coastal: A new 6/10-of-a-mile path accessible for the disabled recently was completed at WDFW's Johns River Wildlife Area in Grays Harbor County, just south of Aberdeen. This and other trails in the 1,500-acre area provide opportunities to see black-tailed deer, rabbits, shorebirds and other wildlife.