A Peregrine falcon pair has been hanging out and copulating on the 11th street bridge in downtown Tacoma.

A Pelagic cormorant colony can be seen on the Warren Avenue bridge in east Bremerton. This is the smallest of our northwestern cormorants -- less gregarious than other species and breeds in smaller colonies.

Visit the Sol Duc Hatchery Interpretive Center to learn about salmon on the Olympic Peninsula.

The hatchery is located at 1423 Pavel Rd., Beaver WA. To reach the hatchery, which is located 12 miles northeast of Forks: from Highway 101 turn onto Clark Road, then right on Pavel Road. The hatchery is located at the end of the road. Call (360) 327-3246 for more information.

Salmon spawning viewing at the Naselle and Humptulips Hatcheries.

To reach the Naselle Hatchery in Pacific County: from Highway 101, take State Highway 4 through Naselle to North Valley Road. Turn left, then travel for 1 1/2 miles to the hatchery on the right. Call (360) 484-7716 for more information.

To reach the Humptulips hatchery: travel Highway 101 north from Hoquiam to the Humptulips Store. Turn left (west) on Kirkpatrick Road for two miles. After crossing the Stevens Creek bridge, the entrance to the hatchery is the first exit on the left. Once at the hatchery, take a short walk up Stevens Creek to see salmon spawning in their natural habitat. Call (360) 987-2215 for more information.

Chehalis Valley

Heavy concentrations of trumpter swans may be seen in the Chehalis Valley, between Porter and Elma on the J. Gorton Farm.

The Chehalis Valley in Grays Harbor County near Elma and the Hanford Valley in south Thurston County offer abundant waterfowl viewing opportunities. Concentrate observations to large bodies of water with little development and wetlands. Waterfowl often aggregate in flooded agricultural fields.

Capitol Lake

A good place to view a variety of waterfowl including Ruddy Ducks, Ring-necked Ducks, Gadwalls, Greater and Lesser Scaup, Buffleheads, and more. During winter, a remarkable fly-in of Barrow's Goldeneyes occurs at dusk.
(Late November through February is the best period for wintering waterfowl.)

Kapowsin

Champion International offers fee access to its lands in the Kapowsin vicinity. A walk on the trails through their "Special place in the forest" may bring views of Wood Ducks, Beaver, or the sound of Pacific Tree Frogs. Rough-skinned Newts and Northwestern Salamanders inhabit the beaver pond.
(A variety of wildlife may be seen throughout the year though a visit during late winter/early spring (February through April) will be most likely to capture the Tree Frogs in full chorus.)

Lake Steilacoom, Lake Waughop, Ft. Lewis marshlands, Kent/Auburn Valley

Good waterfowl viewing throughout the area. Over 1,000 ducks and geese may be seen on 212th St in Kent next to the Boeing plant. Flooded fields near the corner of 272nd St South, West Valley Highway, and Highway 167 offer more waterfowl viewing opportunities -- especially fields next to the Smith Brothers Farm.

Nisqually River/McAllister Creek Valley

The agricultural lands in the valley and the popular Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge harbor many types of wildlife. You can drive the roads in the lower valley, walk the dike trail in the refuge, or park at Luhr Beach boat launch and scan the mud flats with your spotting scope hoping to view a Peregrine Falcon, Snowy Owl or a flock of Brant.
(Wildlife are plentiful in this area the year around. However, winter (December-February) is the best time period for viewing a diverse array of migrant birds.)

Scatter Creek Wildlife Area

This wildlife area has a fragile prairie community with several unique butterflies associated with the native grasses and wild flowers that grow there.
(Stay on paths and visit in May or June for the best chance of seeing prairie butterflies.)

Percival Landing in Olympia

This area is a good place to go to see Purple Martins which, for a swallow, are impressive in size and have a beautiful voice. They are still relatively rare in Washington but are most easily found by looking along the shorelines of Puget Sound, particularly where nest boxes have been mounted on pilings.
(Purple Martins usually arrive in early May and are easily viewed through the month of August.)

Point No Point near Hansville

This site has a public access area that provides exceptional viewing opportunities for a variety of seabirds and marine mammals such as Harbor Seals and California Sea Lions.
(The viewing here is excellent throughout the year. August and September may bring views of Red-necked Phalaropes, Heerman's Gulls, or Parasitic Jaegers. December should be a good time to see ancient murrelets. Harbor seals and Bald Eagles are always present. Osprey are easily seen between April and September. California Sea Lions are most likely to be seen during the winter and spring months.)