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 Black River Wetlands
- Renton - (See MAP)
Over
50 species of birds have been sighted here, including Northern Shovelers,
Bufflehead, Green Heron, Cedar Waxwing, Gadwall, Scaup, and Wood Duck. Great
Blue Herons nest here from February through June.
Directions: Take I-405
to the Interurban/West Valley exit and turn east on Grady Way. At the first
traffic light, turn left onto SW Oaksdale. At the next light, go straight. and
drive the equivalent of ~2-3 long blocks until you see the small parking area on
your right. It's the beginning of a driveway that was never built. (2005
Thomas Guide: King 656, A-7)
Dash Point State Park - Federal Way -
(See MAP)
The
campgrounds at Dash Point State Park in Federal Way can be very productive for
bird sightings. Black-throated Gray Warbler can be found in spring and summer,
and the Townsend's Warbler in fall and winter. Orange-crowned and Wilson's
Warblers can be found nesting in the park.
Directions:
From I-5, take the 320th St. exit (#143). Take 320th west
approximately four miles. When 320th ends in a T, turn right onto 47th
St. When 47th St. ends in a T, turn left onto Hwy. 509 (Dash Point
Road). Dash Point State Park is in approximately two miles. (2005 Thomas
Guide:
Flaming
Geyser State Park - Near Black Diamond - (See
MAP)
Flaming Geyser is a good place to see
Dippers. Other species seen here include Virginia Rail, Red-breasted Sapsucker,
Willow Flycatcher, Common Yellowthroat, Steller's Jay, Swainson's Thrush,
Red-eyed and Warbler Vireo, and Western Tanager.
Directions:
Located between Auburn and Black Diamond. From SR 18: Take the Auburn-Black Diamond Rd. exit. Travel east on Auburn
-Black Diamond Rd. approximately 1/8 mile to Green Valley Rd. Turn right
(southeast) onto Green Valley Rd. Continue on Green Valley Rd. about nine miles
to park entrance.
Turn
right into park. (2005 Thomas Guide: King 778, A-2)
Green
River Natural Resources Area - Kent
(See
MAP)
The Green River Natural Resources Area began as a project by the City of Kent, which transformed an abandoned sewage lagoon
system into a combined stormwater detention and enhanced wetland facility, and
which now provides a rich diversity of wildlife habitat.
The 304-acre site is a multi-use refuge with open
 space, raptors (including Peregrines and
Kestrels) and many species of
ducks and shorebirds. There is also excellent viewing along the paved trail that follows the power lines.
Also look for Mergansers along the Green River at Van Doren's Landing Park
along Russell Road across from the Natural Resources Area.
Directions: The
project area is bounded generally by the Green River to the west, South 212th
Street to the north, 64th Avenue to the east, and the Puget Power
pedestrian/bike trail to the south. For detailed directions and maps, click
here. (2005 Thomas Guide: King 685, F-5)
Kanaskat-Palmer State Park - Near Black Diamond - (See
MAP)
Dippers nest along the Green River in this park. Watch for
Spotted Sandpipers and Common Mergansers. Along the trails in the park and
campgrounds, look for woodland species such as Evening Grosbeak, Western
Tanager, Western Wood-Pewee, and warblers in spring.
Directions: Take
I-405 south to Exit 4 (Hwy. 169/Maple Valley exit). Turn left onto Hwy. 169. At 14.5 miles, turn left on
Hwy. 516, Kent-Kangley Road. At 18 miles, bear right on Retreat-Kanaskat Road. At 21.2
miles, turn right on Cumberland-Kanaskat Road. At 23 miles, Kanaskat-Palmer
State Park will be on the right.
(2005 Thomas Guide: King
749, D-4)
Lake Fenwick Park
- Kent
 S ituated on the west hill of
Kent, on Lake Fenwick Road between Reith Road and South 272nd. This park covers
both sides of Lake Fenwick Road. Species found here include nesting Wood Ducks,
Pied-billed Grebe, Black-headed Grosbeak, Pileated Woodpecker, Ruby-crowned
Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and other woodland birds.
Directions: WEST FENWICK PARK (37 acres) is
at 3824 Reith Road (42nd Ave. So. and Reith Rd.). WEST HILL PARK (7.8 acres) is
at Military Road and So. 244th Street.
(2005 Thomas Guide: King 715,
E-4)
Lake Wilderness Park - Maple
Valley (See MAP)
Osprey,
Ring-necked Duck, and American Wigeon. Mixed woodlands and the adjacent 40-acre
South King County Arboretum offer Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets,
Yellow-rumped Warblers, Northern Flicker, Purple Finch, and Pine Siskin.
Directions:
Take Hwy. 169 east to Maple Valley. From 169, turn right onto Witte Rd. After .7
mile, turn left onto SE 248th St. Look on your left for the arboretum sign and
parking. (2005 Thomas Guide: King 717, J-2)
Saltwater State Park - Des Moines See MAP
Check out the campground area
for woodland birds. In summer, Pigeon Guillemots nest in the sandy cliffs
slightly north of the park boundary.
Directions:Located two miles south of Des Moines, Wash., near
Sea-Tac International Airport.
From the south:
Take exit #147 off I-5. Follow signs west, and turn right on 16th St. past
the Safeway store (sign missing). Then follow signs to park. Turn on Marine View
Dr., which runs through the park. Turn left into the park.
From the north:
Take exit #149 off of I-5, go west, then turn south on Hwy. 99 (sign
missing). Follow the signs into the park. Turn right on 240th at the Midway
Drive-in. Turn left on Marine View Dr. and turn right into the park.
(2005 Thomas Guide: King 715, A-3)
Soos Creek Trail
- Kent (See MAP)
Soos Creek is an active
salmon spawning stream. The paved walking trail that begins at Gary Grant
Park runs for approximately four and-a-half miles along the creek south through
cattail marshes, forested swamps, wet meadows and willow thickets before
entering the north section, which is dominated by fir, cedar, spruce and
hemlock.
There is a great diversity of
plant life and and several ponds of open water where birds such as kingfishers,
herons, Virginia rail, a variety of ducks in winter, and an occasional snipe can
be found. The creek is home to muskrat and river otters, whose fresh-water
mussel shells are sometimes seen on the banks. Several species of
hawks hunt the meadows and fields during the day, while by night, Barn,
Great-horned, Western Screech, Barred and Northern Saw-whet Owls are active and nesting. Within the forested northern section, such species as Pileated,
Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers nest, as well as Red-breasted Sapsuckers, Brown
Creepers, Winter Wrens, and Red-breasted Nuthatches. In spring and summer,
Swainson's Thrushes, several species of warblers, vireos, flycatchers and
swallows nest in this part of the park. The Western Tanager and both
Evening and
Black-headed Grosbeaks use the park as well.
Directions: Take
Hwy. 18 east to the 272nd St. (Covington) exit. Turn right onto 272nd and follow
it to 148th Avenue S.E. Turn left. Go to 192nd in Kent. Access Points:
Gary Grant Park at SE 208th and 137th Ave SE; Soos Creek Trailhead at 145th Ave
SE between SE 240th St and SE 256th St Meridian; Soos Creek South Trailhead at
152nd Way SE. (2005 Thomas Guide: King 686, G-3)
West Hylebos Wetlands - Federal Way
(See MAP)
A
boardwalk runs through wetlands and an old-growth forest in this 150-acre park.
Look and listen for Varied and Swainson's Thrushes; Winter, Marsh, and
Bewick's
Wrens; Hutton's Vireo; and Red-tailed Hawks; as well as amphibians. Wood Ducks
nest on the lake behind the Ranger's house. 114 species of birds have been seen
in this park. There are 62 different kinds of plants found here, some quite
rare, including Swamp Violets, Bog Orchids, and Wild Azaleas.
For
additional information, visit the
Friends of the Hylebos Wetlands website.
Directions:
Take Highway 18 west until it ends and becomes 348th St. in Federal Way. Follow
348th past the Park’n’Ride to 4th Ave. So. Watch for it! 4th Ave. So. is just a
one-lane driveway between an historic log cabin and an electrical substation.
Turn left onto 4th Ave. So. and go down the road to the gravel
parking area on your left.(2005
Thomas Guide: King 774, J-1)
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