Hi Tweets,

Several people have asked for directions for a Sequim trip to look for the
Emperor Goose. For better or worse, here is my suggested itinerary for such
a trip (from Seattle):

Directions for a Sequim field trip:

Drive N on I-5 and follow the signs to the Edmonds Ferry. Take the ferry to
Kingston. On the ferry dock, scan the water for Alcids. During the
crossing, I like to stand at the front (usually cold) and watch for sea
mammals and birds.

Drive to Sequim. On the way, stop in at a Dunlop Realty office...they give
away free maps of the Sequim-Dungeness Valley, which are very useful. The
road is not entirely direct...you will need a WA state road map to make all
the turns. You go through a scenic town where the speed limit is 25 mph.
Keep going straight to the end where the road turns sharply left and there's
a nice
overlook (also a decent latte' place). Get back on the main road after.
Just before the Hood Canal Bridge, turn right into a small park with a boat
ramp. If you scan the water here, you can see a nice assortment of ducks,
alcids and loons. Also, just after you cross the bridge, you can take a
hard right down to the water and another boat ramp and park, for a different
view.


Eventually, you will pass a Wild Bird Unlimited store on the right. If you
missed your latte, here is another opportunity. Also, they have very active
feeders set up, and you can get great looks at feeder birds (Siskins,etc,)

Just before Sequim bay, you might want to turn right on Diamond point road
and drive the 5 miles to the end. Drive to the water...usually this is a
good place for sea birds etc. If you turn left just before you reach the
water and drive about 1/4 mile, you dead-end at some sort of private club,
with a chain-link fence. This is a good place to scan protection island for
all the Brown Boobies that will be there :-) Return to the road to Sequim
after this.


Several miles down the road, there's a State Park on the right, marked with
a brown sign. There are bathrooms here and large conifers with the usual
forest birds (Winter Wren, etc).

Just before reaching Sequim, turn right at the sign for John Wayne Marina.
This is a
great spot to scan for Gulls, ducks and loons in the protected waters of
Sequim Bay. In particular, there's a river outlet near the bathrooms
(indoor,heated) where a great assortment of Gulls assemble to bathe. Also
the trees in the parking lot are usually very active with 'twitter birds'.
You need to return to the road to Sequim after this.

OK, now you've reached Sequim. Drive into town and turn right (North) at
the traffic light onto Sequim-Dungeness Ave. You will pass a Vietnamese
Restaurant on the right (pretty good, for Sequim). Drive out of town (good
birding in the fields, also keep you eyes peeled for unusual birds on the
wires...people have turned up a Tropical Kingbird here in Winter) and turn
left
(West) onto Woodcock. After crossing the Dungeness River, turn right
(North) onto Ward. This will take you past the Olympic Game Farm. Look for
the flock of Canada Geese. If the geese are not there, you may have to
drive around some of the roads around the Game farm area.

If you keep going North, you will hit several good birding spots. Keep your
eyes peeled for the signs to the Three Crabs Restaurant. Drive to the place
and park in their parking lot. There is usually a massive flock of ducks
here, with a good assortment of Gulls. After leaving the parking lot, turn
left almost immediately and drive about 100 yards to the 'horse ponds', a
flooded
field where anything could turn up. This is a pretty good place for
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in Fall Migration.

If you head West along the water, you should stop at the Oyster House and
scan the Harbor.

Finally, there's Dungeness recreation area, where a 3$ fee and a short 1/2
mile trail takes you to Dungeness Spit. A 5 mile walk (10 miles round
trip!) takes you to the lighthouse at the end (good for Puffins in Summer).
But you can see great stuff just by walking a short way out the spit.


You return to Seattle by retracing your steps, and taking the ferry back to
Edmonds.

Good luck,

Rick Romea
Seattle, WA
rromea at stioptronics.com