South Bellevue, just so. of I-90, to Auburn birding directions



Birding the South I-405/167 valley has its hotspots, but finding directions
takes a lot of time in the Tweeters Archives. What follows is directions to
some of the places I go birding in the valley. Please post corrections here



Newcastle Park- 2 bald eagles, 2 varied thrush Jan 22

Gene Coulon Park

Cedar River mouth

Black River Riparian Forest

Boeing Ponds

Kent Ponds

Riverview Marsh

Smith Brothers Dairy- 15 Trumpeter Swans Jan 22

Thomas Ponds

Auburn M st

Emerald Downs Drive



Take I-405 exit 9 west, then north on Lake Washington Blvd to Newcastle
Park-bird the nature walk, pier and parking lot



Take I-405 exit 5-go west to Lake Washington Blvd then right, find Coulon
Park on Left.



Go south on Lake WA B and keep right, making 3 right turns, onto Park Ave
and keep right onto Logan Ave, right onto N 6th St, and right at street end
onto Riverside Dr, right along the Cedar River-bird mouth of River and along
the boardwalk behind Boeing



>From the intersection of I-405 and 167, proceed 2 blocks north on 167, then
left onto Grady Way. Follow Grady for 3/4 miles, then turn right onto
Oakesdale Ave. Follow Oakesdale for 3/4 miles. The first left turn is to
Monster Rd. At that intersection, find a 3-car parking lot for Black River
Riparian Forest, where the herons nest.



Take 167 south to so. 212, west to just beyond the Boeing entrance, right on
59th Ave to Boeing Ponds. Just as you arrive, find a two-car parking lot.
Bird to east and to north.



Go east on so. 212 to 64 ave, then right. Go south about a mile, to the SE
corner of Kent Ponds, park in front of vacant warehouse about 22358 64 ave
south, and bird the Ponds SE entrance, then go about 2 blocks north to
one-car parking lot for the Ponds east entrance, bird the small hill. Go
south on 64 ave, turn right on so. 228th, continue west as road becomes
Russell Rd. When you get to the river, turn right onto Russell Rd (yes).
Park near 22250 Russell Rd, cross the footbridge across the river. Walk
south about 1 block on Frager Rd to enter the public path to Riverview
Marsh, under the power lines. There is a grown-over path all the way around
it, a total of about 1/2 mile. Virginia Rails are on the south side of it in
the cattails.



Take 167 south, take 277 st exit, right to West Valley Highway, 68th Ave,
then right. Smith Bro Dairy is on left, look for swans on both sides of
Highway for 1 mile northbound, then u-turn back to 277. Go east over
freeway, then first right onto 72nd ave so. In half a mile find Staples
warehouse. Parking lot is on south side of warehouse, with Thomas Wetlands
just south of parking lot. Park in this lot, right in front of the wetlands
sign. Bird here, then go to the east end of parking lot for more ponds.



Go south on 167 to Auburn's 15th st NW, turn east, take first left onto M st
NW (frontage road along 167) -go all the way to the barrier dead end-bird
along M. Then go east on 15th to the next left, Emerald Downs Dr, and bird
along left for a mile or two.



Al Clark

Tacoma, WA

alndonna at wamail.net