“Through the Seasons: Elwha River—End of Winter” field trip
Schedule
Sat Mar 14 2026 at 11:00 am to 02:00 pm
UTC-07:00Location
1930 Olympic Hot Springs Rd, Port Angeles, WA 98363-9481, United States | Port Angeles, WA
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Photo: American Dipper by Dow LambertJoin co-leaders Ben Hannah & Kathy McCoy, for the first in our new four-season series exploring the Elwha Valley. We’ll begin at the Madison Falls area, where we’ll check the river for American Dippers, Common Mergansers, Canada Geese, and other species using the riparian corridor. We’ll also spend time in the nearby bigleaf maple grove, a reliable spot for woodpeckers and songbirds. From there, we’ll enjoy a peaceful one-mile walk along the closed section of Olympic Hot Springs Road—a rare chance to bird a normally busy park road in near-silence, with the river beside us and a mix of riparian, deciduous, and conifer habitats along the way.
Although this area is lightly birded in winter, it regularly hosts a good variety of north Olympic Peninsula species, and recent years have even produced Northern Pygmy-Owls. We’ll watch for overwintering warblers and keep an eye out for early migrants like Turkey Vultures or Violet-green Swallows. Mammals are also possible, including black-tailed deer and the resident Roosevelt elk herd. Participants should bring binoculars and dress for cold, potentially wet conditions. Free to attend. Learn where to meet and registration information at https://olympicpeninsulaaudubon.org/events-calendar/opas-field-trip-through-the-seasons-elwha-riverend-of-winter
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Where is it happening?
1930 Olympic Hot Springs Rd, Port Angeles, WA 98363-9481, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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