Urban Birding: Hidden Gems | EarthCare Northwest

Waterfront Park | Waterfront Birding Event | Kimberle Stark

There are countless places to enjoy birds. Seattle Audubon members offer their suggestions for some lesser-known locations in the area that you might consider for your next local birding adventure.

Cedar River Trail

The Cedar River Trail runs along the Cedar River between Maple Valley and Lake Washington. Cedar River Park is at the mouth of the river in Renton where it empties into Lake Washington.

“For a long time, the Cedar River Trail and Park continued to be favorite locations of mine for a variety of gulls, waterfowl, passerines, the occasional Green Heron, terns, shorebirds, owls, hawks, Bald Eagles, and the Boeing Plant’s resident Peregrine Falcons.”
-Etta Cosy

Herring’s House Park and həʔapus Village Park

These adjacent parks are important archaeological, cultural, and ecological sites along the Duwamish River.

“The park was built in 1999 as a part of the Super Fund cleanup effort, designed as habitat for juvenile Chinook salmon with an intertidal estuary. This unique habitat attracts many migratory species as they move up the coast, including tanagers, orioles, grosbeaks, and thrushes. On any given day one might find wrens, kinglets, sparrows, and jays, alongside ducks, gulls, and raptors.”
-Deb Heiden

Pier 62 Waterfront Park

Waterfront Park is a 20-acre park along the downtown shoreline with views of Elliott Bay and the urban skyline.

“I have so many birds right downtown, where I live, whose behaviors I enjoy getting to know. Flickers, Bushtits, House Sparrows, Cooper’s Hawks, hummingbirds, starlings, gulls, and Bald Eagles soar high above. Murders of crows fly overhead every evening, heading northwest. We live in a great place to be in the moment with our feathered neighbors just outside the door.” – Clair Ervin

Constellation Park

A West Seattle shoreline park made for tide pool enthusiasts.

“At low tide, shorebirds like Black Turnstones and Sanderlings can be seen foraging on the intertidal vegetation. Sea ducks such as Common Goldeneye, Harlequin Ducks, Bufflehead, and Surf Scoters forage on small fish and vegetation. In winter, a variety of mergansers, grebes, and loons dive for fish. As an added bonus you may see a California sea lion, Harbor seal or even a pod of Orcas.”
– Deb Heiden

Click on the map to see some of the other Hidden Gems mentioned by our members. In addition to the parks and greenspaces highlighted above, you might also consider Martha Washington Park, Freeway Park, Occidental Square, or Twin Ponds.