Clallam Bay-Sekiu Bird Watching Tour

The shores of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the adjacent rivers, lakes, forests and the area surrounding Cape Flattery provide habitat for hundreds of species of birds. Murrelets and Murres are prized sightings. Shore birds, ducks and gulls are plentiful. In the fall and spring, thousands of Canadian geese, trumpeter swans, falcons, hawks, and sandhill cranes migrate through this area, and can be easily sighted.

Between January and April, hundreds of bald eagles 'winter over' from British Columbia, on the coastline between Clallam Bay and Neah Bay. On a typical day, 50 or more eagles can be seen perched in the trees along Hwy. 112.

Depending on the weather in April, hundreds of the migrating raptors will 'pool up' over Cape Flattery, awaiting the right time to fly north.

Bring your binoculars and enjoy a day well spent looking for the unique bird species found only on the Northwest Coast

Highway 112 mile markers shown as (MM--)


LOCATION #1

Where: Turn right at center of town (main hwy. turns left). Drive

down Frontier Street to gate at old Coast Guard Station. Park

outside gate (buildings are rented to a private party), and walk to

beach. The rocky headland to the north is Slip Point, which is well

known for its fossil beds. At low tide a large reef is exposed which

attracts many species of shore birds. The large rocks around the

point are extremely slick. Wear felt-soled fisherman shoes if you plan

to hike on the rocks.

.....Clallam Bay Coast Guard Station/Slip Point (MM 17.2)

LOCATION #2

Where: Park at the County Park at the center of Clallam Bay. Use the

footbridge over a tidewater slough connected to the Clallam River.

Excellent estuary habitat.

.....Clallam River Estuary (MM 17.2)

LOCATION #3

Where: All the docks and the jetty at the Sekiu harbor offer good

birding. The seabirds become accustomed to people and activity and

you may be able to get close to them from the docks. My only

positive I.D. of an Ancient Murrelet came when one surfaced within

10 feet of the dock. Murrelets are very shy and difficult to approach

on the open water. Please ask permission from the resort before

using docks.

.....Marina at Sekiu (MM 15.2)

LOCATION #4

Where: Four miles west of Sekiu the highway is next to the beach.

The mouth of the river is at the end of the straight-a-way, but on

private property. Park along the highway next to the beach and use

your binoculars to scope out the mouth of the river. In the fall,

Pelicans and several species of ducks can be seen.

.....Mouth of the Sekiu River (MM 11.5)

LOCATION #5

Where: Over a mile of beautiful beach can be walked between Chito

Beach Resort and the public access parking spots at Shipwreck

Point. Wide rocky tide pool beaches and lots of seaweed make this a

popular shorebird feeding area during all seasons. Keep a look out on

the next seven miles as this area is near Bald Eagle saturation.

.....Shipwreck Point (MM 7.8)

LOCATION #6

Where: From the overlook just before Snow Creek Resort, use a

spotting scope for a look at nesting and roosting seabirds. Here you

will see the first of the offshore nesting rocks that make the Cape

Flattery area so important to the bird world. Sail and Seal Rock (the

largest one) are representative of the unique geology of the area

that has produced the sea stacks that so many of the seabirds

depend on for nesting sites.

.....Snow Creek Resort Overlook (MM 1.2)

LOCATION #7

Where: As you first enter "downtown" Neah Bay, drive out the big

breakwater next to the Makah Maiden Cafe. As in Sekiu, you may

see open water seabirds as well as shorebirds. On the other end of

town a small creek enters the bay just past the Senior Activity

Center. Pull to the edge of the road and observe the beach as it is

one of the 'hot spots' for ducks and shorebirds.

.....Neah Bay Marina (MM 0.0 is at the Makah Reservation)

LOCATION #8

Where: The whole thing! As soon as you leave Neah Bay, the next 5

miles is Cape Flattery. Many of my rarest bird sightings have been in

the forests and on the rocks of the Cape. It must rank with the

Dungeness Spit in importance in the migration of many species and

as a nesting site for others. Use your spotting scope from the Cape

Flattery overlook to see the Murres nesting on the cliffs of Tatoosh

Island during the spring and summer.

Noteworthy sightings for the Northwest Coast (* less common)

From Land: From Boat:

Hermit Thrush Tufted Puffin

Peregrine Falcon Cassin’s Auklet

Sandhill Crane* Pigeon Guillemot

Vaux's Swift* Rhinoceros Auklet

Trumpeter Swan* Black Footed Albatross

Merlin* Northern Fulmar

Wandering Tattler* Pink-Footed Shearwater

Pacific Plover Sooty Shearwater

Lesser Yellowlegs* Buller’s Shearwater*

Black Turnstone Willet*

Sanderling Pomarine Jaeger*

Red-Necked Phalarope

Written by Steve Boothe of PUFFIN ADVENTURES

.....Cape Flattery

 

 

Bird Watching Tour

 

Clallam Bay to Cape Flattery ~ Self-Guided

Related Website of this activity
Clallam Bay to Neah Bay
Frontier St.
Clallam Bay, WA, 98326
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REGIONAL DESTINATIONS WEBSITE LINKS

Want to get local? These community sites are great resources for finding even more information on local happenings, local businesses and places to stay. Take a look at these sites and plan your trip to the Olympic Peninsula!

Clallam Bay and Sekiu
Port Hadlock-Chimacum-Nordland-Irondale
Forks
Port Ludlow
Neah Bay & Cape Flattery
Port Townsend
Olympic National Park & Forest
Quilcene and Brinnon
Olympic Peninsula Gateway Visitor Center
Rainforest Country
Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau
Sequim
Port Angeles

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