Western Flycatcher - Photo: Bob Boekelheide

Peabody Creek Trail Bird/Nature Walk Report

by Kathy McCoy

We had a lovely walk on Sunday, May 11 exploring Peabody Creek Trail. I encourage folks to do this trail as it’s a pleasant introduction to the Olympic Foothills. While the birds weren’t always easy to spot, we identified at least 19 species along the way.

The Pacific Wrens stole the show, filling the air with their songs. We were lucky enough to have a few accompany us along the trail on two separate occasions. Saying that we got good looks at the mouse-sized birds might be a minor exaggeration, but at about five feet away, it was the closest I’ve ever been without a mist net.

Wilson’s Warblers were another highlight, their songs seemingly everywhere. Though most remained hidden, we managed to catch sight of a couple. Brown Creepers, on the other hand, made a visible appearance, climbing up tree trunks right beside the trail!

We also encountered the local ravens, including what we believed to be a fledgling. Their vocalizations were lively, adding to the soundtrack of our walk. Chestnut-Backed Chickadees and American Robins were also visible, offering us more opportunities to observe.

This is a delightful time of year to be in the foothills, as summer residents begin arriving and filling the forest with song. Among them were Western Tanagers, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Black-throated Gray Warblers, Orange-crowned Warblers, and Western Flycatchers. Though we didn’t spot them, their melodies accompanied us throughout the hike. Thanks to Merlin, we were able to confirm our identifications.

Alongside these new additions to our local bird lists, we enjoyed sightings of familiar favorites: Northern Flickers, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Red Crossbills, Evening Grosbeaks, and Song Sparrows.

The trail itself was as expected—not particularly scenic, but manageable. A few slippery muddy spots remained, though the recent dry weather made them easy to navigate. We took time to ponder the geomorphology of the area, noting slumps and remnants of human activity.

Spring flowers were in full bloom, adding bursts of color to our walk. We admired skunk cabbage, spotted coralroot, wild ginger, trillium, western maidenhair fern, Hooker’s fairybells, and false Solomon’s seal (also known as Solomon’s plume). The Seek app proved invaluable the day before the field trip, helping refresh my memory of wildflowers from days gone by—some dating back possibly 40 years ago!

A few plants brought back vivid memories, including devil’s club, which reminded me of past bushwhacking adventures in the western Cascades and the painful mistake of grabbing onto it. Ouch! A brush with stinging nettle left a lingering tenderness—a small price to pay for such a wonderful day.

Overall, it was a fantastic trip with a warm and enthusiastic group of birders and naturalists. Thank you all for joining me!

Here is the eBird checklist link: https://ebird.org/checklist/S236496372

Cheers, Kathy McCoy