Common Mergansers - Photo: MIck Thompson
Madison Falls and Elwha River
Date and time: Friday, June 20, 7:30 a.m
Leader: Ben Hannah
Limit: 15 participants. – Register below at the “REGISTER” button.
Cost: Free.
Meeting Place: Madison Falls parking lot (parking may be limited, so carpooling encouraged if possible). Driving directions: head west along Highway 101 from Port Angeles. Turn left onto Olympic Hot Springs Rd just before crossing the Elwha River. Drive approximately 2.2 miles to the gravel parking area. The group will meet at the picnic tables to the east of the parking area (opposite side from the river).
Features: We will be starting at the parking lot and walking up Olympic Hot Springs Rd, looking and listening for birds in the bigleaf maple habitat by the falls, open fields near the mule pens, conifer forests further up the road, and along the Elwha river itself from several points along the path. Hopefully, we will find a variety of flycatcher species, several warblers, and an array of swallows, along with the potential for water birds such as kingfishers, mergansers, American Dippers, and Spotted Sandpipers. Sooty Grouse are possible as well, and always a welcome treat to see!
Special requirements: We will be walking on a smooth paved roadway the vast majority of the time. We may begin the walk by going to Madison Falls and birding in the woods there. This is also a very short and easy walk along a paved path. We will be walking approx 1 mile total distance, possibly more depending on time and the desire of the group to explore additional areas. There is a vault toilet available at the trailhead near the parking lot.
Liability Form: We ask field trip participants to sign a liability release form before the day of the trip. This signed form will be good for future field trips. You can review, download, and print the form in advance by visiting the Field Trips page on the OPAS website or clicking here. It’s preferred that you eSign the liability release form by clicking here.
Further information: Contact Ben Hannah at OlympicTransplant@gmail.com.
Note: A waitlist has been enabled for this trip. If you need to cancel your reservation, please email webmaster@olympicpeninsulaaudubon.org.