Upcoming Birding Trips
Let’s go birding!
Photo by Lynda Johnson
Open to Everyone
Our field trips are open to anyone and all are welcome. You do not need to be an Audubon member to participate.
Trip Leaders and Field Trip Costs
Our field trips are free to attend. However, our trip leaders are volunteers and receive no compensation. If you carpool with someone, it is common courtesy to compensate the driver for your share of gas and vehicle use. You are also responsible for any park entry fees, parking passes, and ferry fares.
What to Bring
Participants should bring their own binoculars and/or scopes if they have them. Outings are typically for several hours, so bring enough food and water for the entire time. Appropriate clothing - layers and raincoats are often a must. Drivers should bring your Discover Pass or any other passes you might have.
What Not to Bring or Do
Dogs are not allowed on our outings. Pishing and playback calls are allowed at the trip leader’s discretion.
Skill Level
We provide a variety of outings that accommodate many birding skill levels. Birders of all levels of ability are welcome on all outings. Most trips are great for beginning birders, as our experienced birders love to teach and share their passion and knowledge with newcomers.
Meet at 8:00 AM at the gravel parking lot at the Everett Sewage Lagoons (or park at nearby Langus Riverfront Park and walk to the gravel lot). From the south, take Exit 195 from I-5 to East Marine View Dr. to SR 529, Ross Rd. and Smith Island Rd. past Langus Riverfront Park and around curve to the gravel lot. From the north, take Exit 198 from I-5 to SR 529, then exit for Langus Riverfront Park along frontage road to Ross Rd. and Smith Island Rd. This is a walk on the trail along the Everett Sewage Lagoons and then onto Spencer Island -- areas often rich in waterfowl, raptors and passerines. We’ll eat lunch at Langus Riverfront Park. After lunch, we will head over to the 12th Street NE viewpoint for a different perspective on the settling ponds and mud flats. We will officially end at 12th Street. Depending on recent sightings, some may choose an optional visit to the Everett waterfront. Dress for the weather and pack a lunch.
Adult Release Form / Youth Release Form
Trip Leader: Jeff Hambleton (425-923-0227)
Meet at 7:00 AM at the Quil Ceda Village Walmart lot west of Marysville (I-5 exit 200). Park away from the store, to the east, near Quil Ceda Blvd. (next to I-5). Please come prepared to carpool — the number of cars impacts safety and where we are able to stop for birding, as well as the environment. We’ll wind our way to west-side sites on Whidbey Island, ranging from Rosario Beach to Swantown/Bos Lake and perhaps (depending on conditions and time) as far south as Crockett Lake. Dress for the weather and pack a lunch.
Adult Release Form / Youth Release Form
Trip Leaders: Dianne Marie Murray (206-769-6271) and Denny Bolton (425-241-6892)
This is a half day field trip. Meet at the Swamp Creek Park n Ride at 11:30am.
We'll carpool northward to Boe Road and explore the new levees installed and all the changes in bird behavior they have instigated. Be prepared for level walking and standing for periods of time, as we set ourselves up for the incoming tide. Dress for the weather and bring whatever snacks you may need. Additional optional side trip to Stanwood Water Treatment Plant afterwards.
After you have submitted your 2026 Liability Release form, please contact the trip leader in order to register for the trip.
Adult Release Form / Youth Release Form
Trip Leader: David Droppers, Lycaenid@gmail.com
Meet at 7:00 AM at Quil Ceda Village Walmart lot west of Marysville (I-5 exit 200). Park away from store to the east near Quil Ceda Blvd. and I-5. Please come prepared to carpool. We’ll have a two-hour drive, crossing the border into Canada before arriving at the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, where many species -- including raptors, passerines and shorebirds-- are possible. After about three hours of walking and birding the level trails (some benches are available), we’ll eat our lunches there before heading home. Admission per person is $10 Canadian (about $7.25 in US dollars) or $8 Canadian for seniors (about $5.79 US) -- you can pay in US dollars or by credit card. Be sure to bring your passport or Enhanced Driver’s License. Learn more about the site at www.reifelbirdsanctuary.com. We will have a group reservation (do not book an individual reservation). Dress for the weather and pack a lunch. If any last-minute changes are needed, e.g. due to unexpected changes at the border, this posting will be updated – please check the Pilchuck Audubon trip webpage shortly before the trip to confirm the plan.
Adult Release Form / Youth Release Form
Trip Leader: Teri Martine (terimartine@me.com or 206-522-2920)
Meet at 9:00am at 19851 73rd Ave NE, Kenmore, WA 98028 near the parking kiosk.
This 25 acre park features trails through riparian forest along Swamp Creek that will be muddy or even flooded this month, tall rubber boots highly recommended.
There are no restrooms on site.
Please submit your 2026 Field Trip Liability Release before participating, no other registration is required.
Adult Release Form / Youth Release Form
This will be a recurring field trip on the last Saturday of each month.
Trip leader: Linda Phillips (206-291-3663)
Meet at 7:00 AM at the Quil Ceda Village Walmart lot west of Marysville (I-5 exit 200). Park away from the store, to the east, near Quil Ceda Blvd. and I-5. Please come prepared to carpool – the number of cars impacts safety and where we are able to stop for birding, as well as the environment. We’ll head to Blaine Marine Park to meet the trip leader at 8:30 AM and then search Drayton Harbor and Birch Bay for waterfowl and shorebirds, including Long-tailed Duck, Black Turnstone, Harlequin Duck, all three scoter species and (in some years) Yellow-billed Loon, Long-billed Curlew and Hudsonian Whimbrel. Dress for the weather and pack a lunch.
Adult Release Form / Youth Release Form
Trip Leader: Graham Hutchison (425-890-0723)
This is a half-day trip. We’ll visit Bitter Lake, Llandover Woods Greenspace, and Twin Ponds Park. This walk requires moderate exertion.
After you have submitted your 2026 Liability Release forms, please contact the trip leader in order to register for the trip.
Adult Release Form / Youth Release Form
Trip Leader: Douglas Resnick, dresnick1@comcast.net
Meet at 7:30 AM at the Quil Ceda Village Walmart lot west of Marysville (I-5 exit 200). Park away from the store to the east near Quil Ceda Blvd. (next to I-5). Please come prepared to carpool – the number of cars impacts safety and where we are able to stop for birding, as well as the environment. We will explore Padilla Bay and Samish Bay and the nearby flats, looking for wintering hawks, falcons, owls, shrikes and waterfowl. Dress for the weather and pack and lunch.
Adult Release Form / Youth Release Form
Trip Leaders: Dianne Marie Murray (206-769-6271) and Denny Bolton (425-241-6892)
This will be a half day field trip. For those coming from the north, we can meet at the Canyon Park Park n Ride at 7:30 AM and meet at Chism Beach Park at 8 AM. We'll bird this relatively unbirded park for 2-3 hours, looking for forest and lake birds. Dress for weather. Path from parking lot to beach is steep!
Beware of Google driving directions - meet at main lot via 98th Ave, not the handicapped lot via 96th Ave.
After you have submitted your 2026 Liability Release form, please contact the trip leader in order to register for the trip.
Adult Release Form / Youth Release Form
Trip Leader: David Droppers, Lycaenid@gmail.com
Meet at 7:15 AM at the Wade James Theater parking lot (950 Main St. in Edmonds, just east of 9th Ave, on the south side of Main St). Please come prepared to carpool. We’ll ferry to the Kitsap Peninsula for sea-watching at Point-No-Point and a short hike at Foulweather Bluff (through forest to a sandy beach and marshy wetland). We’ll eat lunch at Norwegian Point or Buck Lake, and aim for the 2:30 ferry back to Edmonds. Dress for the weather and pack a lunch.
Adult Release Form / Youth Release Form
Trip Leader: Bruce Bohmke (425-830-6146)
Meet at 9:00am at 19851 73rd Ave NE, Kenmore, WA 98028 near the parking kiosk.
This 25 acre park features trails through riparian forest along Swamp Creek that will be muddy or even flooded this month, tall rubber boots highly recommended.
There are no restrooms on site.
Please submit your 2026 Field Trip Liability Release before participating, no other registration is required.
Adult Release Form / Youth Release Form
This will be a recurring field trip on the last Saturday of each month.
Trip leader: Linda Phillips (206-291-3663)
Meet at the Swamp Creek Park n Ride at 8:00 AM and we'll carpool northward to the north Lake Cassidy trailhead (Getchell Trailhead), arriving around 8:30 AM. We'll walk south from there looking for wintering passerines, ending the eastern Lake Cassidy dock.
Expect level walking of approximately 3 miles round trip. We should be back to the trailhead around 11/1130, back to the Park n Ride by noon. Dress for weather.
In case of windy weather, we'll stay out of the forest and opt for the Mukilteo Waterfront.
After you have submitted your 2026 Liability Release form, please contact the trip leader in order to register for the trip.
Adult Release Form / Youth Release Form
Trip Leader: David Droppers, Lycaenid@gmail.com
Meet at 9:00am at 19851 73rd Ave NE, Kenmore, WA 98028 near the parking kiosk.
This 25 acre park features trails through riparian forest along Swamp Creek that will be muddy or even flooded this month, tall rubber boots highly recommended.
There are no restrooms on site.
Please submit your 2026 Field Trip Liability Release before participating, no other registration is required.
Adult Release Form / Youth Release Form
This will be a recurring field trip on the last Saturday of each month.
Trip leader: Linda Phillips (206-291-3663)