A Chance Encounter

Aug 1

One of the things I enjoy most about leading field trips is introducing people to places they may have otherwise overlooked.

For Kitsap Audubon, Point No Point is understandably one of our most popular destinations. It is arguably the premier birding location in the county. But just down the road sits Foulweather Bluff, a place with its own unique charm. It rarely produces the same impressive species counts, but its shoreline, forests, and bluffs always seem to reward those willing to slow down and look.

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to lead a group there.

I still don't consider myself an advanced birder, but after several years of exploring Kitsap County, I finally feel comfortable sharing what I've learned and helping others discover the birds around us.

The morning was filled with memorable sightings. A Hairy Woodpecker worked a tree no more than five feet from our group. We stopped to watch a Great Blue Heron nest where nearly grown juveniles waited for their next meal. An American White Pelican surprised us with an overhead flyby, and along the bluff we found what appeared to be an active Belted Kingfisher nesting burrow carved into the sandy cliff.

Twenty-eight species made for a successful morning.

The final highlight wasn't a bird at all.

Along the trail we met another local birder named Nick. He joined our walk, and before long we were swapping sightings, favorite locations, and stories from around Kitsap County. By the end of the trip we had exchanged contact information and made plans to bird together.

It didn't take long for those plans to come together.

This weekend, Nick joined my fellow Audubon leader and friend Chris and me for a morning at Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge—one of my favorite birding locations in Washington.

Nisqually always feels different from anywhere else I visit. Rivers, mudflats, ponds, forests, and marshes come together in one incredible landscape, and every habitat seems to hold something worth discovering.

By the end of the morning, we had recorded fifty-five species.

Among the highlights was a rare Black Phoebe & Black-bellied Plover sighting, Vaux's Swifts darting directly overhead, five local swallow species feeding across the refuge, and prolonged looks at a brilliant Yellow Warbler.

Of course, we also spent plenty of time searching for the birds that didn’t want to be found. Green Herons, American Bitterns, Soras, and Virginia Rails all kept us guessing. In the end, only the Virginia Rail finally revealed itself, stepping briefly into view a few times before disappearing back into the marsh.

That's birding.

Sometimes the species you hope for never appear.

Sometimes an unexpected rarity steals the show.

And sometimes the best discovery is meeting someone who shares your enthusiasm and gives you another reason to head back into the field.

Field Notes — Foulweather Bluff

Location: Foulweather Bluff Preserve, Hansville, Washington
Date: Summer 2026
Habitat: Coastal bluff, shoreline, mixed forest, and Puget Sound nearshore habitat
Conditions: Calm summer morning with excellent visibility

Species Highlights

Great Blue Heron (definite nesting pair)
American White Pelicans
Belted Kingfisher (probable nesting pair)
Hairy Woodpecker

Notable Behavior

Hairy Woodpecker foraged within a few feet of the group.
Great Blue Heron juveniles remained active at a nesting colony.
Two American White Pelicans made an unexpected flyover.
Observed what appeared to be an active Belted Kingfisher nesting burrow in the bluff.

Field Notes — Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

Location: Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, Olympia, Washington
Date: Summer 2026
Habitat: Estuary, freshwater marsh, mudflats, riparian forest, ponds, and grasslands
Conditions: Cool summer morning with light winds; light afternoon rain