Last weekend, on a bright Sunday morning, I went birding at Union By Natural Area in Seattle, Washington. It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited for birding. It is also great for beginner level birders as you can spot birds quite smoothly (as stated by Abhishek, a beginner birder).
In this blog post, I will share details about my experience, the birds I spotted, the best time to visit and how you can reach this place. You can also watch this video to get a more intrinsic view of my trip to the Union Bay Natural Area.
About Union Bay Natural Area
Union Bay Natural Area is a public wildlife area spreading across 74 acres with a 4-mile shoreline bordering Lake Washington. This former landfill is a major birding destination in Seattle, blessed with incredible wetlands, groves, swamps and old-growth forests. You can find resident northwest species from chickadees to jays, from herons and ducks to raptors. You can read more about this place and the ongoing restoration activities here.
Birding scene at Union Bay Natural Area
As I mentioned earlier, this is one of the best birding locations in Seattle. It is home to more than 200 species of resident and migratory birds. Moreover, you can also spot other reptiles and amphibians while strolling on the trails.
There are two major trails that you can take the Wahkiakum Trail and Yesler Swamp Trail. The Wahkiakum Trail connecting to the Loop trail is the largest and covers a significant chunk of shoreline and loops around two ponds, Shoveler’s Pond and Central Pond. Yesler Trail is a smaller trail that covers just the shoreline. We took the Wahkiakum Trail and spotted more than 15 species of birds and a creep of tortoise. Here is a list of birds we spotted:
What is the best time to visit?
If feeling connected with mother nature sounds like your jam, you can visit Union Bay Natural Area any time of the day. However, if your primary objective is birding, I recommend visiting early morning or early evening to make the most of your visit.
How to reach Union Bay Natural Area
You can get here by bus following the below route, which is the recommended and the most sustainable way to reach the location. However, you can also drive down and park your car in the parking lot near the Center for Urban Horticulture.
- Take a Light rail until University of Washington Station
- From there hop on to Bus no.65 from Montlake Blvd NE & NE Pacific Pl (Bay 5) and get down at NE 45th St & Mary Gates Memorial Dr NE and walk to the Union Bay Natural Area.
Here are some tips to plan your trip:
- Carry a Binocular or a DSLR along with a telephoto lens and tripod (optional)
- Take a water bottle and some energy bar or trail mix as you will need the energy to walk around and spot birds.
- Wear colours of nature and make sure they are comfortable
- Put on some sunscreen (even if it is not a sunny day)
- Wear comfortable shoes and don’t forget to carry your rain gear.
- Carry treats for squirrels and birds (optional). However, avoid feeding them human foods like chips, wafers etc.
Happy Birding!
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