Moving to WA state!

Good morning, my fellow POTNers. Woohoo! So excited to see what's in store for us on our next move. Any places we should see first/go to?

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Hey, Jenn - welcome to Washington - congratulations on the move!

Whereabouts in WA are you going to live?

I ask because eastern WA and western WA are completely different.........diff​erent landscape, different birds, different wildlife, different climate, different economy, different politics. It's almost like they're entirely different nations!

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JennB wrote in post #18254970
Any places we should see first/go to?

Well, that depends on what kind of things you like.

Do you like the things of man ..... a.k.a. "culture", such as wineries, city life, professional sports, theatrical and musical performances, architecture, etc?

Or do you most like the things of nature, such as snow-capped mountains, forests, wildlife, alpine lakes, commanding vistas, etc?

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What Tom said/asked; and Welcome!

Tom Reichner wrote in post #18255088
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Hey, Jenn - welcome to Washington - congratulations on the move!

Whereabouts in WA are you going to live?

I ask because eastern WA and western WA are completely different.........diff​erent landscape, different birds, different wildlife, different climate, different economy, different politics. It's almost like they're entirely different nations!

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Well, that depends on what kind of things you like.

Do you like the things of man ..... a.k.a. "culture", such as wineries, city life, professional sports, theatrical and musical performances, architecture, etc?

Or do you most like the things of nature, such as snow-capped mountains, forests, wildlife, alpine lakes, commanding vistas, etc?

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Hi, Tom! We will be moving to the Tacoma area. Love anything nature! I know I'll be close to Mt. Rainier, but what other attractions are there? We'll definitely be willing to drive to places. Just want to really explore the beautiful PNW.

Snydremark wrote in post #18255113
What Tom said/asked; and Welcome!

Thanks, Eric! We love anything nature. So, please feel free to bombard me with recommendations!

JennB wrote in post #18255124
Hi, Tom! We will be moving to the Tacoma area. Love anything nature! I know I'll be close to Mt. Rainier, but what other attractions are there? We'll definitely be willing to drive to places. Just want to really explore the beautiful PNW.

Well, a couple hours south of you there is the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. It's primarily a bird refuge, and is great for raptors and migrating waterfowl. When I was there last there were flocks of Dusky Canada Geese - a dwarf subspecies that is really pretty cool looking. Ridgefiled offers some good mammal opportunities, too........otters, deer, and nutria.

Here are a couple of links:
https://www.fws.gov/re​fuge/ridgefield/
https://ridgefieldfrie​nds.org

As you mention, Rainier is close by. Late May and early June is the best time for Sooty Grouse, as that is their mating season. September is the best time for Pika, as they are most active in the early autumn gathering as much vegetation as possible before the snowfall begins. There are also Cascade Foxes there at Rainier - they are a REALLY cool subspecies of the Red Fox, and can range in color from orangish red to black and silver. They can be quite photogenic, but I fear that the Park Service has taken measures to limit fox/human interactions, so it may be more difficult to find them and get close to them than it was a few years ago.

A really good winter spot is just an hour or two north of you along I-90. It is the Skagit Flats, where thousands upon thousands of Snow Geese spend the winter. NOW is the time to go there! In addition to the Snow Geese, there are a lot of wintering Widgeon, Trumpeter Swans, and Tundra Swans, along with lots of raptors such as Short-eared Owls and Peregrin Falcons.

I suggest that you subscribe to tweeters - a list serve site where peopel report rare or interesting bird sightings and give their location. Here is a link to their site, but it may work better for you to subscribe and get the daily emails - they help you not to forget to get out there and bird!
http://birding.aba.org​/mobiledigest/WA

The Columbia Gorge is also a wonderful place for some scenic photography. There are a good number of spectacular waterfalls on the Columbia River's tributaries, most of which are on the Oregon side. Here's a link to learn more:
http://www.oregonlive.​com …regon_waterfall​_road.html

I will add more content here as time goes by, but for now I have to get going........have some things that need to be done!


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Tom Reichner wrote in post #18255138
Well, a couple hours south of you there is the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. It's primarily a bird refuge, and is great for raptors and migrating waterfowl. When I was there last there were flocks of Dusky Canada Geese - a dwarf subspecies that is really pretty cool looking. Ridgefiled offers some good mammal opportunities, too........otters, deer, and nutria.

Here are a couple of links:
https://www.fws.gov/re​fuge/ridgefield/
https://ridgefieldfrie​nds.org

As you mention, Rainier is close by. Late May and early June is the best time for Sooty Grouse, as that is their mating season. September is the best time for Pika, as they are most active in the early autumn gathering as much vegetation as possible before the snowfall begins. There are also Cascade Foxes there at Rainier - they are a REALLY cool subspecies of the Red Fox, and can range in color from orangish red to black and silver. They can be quite photogenic, but I fear that the Park Service has taken measures to limit fox/human interactions, so it may be more difficult to find them and get close to them than it was a few years ago.

A really good winter spot is just an hour or two north of you along I-90. It is the Skagit Flats, where thousands upon thousands of Snow Geese spend the winter. NOW is the time to go there! In addition to the Snow Geese, there are a lot of wintering Widgeon, Trumpeter Swans, and Tundra Swans, along with lots of raptors such as Short-eared Owls and Peregrin Falcons.

I suggest that you subscribe to tweeters - a list serve site where peopel report rare or interesting bird sightings and give their location. Here is a link to their site, but it may work better for you to subscribe and get the daily emails - they help you not to forget to get out there and bird!
http://birding.aba.org​/mobiledigest/WA

The Columbia Gorge is also a wonderful place for some scenic photography. There are a good number of spectacular waterfalls on the Columbia River's tributaries, most of which are on the Oregon side. Here's a link to learn more:
http://www.oregonlive.​com …regon_waterfall​_road.html

I will add more content here as time goes by, but for now I have to get going........have some things that need to be done!

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Thank you for the many suggestions, Tom! I truly appreciate every single one. Our whole family is looking forward to the many things we can do while stationed there.

Are most of the places you recommended dog-friendly? We love taking our labrador retriever on our adventures. Just want to make sure he is able to enjoy these places, too.

Jenn, I'm so jealous!

JennB wrote in post #18255880
Are most of the places you recommended dog-friendly? We love taking our labrador retriever on our adventures. Just want to make sure he is able to enjoy these places, too.

I know that National Wildlife Refuges are NOT dog friendly, as the mere sight of a dog can make wildlife and birds uneasy, even if the dog is at quite a distance. So typically in NWRs dogs are not allowed out of the vehicle.

As for the rest of the places, I am really not sure. I think that areas that are managed specifically for wildlife are probably very restricted as to the presence of dogs, but natural areas that are not wildlife-centric would be pet friendly.....the latter would include scenic areas, hiking areas, and 'general recreation' areas such as state parks.

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Jenn, it's cool thst you're coming!

The Pacific Northwest is definitely a great place fot exploring tyhe wonders and beauties of nature!

We hsve plenty of sctive photogtsphers in the area, and they produce dome great work!

POTN has a group that was started following a Portland meetup.

Facebook has a couple very active groups that vome out with domme amazing work! You could do a search here in POTN or in Fsceook for Pacific Northwest, and stuff photographers or "NW Photographers, and dtuff should pop up!

For scenery, get out to the Olympic peninsula, take the ferry.

One of the greatest roads in the country (the greatest I have ever driven) is "Hurricane ridge Road" out to Hurricane Ridge visitors center in Olympic NR, with a view of all the mountains, and some nice light hiking trails. I felt like I was in an episode of "Top Gear"

Also, head North up past Bellingham, and west to Mount Baker,. it's really amazing!

tonylong wrote in post #18258277
Jenn, it's cool thst you're coming!

The Pacific Northwest is definitely a great place fot exploring tyhe wonders and beauties of nature!

We hsve plenty of sctive photogtsphers in the area, and they produce dome great work!

POTN has a group that was started following a Portland meetup.

Facebook has a couple very active groups that vome out with domme amazing work! You could do a search here in POTN or in Fsceook for Pacific Northwest, and stuff photographers or "NW Photographers, and dtuff should pop up!

So excited to move up there, Tony! I am definitely going to join some of the photography groups in the area. Can't wait to explore WA and the surrounding states!

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #18258292
For scenery, get out to the Olympic peninsula, take the ferry.

One of the greatest roads in the country (the greatest I have ever driven) is "Hurricane ridge Road" out to Hurricane Ridge visitors center in Olympic NR, with a view of all the mountains, and some nice light hiking trails. I felt like I was in an episode of "Top Gear"

Also, head North up past Bellingham, and west to Mount Baker,. it's really amazing!

Thanks, Jake! Will make sure to visit those places. Haven't heard a single bad thing about WA. We may just end up retiring there.

JennB wrote in post #18258650
So excited to move up there, Tony! I am definitely going to join some of the photography groups in the area. Can't wait to explore WA and the surrounding states!

wELL, THE fACEBOOK groups have been very active, and encouraging because you see photos from so many scenes here,it gets you itching to hit the road! a name you might llook up is Gary Randall,he is very aqctive and leads workshops in the area!And, he put together a calendar for this year and was offering them to his Friends, hey I picked up two!

And by the way, Tom mentioned the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge and yes, that has been a favorite location for me going back over the years! Tom mentioned the birds, yeah, swarms of geese and ducks park there!
hawks, Grat Blue HeronsdwansSnowy White Egrets, and dthen Ihave come upon active Bald Eagles there!

Once I joined a meetup at another wildlife refuge. The group "leader" was a guy who worked for a goveernment agency. He was a "birder, he carried binoculars, not photo equipment.

so I was chatting with him, it was a cold winter "spell", the ponds and wetlands were frozen over. I mentioned that I loved going o the Ridgefield Refuge and he told me a story!

Two weeks prior to our meetup, he had gone into Ridgefield, all the water was frozen over, so he came to acene. a swarm of ducks had partked on the water, but they evidently stopped for the night and the water had frozen around their feet and ankles, and theey were stuck in the ice!, well, as he was watching a swarm of bald eagles came up, and, well,to them the ducks were a meal parked and waiting, snd wow, sad for the ducks but I sure wished that I had been there with my gear!!!

Oh well, have fun in Washington!!!

In Tacoma, you'll also be, practically, on top of the Nisqually wildlife refuge, which is a good place to catch migratory and local birds. There is a nesting family of Great Horned Owls that make an annual attraction there.