Birding San Juan Islands
of Washington State
Sign up for a
guided birding trip in the remarkable San Juan Islands in Puget Sound.
The San Juans are famous world-wide for marine wildlife, especially the
resident pods of orca whales and huge harbor seal population. Overlooked
by many are the 300+ species of birds living in the islands. Habitats
range from open marine water and shores, to grassland/oak savannah, to
both dry and wet coniferous forests, to name a few. Great locations have
been preserved in the San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge, San
Juan Island National Historical Park, a dozen Marine State Parks, and
smaller preserves held by the Nature Conservancy and San Juan
Preservation Trust.
Author and biologist Mark Lewis,
conducts private birding tours for all
skill levels of birders. Mark has lived in the San Juan Islands for
25 years and has conducted research on both birds and marine
mammals. He has also been an instructor for many natural history classes and
currently guides sea kayak trips for Sea Quest Expeditions, the company
he founded in 1989.
Any time of year provides
excellent birding possibilities in the San Juan Islands. Many birders
choose their season based on the specialties they seek. Top targets for
many birding trip participants are Brandt's and Pelagic cormorants;
nearly any species of waterfowl in North America, including Trumpeter
Swans and Harlequin Ducks; nesting Peregrine Falcons with close viewing;
a huge breeding population of Bald Eagles with pairs separated by as
little as a mile; shorebirds found only on rocky shorelines
such as Surfbirds, Wandering Tattlers, and nesting Black Oystercatchers;
Thayer's Gulls and another 10+ gull species; many alcids, including
Tufted Puffins, Common Murres, Rhinoceros Auklets, Pigeon Guillemots,
and both Ancient and Marbled Murrelets. Moving on to dry land, you can
see and hear Rufous Hummingbird, Pacific-slope Flycatcher,
Hutton's Vireo, Varied Thrush, Townsend's Warbler, "Sooty" Fox Sparrow,
Golden-crowned Sparrow, and Red Crossbill.
Follow the links below to read more about our
Washington bird watching trips and tours:
Fee schedule &
options for Birding and Bird-watching in Washington state
Birding tours
and bird-watching trips in Washington's Olympic Peninsula & Coast
Introduction to
Birding and Bird-watching in Washington state
Click here to Reserve your Birding Trip Today
Email us or call (360) 378-5767 or Toll Free (888) 589-4253
Birding Washington's San Juan Island
"My
wife and I had a wonderful experience. We observed several bald eagles, nesting
peregrine falcons, porpoises, seals, and a pod of orca whales as the finale.
What really made the trip memorable was seeing so many diverse species in their
natural habitat and learning more about them from our exceptionally
knowledgeable guide, Mark Lewis. The information we received on the geology,
flora and fauna of the area, and the history of the islands themselves surpassed
anything I have yet read in any guidebook or other publication on the topic. My
most sincere thanks for an experience we will always remember."