See ring-necked ducks, salmon on Deschutes River

Tumwater Historical Park, Site 2 from "Olympic Loop" of Audubon Washington's Great Washington State Birding Trail.

Location: Off Interstate 5 in Tumwater, Thurston County.

Habitat: 35 acres of municipal-run parks by Deschutes River with waterfalls, woods, wetlands, contiguous with Capitol Lake.

Best seasons for birding: Fall through spring.

Birds commonly seen: Belted kingfishers swoop by hooded and common mergansers on river. Song sparrows, cedar waxwings, black-capped chickadees, Townsend's warblers flit in foliage. Fall-winter, watch canvasbacks, gadwalls, and ring-necked ducks, horned grebes, common goldeneyes, greater and lesser scaups, plus possible Thayer's gulls in winter.

Viewing: Follow path downriver to fenced viewing area; take bridge to wetlands path. ADA trail leads under freeway to viewing platform.

Getting there: From I-5 southbound, take Exit 103 (Second Avenue). At stop sign go straight. Drive one block, turn left onto Custer Way Southwest. Cross bridge over freeway, turn right onto Boston Street Southwest, curving back over second bridge to T intersection. Turn right onto Deschutes Parkway Southwest. Drive 0.3 mile, staying straight at Y. From Y, drive one block, turn right on Grant Street, drive down into park. Continue straight, park at river.

From I-5 northbound, take Exit 103. At stop sign, continue straight on Deschutes Parkway. Drive 0.6 mile, staying straight at Y, then continue to Grant Street, per above directions.

More birding: Neighboring Tumwater Falls Park, with three waterfalls (lowest one has American dippers), plus spawning salmon in November. Located 0.4 miles south on Deschutes Parkway.

Source: Audubon Washington, Great Washington State Birding Trail maps.

To order maps, see the Web site www.wa.audubon.org. Details, call 866-922-4737.