[Tweeters] Short Farm access and Jefferson Co birding

[Steve Hampton via Tweeters]

I'm happy to see Jefferson County is trending. Please come bird and find
more!

Lately, most of the attention has been at Short's Family Farm (aka Short
Farm). This is a privately-owned farm along Center Rd about a mile or so
south of Chimacum and Finn River Cidery (a fun afternoon and evening stop,
often with live music). The Port of Port Townsend will be taking over
ownership of the farm in August. That's another story, but we're hoping for
continued access and possibly even maybe stream restoration along Chimacum
Creek (that ag ditch that runs north-south in a straight line).

Basic access rules: It is a working farm, so please be respectful of
equipment and operations.
There are two access points - one within the property and one at a pullout
along Center Rd. Neither of these are well-marked.

1) within the property -- parking is permitted at the far side of the
valley after you drive slowly between the buildings (47.9871917,
-122.7817738). Please do not park among the buildings. The entrance off
Center Rd is a very small green sign. Please look at a satellite map first
to familiarize yourself. The parking spot on the far side is just where the
road bends left and begins to leave the valley on the west side. From here,
you can walk on the road you just drove on, as well as the T junction road
toward the old barn in the middle of the valley.
2) Center Rd pullout -- you can park here -- there's room for just a few
cars (47.9821766, -122.7711858) and then walk down the diagonal dirt road
(open and closing the gate). You can then walk left and right hundreds of
yards and overlook the fields. A scope is useful. The trees to the left can
host lots of warblers.

Birds - In winter, much of this floods and has waterfowl, including swans
(mostly Trumpeter but sometimes a Tundra or two). Currently it is mudflats,
so there has been Solitary Sandpiper (behind the barn in the middle of the
valley), both yellowlegs, pipits, all three teal, lots of Soras (rather
rare on the Olympic Pen), etc. I recommend birding from both access points.

OTHER NEARBY BIRDING SPOTS:
Oak Bay County Park is good at medium and lower tides -- access via Oak Bay
Rd and Portage Way.
Indian Island pullouts across Oak Bay.
Fort Flagler -- both the spit and Marrowstone Pt. Note the spit has lots of
people on weekends.
East Beach County Park, Marrowstone -- great at tides below 1', especially
1/4 mile north and 1/2 to 1 mile south - whimbrel and godwits lately.
Morningtide Open Space on Schwartz Rd, Marrowstone -- fabulous for dawn
chorus and morning birds of the wood
 -- and even birding along Larson Lake Rd and others like it are good for
morning warblers.
In Port Townsend, there is Kah Tai Lagoon and Fort Warden/Pt Wilson.

good birding,


--
Steve Hampton
Port Townsend, WA  (qatáy)
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