--- In "pueo9" <> wrote:
>
> Hello All, I will be heading up the trail from the Hoh River
Visitors
> Center ( Forks , Wa. is the closest town ). If anyone has info to
> share... It would be greatly appreciated. thanks,chris
>
Hi Chris,
My partner Richard and I have spent quite a bit of time in/around
Olympic National Park over the past few years, though we haven't
recorded there (yet :o) ). From the most recent camping at the Hoh
and a few short hikes (mostly photographing) we've enjoyed a good
amount of wildlife.
Here's a quick list:
Hoh Campground (A-loop, sites by the river #16, 18) --
Flycatchers (in evening, not sure of type -- one typically perched
on the rootball of a large blown down tree), chestnut-backed
chickadees and white-crowned sparrows (2-3 wks ago they were feeding
young), brown creeper, yellow warblers, pileated woodpeckers,
flickers (likely red-shafted), barred owl (2am calls from across the
river), nuthatches, crows (of course!). There was a doe with twin
fawns (still spotted and nursing) that was bedding down in an open
area between A-loop and the entry road just off an abandoned paved
trail near A-loop (off the long term overnight parking). From the
droppings and grass in the area it appeared elk also were bedding
down at night in that area. There was also a 9-point bull elk that
grazed through A-loop, he was on a sand bar on the river off Spruce
trail about 2-3 weeks before that (4-6wks ago). Also a young buck
was hanging around the bed-down area, he spent at least part of the
night in the bushes between site 16 and the river.
Spruce Trail (evening, end closer to the visitor center) --
Lots of woodpeckers (downy, hairy) near the trail in the late
afternoon, early evening.
Hoh Trail --
Woodpeckers and lots of smaller birds at the treetop level
(bushtits?, chestnut-backed chickadees). 4-6 wks ago we thought we
may have heard spruce grouse (drumming type sound), but that isn't
certain. 2-3 wks ago there was also a report of a black bear w/in
1/2 mile of the visitor center off the Hoh trail.
Ponds off the entry road (opposite river & closer to the visitor
center, but along entry road) --
Look/listen for belted kingfishers that hang out (and scold) in the
ponds. They often hang out on the far side of the ponds.
Hoh River --
Blue herons hang out along the gravel bars on the river, opposite
the ponds. They are pretty skiddish though.
Apparently there have even been several sightings of cougar as close
as the entry shack. Nice to hear they're doing that well with
habitat pressures from around the park. There also was a herd of
about 15 elk hanging around near the entry shack 2-3 wks ago. They
range pretty far though so hard to tell where they'd be.
Kalalock Campground (south of Forks, along the coast) --
Trail off the southern-most loop to the beach takes you in an area
that usually has eagles (to the south toward the beach).
Make sure you bring plenty of bug dope! Mosquitoes and flies were
biting for anyone who stopped too long (or at least they were for
me, Richard seems more immune... lucky guy!).
How far are you going up the trail?
Enjoy!
Bonnie
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