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Cowlitz Wildlife Area: Swofford Pond |
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HABITAT: |
220-acre pond bounded by wetlands and mature deciduous trees owned by Tacoma Power, managed by WDFW. |
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| BIRDING: | Lots of birds of lots of species! Look for Western Grebes doing mating dance on water, and nesting Ospreys, plus Common Loons, Barrow’s Goldeneyes, and Common Mergansers. Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Pine Siskins sing in cottonwoods, Pacific-slope and Willow Flycatchers in alders. Red Crossbills stay late spring-late fall. Winter promises Northern Shrikes, plus Northern Shovelers, Lesser Scaups, Northern Pintails; Blue-winged, Green-winged, and possible Cinnamon Teal; and occasional Ring-necked Ducks. American Kestrels, Bald Eagles, Red-breasted Sapsuckers, and Downy, Hairy, and Pileated Woodpeckers are year-round residents. | ||
VIEWING: |
Walk 1.25-mile trail along shoreline or bird by non-motorized boat. Bonus: Possible river otter and muskrat. |
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| ACCESS: | From Hwy 12 at milepost 86.9 in the town of Mossyrock, turn south onto Williams St/SR-122. Drive 0.3 mile. Turn east (left) at T onto E State St/Mossy Rock Rd. Drive 2.5 miles. Turn right at Y (south) onto Swofford Rd. Drive 3.0 miles (road turns left at 1.8 miles, becoming Green Mountain Rd.). Turn right (south) into parking for South Swofford Pond Trail. | ||