Trip Report
Field Trip 2 - Seattle Naturalists Intro Natural World Course - Montlake Fill (Union Bay Natural Area)
12 of us from the Intro to the Natural World class celebrated World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) 2026 with a whopping 44 unique bird species, lovely weather, and best of all, a pair of Virginia rails.
Courtenay Schurman
- Sat, May 9, 2026
- Field Trip 2 - Seattle Naturalists Intro Natural World Course - Montlake Fill (Union Bay Natural Area)
- Center for Urban Horticulture
- Naturalist
- Successful
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- Road suitable for all vehicles
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The trail is mostly clear except at the westernmost part where a board has been placed over the worst of the mud. Ponds are high, and foliage is mostly grown in making it trickier to see many of the more timid birds.
Parking is still unlimited (no time limit) although for how much longer remains unclear. Many people including several large birding groups (bigger than our 12) were out enjoying the Fill.
12 of us met for an 8-11 birding morning under clear skies and perfect conditions for World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) 2026. I arrived early to scout from 6:15-7:45 AM which brought my personal birding total for the day to 51. As a group we had a satisfying 43 species including wood ducks, Virginia rails, several great blue herons, warblers, goldfinches, house finches, and 5 bald eagles. This is THE best time to bird the Fill.
We started with introductions and a tour around Yesler Swamp, took a brief restroom break at 9 (the doors open automatically - we only saw people preparing for an auction as we finished near 11) and then birded clockwise along the water, including the westernmost portion near the boating dock to enjoy purple martens and cedar waxwings.
The Virginia rails are near the running water on the west side of the Fill, just across (east) and south of the bridge. A family with a bike and carriage were there around 10:15 which dashed my hopes of showing them off, but luckily the second half of our group got to spot them.
Wonderful group, fantastic morning.