In the southeastern part of the park, trails along the Ohanapecosh River pass through old-growth forest of Douglas-fir and western red cedar. Along the short Trail of the Patriarchs or the longer Eastside Trail watch for Olive- sided Flycatcher, Gray and Steller’s Jays, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Townsend’s Solitaire, Varied Thrush, Yellow-rumped and Townsend’s Warblers, Western Tanager, and Pine Siskin. With luck you might see Blue Grouse, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Cassin’s Vireo, Hermit Warbler, Purple Finch, or Evening Grosbeak. Look for American Dipper along the river. To the north, the popular Sunrise Visitor Center provides access to trails leading above timberline, where White-tailed Ptarmigan and Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch breed. The Wonderland Trail near the White River entrance station is the park’s best spot for Hermit Thrush.
In the southwest, Harlequin Duck frequents the Nisqually River at the Sunshine Point Campground. The Trail of Shadows at Longmire may have Band-tailed Pigeon and Red-breasted Sapsucker, as well as interesting migrants. As you’re driving, look also for Vaux’s Swift, Clark’s Nutcracker, and Mountain Bluebird; Rufous Hummingbird is common in summer in wildflower-dotted meadows.
