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12 · Leavenworth

Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery

Icicle Creek, ponderosa pine, settling ponds

An unexpected birding destination on the east slope: 179 species recorded on the hatchery grounds along Icicle Creek. White-headed Woodpeckers nest in the dead pines at the south end, Calliope Hummingbirds work the flowers, swallows swarm the settling ponds, and in late summer the spawning channels pull in everything that eats salmon.

Effort Easy · 1–2 mi, flat Level gravel trails along Icicle Creek; benches on the Birding Bench Trail face the morning light.
When to go Mornings, spring through early summer for the east-slope specialties. Grounds open daily year-round; the drive from Seattle is about 2.5 hours.
Access Free. 12790 Fish Hatchery Rd, Leavenworth. Visitor center open Mon–Sat when staffed; trail flyer at the signboards. Directions eBird hotspot

Birds by season

Curated highlights · the current season is marked

Spring

  • Calliope Hummingbird
  • White-headed Woodpecker
  • Nashville Warbler
  • Red-naped Sapsucker

East-slope specialties arrive with the pines' first warmth.

Summer

  • Western Tanager
  • Lazuli Bunting
  • Vaux's Swift
  • Osprey

Color season; swifts and swallows over the ponds.

Fall

  • American Dipper
  • Townsend's Solitaire
  • Cedar Waxwing
  • Golden-crowned Kinglet

Dippers work the spawning channels.

Winter

  • American Dipper
  • Common Merganser
  • Bald Eagle
  • Bohemian Waxwing (some years)

Eagles gather on spawned-out salmon.

Reported here in the last 30 days

● Live from eBird

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Sources

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Live sighting data from eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology · Location research: Washington Trails Association, Eastside Audubon, Birds Connect Seattle, Washington Ornithological Society, Birdful · Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors