'Point No Point' is an outcropping of land on the northeast point of the
Kitsap Peninsula in
Washington, the
United States. It was the location of the signing of the
Point No Point Treaty. It was named by
Charles Wilkes during the
United States Exploring Expedition of
Puget Sound in
1841. Named after Point No Point on the
Hudson River (which is also called
Dietrick's Hook), the point is home to the
Point No Point Lighthouse.
Lt. Wilkes likely gave the point its name as a result of a geological
optical illusion. From the north and south, Point No Point appears to be a narrow
spit of land, jutting into Puget Sound. However, viewed straight on from the east, the point vanishes.
The marine climate ensures plenty of
precipitation in
winter and mild temperatures in
summer. There are many productive
habitats. The spit itself has sandy
beaches with log jams, as well as some man-made structures for
boating. Behind the beaches is a large mixed freshwater/saltwater
marsh with a substantial shrub component. The waters surrounding the point react to swiftly running
tides, attracting many marine
bird species. And there is a somewhat sheltered
bay as well.
Birdwatching
Point No Point has one of the largest birdlists of any site in Washington. The point is owned jointly by the
U.S. Coast Guard (leased to Kitsap County) and a private landowner who is knowledgeable and sympathetic to birdwatchers.
Point No Point is best known for its water-related species:
gulls,
cormorants,
loons,
terns,
jaegers,
ducks,
grebes, mergansers, scoters,
Brant, and alcids. When the
tide is running, there are flocks of
Bonaparte's gulls and
seabirds, often a veritable feeding frenzy. Jaegers are often seen flying through the gull and (in fall) tern flocks. Ancient Murrelets can be seen offshore in November - one of the best sites in Washington for this species. Along the sandy beaches,
shorebirds can be seen. The marsh attracts a variety of
passerines, particularly in migration. Point No Point has produced many notable rarities, both in the offshore waters and in the marsh.