Birding Ocean Shores

In mid-February 2022 I made my first trip to the Pacific Northwest, journeying by planes, trains, and automobiles from Kansas. My goal was not only to visit my good friend Dr. Barbara Hayford who is the Director of the Coastal Interpretive Center in Ocean Shores, but to go birding and learn about the ecology of the area. I explored the south end of the peninsula around the Center’s interpretive building, and write this to let other newbies to the area know where to get started.

I highlight four areas that I explored, and the birds most likely to be seen. Refer to eBird to see the birding hotspots on the peninsula and the full range of possible sightings. I had my binoculars, camera, and birding apps to figure out the birds. Next time I will make room in my luggage for a spotting scope to really see the shore and water birds. Also, I am an intermediate birder and not skilled in sparrows or small brown birds so would really appreciate guidance from a skilled local birder. 

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The Matthew McGee Nature Trail right next to the Center’s building is an easy place to start. Though the trails are short, take time to experience this little refuge of mossy trees. Each time I was there, I saw Anna’s hummingbirds and Pacific wrens. I also saw spotted towhees, crows, and starlings. Beyond the exit of the trail on Catala Ave. bald eagle activity alerted me to a nest along the road. 

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I then wandered onto the disc golf course at the Community Club just down the road, and was very excited to see Bewick's wrens, chestnut-backed chickadees, and the super cute golden-crowned kinglet among the brush and trees. Also present were flickers, crows, robins, house finches, Anna’s hummingbirds, and ever-present starlings. Mallards swam along the shore. 

I frequented the South End Grand Canal Park across the road from the Center, and saw a belted kingfisher, bufflehead, a great blue heron, red-winged blackbirds, song sparrows, golden-crowned sparrows, crows, robins, a red-tailed hawk, and again starlings. There were also wrens that I couldn’t identify. Killdeer were in the grass near the dock.  

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Finally, I made the short drive to Oyhut Wildlife Area and headed down the path to the beach. There were about 200 ducks along the far edge of the pools along the tree line. A spotting scope would have made this less frustrating, but with my camera’s grainy closeups, I was able to discern a variety of ducks: northern pintails, gadwalls, American wigeons, 2 buffleheads, 1 pied-billed grebe, and a cackling or Canada goose. Plus a great blue heron and one coyote! A fellow birder spotted a European wigeon among the flocks. On the way back to the car, I climbed the wood observation tower and enjoyed the spotted towhees and Bewick’s wrens that sang at the tree edges. I also saw an Anna’s hummingbird, a northern flicker, and American crow.  

Come to Ocean Shores and enjoy all the birds within walking distance of the Coastal Interpretive Center! 

© Debbie Baker, April 2022