Carla Miller – November 10. 2020
Map: Darlin Creek Preserve Trail; eBird: Darlin Creek Preserve
BACKGROUND: Darlin Creek Preserve near Lake Lucinda and Capitol Forest is just 25 minutes from Olympia following a peaceful drive through the south county. It’s a good place to see waterfowl, song birds, birds of prey and a lush forest with native understory in addition to creeks, a lake, and a beaver pond. This 312 acre property is owned by Capitol Land Trust (200 acres of forest & 70 acres of wetlands) in the Black River watershed. One can enjoy over 3 miles of well-maintained trails.
LOCATION & DIRECTIONS: 8998 Lake Lucinda Dr SW, Olympia. From Olympia, take Highway 101 to Black Lake Blvd for 4.3 miles. Turn left onto Delphi Rd SW. After 2.2 miles on Delphi Rd, turn right onto Waddell Creek Rd, go a half mile, then take a left onto Lake Lucinda Drive. Bear left to find trailhead.
PARKING AND FACILITIES: Parking is abundant and there are no crowds. During our two hour trip we saw three dogs on leashes with their owners. There is one porta-potty at the beginning of the trail. There is no fee to use this preserve and a spotting scope is not necessary.
TRAILS: There are two possibilities–a 1.3 mile loop or a 2 mile loop, both of which pass Lake Lucinda and the beaver pond. There is an additional short trail called the Piedra trail which I’ve never taken. The trails are flat and in great shape. If you are a walker or jogger, you could also get in some exercise.
REPORT: In early November we chose a “not very birdy” day between rain storms for a couple of hours. The highlight of the day was two pacific wrens that spent several minutes chirping at us out in the open, so we got great looks from a few feet away and heard several more. Golden-crowned Kinglets, Song Sparrows, Pine Siskins, Red-breasted Nuthatches, and a Brown Creeper showed up as did several Stellar’s Jays. As far as ducks, we saw a Hooded Merganser, Buffleheads, and Mallards; a raven called in the distance as did robins and crows.
Having been there in the springtime, I can attest to warblers, mixed flocks of song birds, ducks, woodpeckers, etc., that use this preserve. Although our day wasn’t filled with an abundance of birds, a quick look at eBird from the week before had chickadees, Wood Ducks, Bewick’s Wren, all three woodpeckers, and an Evening Grosbeak among others. A visit in the spring would get you a long list to make your birding friends jealous. The lush autumn forest was changing colors, creeks were babbling near an easy-to-walk path with good photo opportunities. Darlin Creek is a great place to visit year round.
More information can be found on the Capitol Land Trust website.
BEFORE YOU GO:
Before heading off for a birding adventure, here are some things to consider –
1. It’s always best to have a partner with you – both to maximize the joy and to minimize the risks. BHAS cannot ensure that these locations are totally safe.
2. Don’t forget to bring your mask and hand sanitizer. Have your mask handy and put it on when passing another person not in your party.
3. Leave valuables at home.
4. Check the weather and the bird reports before heading out. An easy way to check what birds have been seen is through Birder’s Dashboard http://birdingwashington.info/dashboard/. It is a simple way to research a species, place, or checklist.
