Woodard Bay for Beginning and Intermediate Birders

This walk is designed primarily for beginning and intermediate birders. We will look and listen for woodland birds such as Swainson’s Thrushes, Wilson Warblers, Pacific Wrens, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Western Tanagers, and Pileated Woodpeckers as we walk through the deep forest of cedars and Douglas fir to reach Henderson Inlet where we may see Cormorants, Purple Martins, and seals among others. The approximately two-mile loop includes an easy trail with boardwalk sections, returning by a pedestrian-only road.

Directions from Olympia: take Boston Harbor Road north, then right on Woodard Bay Road, crossing Libby Road. There is a small parking area on the left just before crossing the bridge over Woodard Bay (Discover Pass required here); or drive across the bridge and up the hill to a county parking lot that does not require a Discover Pass – it’s an easy walk down to the lower parking lot.

(Attention bicyclists: The Chehalis-Western Bike Trail’s northern span spits you out into the upper parking lot. Coast down the hill to the Woodard Bay parking lot. You can lock your bike at the bike rack a little way up the pedestrian-only road.)

Bring water, snacks, and binoculars. E-mail Bonnie Wood at bwood2800@nullgmail.com to sign up. Limit 15 persons.