Kennedy Creek Estuary Overlook

This will be a good tide level for shorebirds. Participants can arrive any time during the period. Observations are from a single, generously sized area. This rich estuary empties into Oyster Bay at the end of Totten Inlet between Olympia and Shelton. A healthy November chum salmon spawning run in Kennedy Creek provides plenty of nutrients for many animals, including birds. In January, Bald Eagles fight over salmon bits, and the shorebird flocks of Dunlin and Black-bellied Plover are sometimes strafed by a Peregrine. It’s also a good location to study gulls and a variety of dabbling and diving ducks, and an occasional mixed flock of songbirds can add to the fun. Over several decades, regular monitoring has tallied around 200 bird species at the site.