Birding Chambers Creek

It's no secret that I spend a lot of time out by Chambers Creek. If you want proof, just check out some of my pictures on Flickr. Birds have become my biggest subject. Even though I'm not exactly an expert birder, perhaps I can provide a little feedback for those who want to know how good the park is for birding.


I don't think that I would rank Chambers Creek quite as highly as Nisqually, but the park has some advantages. The biggest advantage would be saltwater. Since Nisqually is an estuary, it's not unusual to find some saltwater creatures swimming up McAllister Creek. For most saltwater birds, the Puget Sound is too distant to see much. By comparison, Chambers Creek Properties features beach access along the Puget Sound.

Public access to the Puget Sound isn't exactly rare, and it's not enough to make Chambers Creek Properties a good birding site. The real key to Chambers Creek Properties is habitat diversity. The park includes small ponds, a creek (duh), beach access, wooded areas, old structures, and grassy areas.

I'm not a good birder, but 100 species in one year is not a difficult accomplishment. 30 in a day is a common occurrence. I have also recorded more than 40 several times.

Among the more noteworthy birds are the Ospreys. They nest on a platform that is easily visible from the bridge that provides beach access. You can get even closer by walking the beach at low tide. Since the imperfect relocation efforts, they nest on the structure at the Central Meadow known as the "Swing Set." Another nest can be found on the railroad bridge at the south end of the park (check the tide tables). Bald Eagles nest near Chambers Creek. I have also seen nests for Red-tailed Hawks and Great Horned Owls. American Kestrels have wintered in the park for at least the last four years.

Other noteworthy species include Red-winged Blackbirds who frequently call from the tops of cattails near the Soundview Trail. White-crowned Sparrows sing along the Grandview Trail. Brandt's Cormorants line the North Dock during the winter. Brandt's Cormorants have been common in the winter, but it's hard to know how common they will be in the future. Anna's Hummingbirds can be found pretty much anywhere, but their use of young planted trees along the East Slope Trail provides some great photographic opportunities.

Let's not overlook some of the less reliable but still interesting species that you at least have a chance to see. A partial list includes Peregrine Falcons, Marbled Murrelets, and Pileated Woodpeckers.

Like every other location imaginable, you get different species depending on the season. For example, Ospreys can be found in the summer while a larger variety of ducks can be found in the winter. If I had to pick a season, I would go with spring. Some wintering birds are still around, and summer birds are starting to arrive. Also, some birds such as Horned Grebes show their breeding plumage.

Overall, I feel that Chambers Creek Properties is a great spot for birds. Some people might not like it, especially since the full experience involves a long walk. If you walk the beach, the loop trail, the East Slope Trail, the Canyon Trail, along the creek into Steilacoom, and some of the other trails, you can easily surpass 10 miles. Even if that's too much, you can always pick a spot.

As you can tell, I wrote this a little ahead of time. The upcoming removal of the docks will most noticeably impact Ospreys (now closer but at a worse angle), Cormorants, and Purple Martins.