These sites have good birding almost any time of the year. Not all birds are year-round residents; most of the shorebirds are here only during the winter, some warblers only during the summer. Birds listed in bold type are here year-round.
Horsfall Area
Bluebill Lake fills with water in the winter. If you are short on time, hike along the west side of the campground through the pine forest on the west. Check the tidal flats just north of the Horsfall entrance form the highway. Birding varies with the tide. Look for...
White-tailed Kite
Northern Harrier
Violet-green Swallow
Downy Woodpecker
Yellow, Townsend's and Hermit Warblers
Great Horned Owl
Great Egret
South Jetty Area
You'll find six parking lots after you turn north on South Jetty Road. The third one is a popular starting point for viewing the marsh. You may want to use a spotting scope. Hike over the foredune to the beach for glimpses of shorebirds. Look for...
Tundra Swan
Marsh Wren
Canada Goose
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Red-tailed Hawk
Sanderling
Long-billed Curlew
Dunlin
Least Sandpiper
Siltcoos Area
Walk around Lagoon Campground to get a close look at an American Bittern. For another birding walk in the area, cross the bridge to Waxmyrtle Campground to reach the Waxmyrtle Trail. This trail parallels the south side of the Siltcoos River, then turns south to a marshy area. Look for...
Great Blue Heron
American Bittern
Green Heron
Virginia Rail
Cinnamon Teal
Common Yellowthroat
Common Merganser
Belted Kingfisher
Coastal snowy plovers are listed as a threatened species. Take care when walking on the beach where they breed and nest.
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