The Nisqually Reach Nature Center is a great place to observe birds on Nisqually Reach and Nisqually Flats. Set up your spotting scope on the pier under the roof, or in really inclement weather, seek shelter in our obervation lounge with a 180-degree view.

Since 1997, we have seen these birds from Luhr Beach:

Gaviidae (Loons)
Red-throated Loon
Pacific Loon
Common Loon

Podicipedidae (Grebes)
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe

Pelecanidae (Pelicans)
American White Pelican

Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants)
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant

Ardeidae (Bitterns and Herons)
Great Blue Heron

Anatidae (Swans, Geese and Ducks)
Canada Goose
Brant
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-Winged Teal
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Oldsquaw
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrow's Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser


Accipitridae (Hawks, Kites,
Eagles & Allies)
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
Golden Eagle

Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules & Coots)

American Coot

Charadriidae (Lapwings & Plovers)
Killdeer

Scolopacidae (Sandpipers,
Phalaropes and Allies)
Greater Yellowlegs
Whimbrel
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Dunlin

Laridae (Skuas, Gulls, Terns & Skimmers)
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Western Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Glaucous-winged x Western Gull
Caspian Tern

Alcidae (Auks, Murres and Puffins)
Common Murre
Pigeon Guillemot
Marbled Murrelet

Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
Rock Dove (B)

Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
Belted Kingfisher

Picidae (Woodpeckers and Allies)
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker

Vireonidae (Vireos)
Hutton's Vireo
Corvidae (Crows and Jays)
Steller's Jay
American Crow

Hirundinidae (Swallows)
Purple Martin (B)
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow

Paridae (Chickadees and Titmice)
Black-capped Chickadee
Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Troglodytidae (Wrens)
Bewick's Wren

Turdidae (Thrushes)
American Robin
Varied Thrush

Parulidae (Wood-Warblers)
Yellow Warbler
Sturnidae (Starlings)
European Starling

Emberizidae (Emberizids)
Song Sparrow
Oregon Junco

Icteridae (Blackbirds)
Red-winged Blackbird

Fringillidae (Fringilline and Cardueline Finches and Allies)
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch

Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
House Sparrow

















Nisqually Reach Nature Center. 4949 D'Milluhr Drive NE. Olympia WA 98516-2311. (360) 459-0387.
NRNC@NisquallyEstuary.org