Grays Harbor Shorebird and Nature Festival

Start planning to attend the next festival: May 3 - 5, 2024

Tokeland

Graveyard Spit - Tokeland

The sand spit and sediment swales that front this area create a calm bay that is ideal for shorebirds needing to forage and rest with as little energy expense as possible. This is one of the best sites for shorebirds especially at low tide when the tidal flats are exposed.

Birds observed: Most of the shorebirds can be seen at this site, including dowitchers, black-bellied plovers, least and Western sandpipers, ruddy turnstones, and more. Keep a lookout for long-billed curlews and greater yellowlegs. At the Tokeland Marina, keep an eye out for willets, marbled godwits and grebes, cormorants, waterfowl, and loons on the bay side.

1 - Viewing Areas: Look for pullout areas along WA-105 as you approach Tokeland so you can get out and scan the waterline and look for shorebirds or further out to view seabirds. The best tide for this Tokeland area is low tide when the tidal mudflat is exposed.

2 - Intersection WA-105 and Tokeland Road: At mile marker 18.6, turn right onto Tokeland Road. This is the only road going down the peninsula. If there is safe and legal parking available near the intersection, it's worth getting out of the vehicle and checking the coastline for shorebirds and other waterbirds. Otherwise, continue into the town ot Tokeland.

3 - Graveyard Spit is located within the housing area and has limited parking along the road. While traveling south on Tokeland Road, you will arrive at an intersection with Kindred Avenue. Continue straight and the road turns into Fisher Avenue. Fisher Avenue ends at 7th Avenue. Park along the rocks. If it's crowded, you can continue on to the Marina and return on your way out.

4 - Tokeland Marina: From Tokeland Road you will either turn towards the left onto Kindred Avenue or if you're coming from Graveyard Spit, you'll continue on 7th Avenue and turn right onto Kindred Avenue. Kindred will take you to the end where Tokeland Marina is located. There are restrooms, coffee, and seafood available at Nelson Crab Inc. Take a walk around and view shorebirds and other waterbirds from different angles but be attentive to private lands.

Tokeland Birding Site Info

Limited parking at Graveyard Spit

Tokeland Marina

Marinas can be great places to see a diversity of waterbirds: shorebirds, wading birds, seabirds, waterfowl and likely some marine mammals like seals and sea lions. The best time for shorebird viewing is when the water is low and foraging habitat is available. Other tide levels may reveal waterfowl (sea ducks), loons, gulls, and raptors.

Tokeland Marina