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Wildlife Viewing

There are multiple areas on the Refuge units that offer wonderful places to view wildlife. A few locations and descriptions are provided here; more will be added soon!

Leadbetter Point: By spring the trails are drying out from winter flooding. The Bearberry Trail connects both the ocean and bay sides of this unit. Watch for shorebirds when the tide is out; look up to the trees along the bay and you may see a Great Blue Heron Rookery, or a Bald Eagle. Watch for songbirds as you walk along the trail, and at the ocean keep your eyes peeled for the rare Western Snowy Plover.




South Bay Trails

South Bay trails are accessed from 95th Place off Sandridge Road in Long Beach (South Bay, Tarlatt Slough, and Parker Slough).

You can see waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, and mammals from the roadsides. Barn Swallows perch on fence lines, Savannah Sparrows sing from fence posts, and Tree Swallows and Violet-green Swallows use the nesting boxes along the road.

Spring (April – May) and fall migrations (August – October) are the best time to see birds. The fields at Tarlatt are sometimes seasonally flooded which makes them a safe haven for many migrating birds. At the eastern end of 95th Place hike along Tarlatt Slough looking for river otters, Buffleheads, and Common and Red-breasted Mergansers.


Wildlife Viewing Blind at South Bay

There is a viewing blind overlooking the fields at Tarlatt Slough– turn east on 85th Place East from Sandridge Road in Long Beach and go to the first gate on the left. Park there, go through the gate and follow an old road from 85th Place north to the viewing blind. Views are of seasonal wetlands, open fields, and large conifers. You might see raptors, sparrows, swallows, and waterfowl.

Visit Willapa National Wildlife Refuge for more information.
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