Where to find birds in Kitsap County

Kitsap County is bordered on the west by a natural fjord, the Hood Canal. On the north and east, it is bounded by Puget Sound. Its 236 miles of salt-water shoreline offer more marine habitat than any other county in the lower 48 states. Surrounded almost entirely by saltwater, the Kitsap Peninsula is visited regularly by more than 200 species of birds. Some 115 species nest here. Marine birds are abundant from November through March, with over-wintering loons, grebes and cormorants readily seen along the shores. Waterfowl are also plentiful in the winter months, including wigeons, scoters, mergansers and goldeneyes. Although spring and fall migrations often bring surprises, the species noted for each location are those you are most likely to see.

    • Kingston Marina/Park/Ferry Terminal: Appletree Cove • Marine and mudflat habitats on quiet bay • American and Eurasian Wigeon, gulls • Public fishing pier, visitors dock, walkway viewing sites

    • Arness County Park : Marine and slough habitats • Opposite side of Appletree Cove with added view into Carpenter Creek slough • Portable toilet, small parking area.

    • Pt.-No-Pt. County Park, a designated IBA (Important Bird Area) • Extensive views of Admiralty Inlet • Marine, sandy beach, marsh, and wooded habitats • Best known for alcids, loons and cormorants, as well as large numbers of Bonaparte’s and Heermann’s gulls in the fall • Viewing platform, trails and beach access • Portable toilet, limited handicap access.

    • Buck Lake County Park • Aquatic and wooded habitats, open fields • Hooded Merganser and Pied-billed Grebe, warblers in migration • Extensive trail system called the Hansville Greenway

    • Norwegian County Park: A short distance away, next to the Hansville general store, Norwegian County Park is fairly new. Like nearby Point-No-Point, it looks across the Admiralty Straits toward Whidbey Island, and gets much the same marine activity. Rafts of birds wander back and forth, so it’s worth checking out both view locations. The Hansville Greenway links this area with trails through Buck Lake County Park, where Ospreys nest in the summer and Eagles reign in winter.

    • Port Gamble • Marine habitat of the Hood Canal, wooded slopes, open lawns, bluff viewing platform, small park, no facilities

    • Salisbury Point County Park • Marine habitat of the Hood Canal, wooded habitats, boat launch, beach access, trails

    • Poulsbo Marina and Waterfront Parks • Marine, mudflat, and wooded habitats • A great diversity of marine birds in the winter • Public docks, boardwalk, trails

    • Oyster Plant Park • Marine habitat, pocket park • Public dock and kayak launch • No facilities

    • Fay Bainbridge Park • Sandy beach, open marine and wooded habitats • Marine birds, Bald Eagle, Osprey • Trails, beach access, views across Puget Sound

    • Battle Point Park • Ponds, fields, woods • Winter ducks, summer passerines

    • Ft. Ward State Park • Rocky shore, marine and wooded habitats • Marine birds include Surf and White-winged Scoter, Western, Red-necked and Horned Grebe and Long-tailed Duck • Trails, beach access • Views across Rich Passage

    • Island Lake County Park • Aquatic, riparian and wooded habitats • Walks and trails • Ring-necked Ducks and Hooded Mergansers in winter

    • Silverdale Waterfront County Park • Pebble beach and open bay marine habitats • Panoramic view of Dyes Inlet • Best as a marine birding site in winter

    • Clear Creek Trail and Old Mill County Park • Pebble beach and open bay; marine, estuarine and riparian habitats • Contiguous with the Clear Creek Trail system • Limited parking at park, none along trails • Purple martin nest box site

    • Lion’s Field Park • Rocky marine habitat along the “narrows” • Both Pelagic and Double-crested Cormorants, as well as Long-tailed Ducks in the winter

    • Lower Rota Vista Park, north end of Elizabeth Ave. • Rocky marine habitat • Large Pelagic Cormorant roost and Peregrine Falcon nest under Warren Ave. Bridge. • Walkway down bluff to viewing area • Limited parking, no facilities, no handicapped access Port Orchard, Sinclair Inlet

    • Pt. Orchard Marina and Park • Open bay and marine habitat • Thousands of White-winged Scoters and American Wigeons in winter, as well as Western Grebes • Best viewing from park at east end of Marina

Scroll down to check out Kitsap Audubon Society’s new Where to Bird in Kitsap County GIS map. We are still working on it so keep checking back in for updates. Zoom in to see specific birding locations, learn more about them, get Google Map directions, and see recent EBird sightings. You can also toggle upper right button to view in full screen mode.

Map created by Joey Willman, KAS Volunteer and leader of Kitsap Audubon’s Next Gen Birders Club.

Where to Find Birds in Kitsap Guide
Kitsap County Bird Checklist