Scatter Creek Wildlife Area

Bird watchers in Thurston County know that we are blessed with many protected natural lands, and most are publicly accessible. The Scatter Creek Wildlife Area, located 15 miles south of Olympia, is one of the best. 

There are actually eight different places (called “units”) managed by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) under the title “Scatter Creek.” This account is about the main unit. It is located along Case Road, just west of Interstate 5 (I-5), between the Maytown and Grand Mound exits. A short access road, 180th Avenue SW and Guava Street, leads to the parking area and trails into great birding habitat.

This 1000+ acre area contains part of the south Puget Sound prairie ecosystem. Over the decades state and federal funding purchased the acreage, setting it aside for both its natural values and because it serves as a popular upland bird hunting area during the fall months.

Most birders visit the south section, using the Guava Street access. There are two trails, an inner loop and an outer loop. In 2018 a wildfire swept through the area, killing multiple trees and thus creating many snags, which create good habitat diversity. Recently white-breasted nuthatches have been seen regularly in the oaks and oak snags of the inner loop.

A white-breasted nuthatch.

Liam Hutcheson | For The JOLT

These are small birds, chickadee-sized. They are squat, short-tailed and seem to have no neck. They’re dominant colors are blue-gray back and wings, and a white belly, neck and face. The males have a black cap and the females’ cap is gray. They creep along the bark of trees, seeking food — insects and larvae being their favorites. They often seem to crane their necks backwards, providing a unique identification profile.

These birds nested last year at Scatter Creek, a very unusual nesting species for our county, and they have remained active in the area. An unusual woodpecker species, the acorn woodpecker, also colonized the area post-burn. They haven’t been reported in 2026 but when you visit the area you want to be mindful of the possibility.

An acorn woodpecker with clown face.

Liam Hutcheson | For The JOLT

The range map in your bird book will not have acorn woodpeckers in Washington, but over the past decade or more they have been slowly moving north. They are welcome immigrants since they are colorful and loud — their waka-waka alarm notes may alert the birder to their presence even before they are noticed. And once you see this bird, you will not forget its remarkable appearance.

An acorn woodpecker showing a different color cap.

Liam Hutcheson | For The JOLT

Its dominant color is black with a white belly. But it’s the clownish face that is special. It has and black and white head and its white eye contrasts sharply with the black. The male has a bright red cap; the females’ cap is black in front and red toward the back. These woodpeckers are famous for drilling holes in a tree’s bark and stuffing in an acorn. Anytime you are near oaks they are a possible bird, and you’re likely to see them if you have an opportunity to visit oak forest birding spots further to the south in Oregon and California. 

A western meadowlark.

Liam Hutcheson | For The JOLT

Scatter Creek Wildlife Area is one of the Thurston County “birding hotspots” listed on ebird.org. According to its posted bird list, 70 bird species have been seen in March 2026. So, if you visit, keep your eye out for other interesting prairie species, including western meadowlarks and western bluebirds. The latter likely will be on, in or near one of the bluebird boxes in this wildlife area. Look for the boxes attached to tree trunks or posts. Bluebirds are a cavity-nesting species and readily adopt boxes when provided.

This wildlife area provides critical habitat for non-avian species as well. The Mazama pocket-gopher lives here. It typically stays underground but you will see its mounds. And, this is a native prairie area so if you visit in late April and May, you will be treated to a beautiful wildflower bloom and perhaps rare butterflies that are prairie-adapted.

The northern section of this area is managed by WDFW for hunting and is open year-round for dog training. That may account for any shooting that you hear, even in the nonhunting seasons. In the fall, WDFW plants ring-necked pheasants for hunters and some of them survive and nest. Also, you might encounter a chukar; hunters use these birds for dog training and sometimes they escape their fate.

Visiting the Scatter Creek Wildlife Area is good any month and, with 70 possible species available, you might want to take your favorite bird book and/or your Merlin app along with your binoculars.

A chukar — Eurasian game bird. 

Liam Hutcheson | For The JOLT

White pelicans

Ready for a day trip to see an interesting bird sight? Smelt are running into the Lewis River and white pelicans, in flocks of 100 or more, have been seen feeding on them for the past two weeks or so.

You can oversee the mouth of the Lewis River from Dike Road that transits the area locally called the Woodlands Bottoms; sometimes the pelicans are just hanging out on sand bars, presumably digesting.

Drive south on I-5 to Woodland, exiting at the main Woodland exit and working you way west to the Columbia River on local roads. Your phone app could be helpful in this quest.

George Walter is environmental program manager at the Nisqually Indian Tribe’s natural resources department; he also has a 45+ year interest in bird watching. He may be reached at george@theJOLTnews.com

Bird photos for this column are provided by Liam Hutcheson, an 18-year-old Olympia area birder and avid photographer.