Depending upon the tide there will be one island, and none to several small gravel bars, on the lagoon side of the bridge. These are regular lounging spots for gulls and should also be carefully scoped out for shorebirds. In the Spring watch for large orange bills and dark heads as small flocks of Caspian Terns may also rest on the bars. Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, dowitcher, Semi-palmated Plover, yellowlegs, and Killdeer. Northwestern Crows and Glaucous-winged Gulls will be prowling around looking for shellfish which they will pick up and drop from a height in order to crack the shells.
Avian disputes can occur regarding the ownership of the seafood lunch.
Red-breasted Mergansers and sometimes Common Mergansers may be seen snorkeling along the far shore or surfing down the stream after small fish. Unfortunately, there is also a flock of feral Greylag Geese which have taken over the island. However, there have been Snow Geese seen at the Lagoon and a number of Brant stop over on their way to the Brant Festival in Parksville. Do not forget to look up too. You may sight a Belted Kingfisher sitting quietly on a branch and, either stalking the shorelines or perched high in the evergreens, you may see a number of Great Blue Herons.