The Ruston Way waterfront is a popular paved walking and biking trail running from the Chinese Reconcillation Park at the southeast end to Dune Peninsula at the northwest end.  Technically the trail from the southeast end of the large condomium and mixed use developlent on to the fabulous Dune Peninsula Park may not be included in the Ruston Way Waterfront part of metro parks, but functionally it is a contiguous area.  The most interesting birding is at Dune Peninsula, where along the waterfront the seawatching is arguably the best in the  south Puget Sound area.  You can use a spotting scope to watch from the tip of the peninsula or along the trail looking out toward Vashon Island and north toward Brown's Point and north toward Dash Point.   The rocky formation that forms a breakwater is covered at high tide, but provides places to look for shorebirds and gulls when not underwater.  If the seawatch is slow, consider walking back to the base of the peninsula and around the marina onto the Wilson Way trail, either on the upper trail or on the lower trail that passes the marina and continues along the waterfront beside Point Defiance Park to Owen's Beach.  You can then walk up into the park, and back across the pedestrian bridge, or climb the stairs by the marina to the upper trail back if you don't want to go as far.  There is a gravel parking lot above Wilson Way that is used by the city for maintainance, where spring passering migration watching can be spectacular on days with big flights.  

The other hotspots along Ruston Way can also give interesting views of Commencement Bay, and can be good for migrant passerines and general interest birding. 

The Dune Peninsula Park is the top eBird hotspot in Pierce County because of the propensity for vagrants, migrants and seabirds to be found here.  All of the common alcids, Rhinoceros Auklet, Marbled Murrelet, Common Murre, Pigeon Guillemot and in fall Ancient Murrelet can often be found.  Gull watching can turn up about anything found in the area.  Rare sightings are less rare there than most places.  After a strong fall storm Short-tailed Shearwaters are sometimes seen, and even more uncommon Northern Fulmars, and Leach's Storm Petrel have been seen. 

In late April and May from the gravel lot above the Wilson Way Bridge (best accesses either by walking up from the park, or by parking on a neighborhood street above the lot) mornings can yield vast numbers of Western Tanagers along with Black-headed Grosbeaks, several species of warblers, Warbling Vireo, and less often nearly any passerine migrant that comes through the area.  Best times are from about 7:30 AM until late morning.  Watch for days with predicted big migrations the night prior.  

This two-mile-long scenic waterfront with panoramic views of Commencement Bay is a great place for birding, walking, jogging, rollerblading and fishing.  See the Metro Parks site for details.