Fort Lewis
Prairies

by Bob Morse  

The beaver pond at the McLane Creek Nature Trail. The McLane Creek Nature Trail consists of a series of beaver ponds with trails through surrounding coniferous forest, deciduous woods, open areas, marshes, and swamps.

Directions To reach McLane Creek, take the Evergreen State College exit from northbound Highway 101. Then take the Mud Bay exit. Go left at the stop sign and left again onto Delphi Road. At 3.4 miles, turn right at the DNR McLane Creek Nature Trail sign.   Bird Watching Notes In the mixed coniferous and deciduous woodlands near the ponds you may see Common Flicker, Ruffed Grouse, Band-tailed Pigeon, Bewick's and Winter Wrens; Downy, Hairy, and Pileated Woodpeckers; Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Chestnut-sided and Black-capped Chickadees, Western Tanager, Dark-eyed Junco, Ruby and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Swainson's Thrush, Steller's Jay, Pacific Slope Flycatcher, Vamed Thrush (winter), Red-breasted Sapsucker; Yellow, Orange-crowned, Yellow-rumped, and Wilson's Warblers; Bushtit, Solitary Vireo, Grays Jays (winter), Spotted Towhee, and Rufous Hummingbird. The fresh water pond habitat, including vegetation, provide homes for Wood Ducks, Pied-billed Grebe, Common and Hooded Merganser, Common Yellowthroat, Song Sparrow, Canada Goose, Mallard, Belted Kingfisher; Violet-green, Tree, Rough-winged, and Barn Swallows. Red-winged Blackbird, Great Blue Heron, and an occasional Spotted Sandpiper appear in the marsh. Rest rooms are available in the parking area. (notes by Bob Morse)

Trail Map