Fort Lewis
Prairies

by Bob Morse  

Mud Bay Take the Second Avenue Southwest exit from Highway 101. Take the Mud Bay Road and park on either end of the long concrete bridge spanning Mud Bay. Check the Mud Bay water and mud flats for Glaucous-winged, Mew, Western, California, Bonaparte's, Ring-billed, and Herring Gulls (winter). Scan the mud flats for Great Blue Heron, Dunlin, yellowlegs, and the shorebirds. Common birds include Mallard, goldeneye, mergansers, both scaup, and Dunlin (in winter). Check nearby for Belted Kingfisher, Bald Eagle, and nesting swallows. Check the small pond across from the Blue Heron Bakery for Hooded Merganser, Canada Geese, and Bufflehead. Perry Creek In the winter (December-January), check nearby Perry Creek for gulls as they feed on dead salmon. To reach Perry Creek, cross over Highway 101 and continue on Second Avenue SW. Go right on Old 410 Highway. Just after the bridge go left on Perry Creek Road and park here. The common gull is Glaucous-winged gull, but check for Ring-billed, Herring, Western, and Glaucous (rare in winter). (notes by Bob Morse)