Kalaloch has the gulls of your dreams

Kalaloch Creek, Site 15 from "Olympic Loop" of Audubon Washington's Great Washington State Birding Trail

Location: Southern edge of Olympic National Park, on ocean beach

Habitat: Pacific Ocean, Olympic National Park bluffs, beach, estuary, forest.

Best seasons for birding: Good year-round.

Birds commonly seen: Gulls for all seasons: Herring and mew gulls in winter, plus black-legged kittiwakes. Spring-summer, see Western, glaucous-winged, and ring-billed gulls; California and Heermann's gulls in August-September. Scan ocean for avian divers: Pacific, common, and red-throated loons; Western and red-necked grebes; surf, white-winged, and black scoters. Brown pelicans soar summer-fall. Forests harbor Western screech and barred owls.

Viewing tips: From white gazebo, take stairs to beach. Best birding within half-mile of Kalaloch Creek. Bonus: razor-clam digging Jan. 21-22; gray whale sightings in April.

Getting there: From Highway 101 at Milepost 157.1, turn west into Kalaloch Lodge. Use picnic parking.

Source: Audubon Washington, Great Washington State Birding Trail maps. See maps online (or order hard copies, $4.95 apiece), at wa.audubon.org.