Join Coastal Outreach Manager Cortney Weatherby and Program Coordinator Andrew Lydeard on a winter trip to one to Alabama's best locations for shorebirds and ducks, the Blakeley Mud Lakes in Mobile!
The Blakeley Mud Lakes is maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers and Mobile Port Authority and used to store mud and sand refuse from dredging the Mobile Ship Channel as well as formerly used as settling ponds for industrial waste water. The regularly changing habitat along Mobile Bay often creates ideal areas for wading birds, ducks, and shorebirds and is among the birdiest locations in South Alabama. Sign up today to target some of our unique and uncommon winter shorebird species on this special field trip! Loaner binoculars will be available. Scopes are recommended for this trip so bring one if you have it but trip leaders will also have scopes to get participants good looks!
**Permits are REQUIRED by the Mobile Port Authority before entering the property. Please follow the link below to fill out and PRINT your signed forms before the trip. You must bring this form with you, you will not be legally allowed to enter without it! This is an industrial site with working hazards and potential risks, and the Mobile Port Police actively ticket and tow unauthorized vehicles in the area. Alabama Audubon is not responsible for impoundment or ticketing of unauthorized vehicles. **
https://alports.com/birding
You can view the Blakeley Mud Lakes eBird hotspot here to see what’s been spotted recently!
You can view the eBird trip report from our last trip (spring ‘25) to this site here!
Target Species:
American Avocets
Black-necked Stilts
Palm and Yellow-rumped Warblers
Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks
Snowy Egrets
Mottled Ducks, Northern Shovelers, Blue and Green-winged Teal, Gadwall, and many more!
Cost: Alabama Audubon Members $35.00 // Non-members $50.00. This trip has a 15 person capacity.
Trip Leader: Your trip leaders will be Cortney Weatherby (cortney@alaudubon.org / 402-297-1775) and Program Coordinator Andrew Lydeard (andrew@alaudubon.org). Please reach out to the trip leaders if you have any questions, concerns, or require special accessibility accommodations so that we assist you. Please call or text your leader on the day of the event only.
Location Details: This site is accessible only with the required permits. Please follow the link located above to fill out and PRINT your signed forms before the trip. You must bring this form with you, you will not be legally allowed to enter without it! This is an active industrial site with working hazards and potential risks. Heavy machinery may be in operation during the trip and trip leaders will navigate accordingly with safety as top priority. There are no benches or restrooms in the facility, so please plan accordingly. Parking is limited at the entrance to this site, see additional info below under travel info. Depending on the heat, biting insects can be abundant at this location, so long sleeves or bug spray is recommended as are boots/sturdy shoes. Please remember to wear seasonally appropriate attire and bring water, snacks, sunscreen, and bug spray as needed.
Travel Information: We will meet in front of the Five Rivers Delta Resource Center promptly at 7:00am. Address: 5 Rivers Alabama Delta Resource Center, 30945 5 Rivers Blvd, Spanish Fort, AL 36527. Due to the limited parking at the entrance to Blakeley Mud Lakes, we will carpool as much as possible to reduce the amount of vehicles parked at the gate. It is about a 10 minute drive to the site from the carpool location. We will be on site birding for approximately 3-3.5 hours.
Please grab water, snacks, or a restroom prior to the meetup time at 7:00am as there are no restrooms or places to load up on snacks/water near the site. If you leave your vehicle, please be sure to take water, snacks, bug spray, and your birding gear to the site.
Accessibility : We will travel about 2 miles total as a group on mostly flat dirt and rock road surfaces. While the terrain is mostly flat with a few small inclines/declines, please be aware that tripping hazards such as debris, holes, or industrial equipment may be present and may not be suitable for all people.
Please reach out to Andrew Lydeard (andrew@alaudubon.org) if you have specific questions or require any special accommodations, have questions, or cannot attend, so that we can better assist you on the day of the event.
Cancellation: This event will only be canceled by Alabama Audubon in the event of unforeseen circumstances or threatening weather/hazardous conditions. Refunds (if applicable) will only be issued at the discretion of Alabama Audubon. *If you need to cancel at the last minute prior to the trip, please email or text your trip leaders to let them know!*
Thank you for your support of Alabama Audubon. Please consider becoming an Alabama Audubon member or donor to help us continue to offer programs and events across the state. Your generosity enables us to advance research, education, and advocacy efforts to protect birds in Alabama and beyond!