Today I took a quick tour of the Toppenish NWR and also stopped along I-84
south of Yakima to scan two ponds that are in my CBC route.

On the refuge I saw a Eurasian Wigeon in the company of about 75 American
Wigeons along Toppenish Creek east of Highway 97. Also in the vicinity were
six Tundra Swans.

On the Middle Donald Pond next to I-84 I found a second Eurasian Wigeon with
a much smaller flock of Americans. Also on that pond were a Western Grebe
and a Double-crested Cormorant. (Donald is mostly a freeway exit with a
mini-mart about ten miles south of Yakima. There are two freeway ponds
north of it and one to the south. All three are very popular with quite a
variety of duck species during the winter, at least until they freeze).

Denny Granstrand
Yakima, WA

osprey at nwinfo.net