On Sunday, March 1, 1998, I visited McNary National Wildlife Refuge,
Walla Walla County, Washington, as part of an all day birding trip to
northeastern Oregon and southeastern Washington (which I will post as a
separate, long post later today). The most noteworthy sighting of the day
was a flock of approximately fifty GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE on Burbank
Slough. These birds are listed as uncommon spring and fall migrants on the
refuge checklist but it was the first time I've ever seen the species in
Washington. These birds were also noteworthy because they were right next
to U.S. 12 and across the road from one of the sportsman's access to the refuge.
To see the birds, take U.S. 12 out of Pasco. Continue on U.S. 12
past the big sign for the refuge headquarters until you come to the large
"ponds" next to the highway. There are two pullouts for these ponds on the
west side (river side) of the highway. The pullouts are not marked by any
signs so keep your eyes open. The White-fronts were visible from the second
(southern most) pullout. Park in wide area just after you leave the
highway; then walk back to the side of the highway and look directly across
the highway. The geese were in the pond right next to the highway and were
not disturbed when I watched them from this spot. The ponds are really just
parts of a much larger body of water called Burbank Slough. See Washington
DeLorme, page 40, C1.
I am posting this to OBOL even though it isn't technically in Oregon
because I thought some Obolians (Obolinks, whatever) might want to add this
to their Washington list since it is so close to the border.

Deb Beutler
Department of Zoology
P.O. Box 644236
Washington State Univerisity
Pullman, Whitman Co., WA
dbeutler at wsunix.wsu.edu