Birders' top spots: Montlake Park, Moses Lake

	JOHN AND KAREN HOLLINGSWORTH, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Northern pintail ducks are among the birds commonly seen at Montlake Park in Moses Lake in Eastern Washington.
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Habitat: Nine-acre, family-friendly park on Pelican Horn Arm of Moses Lake, with 5 acres of greasewood, saltgrass and Russian olives.

Best seasons for birding: Winter, spring and fall.

Birds commonly seen: November through January, see thousands of birds comprising 18 species of waterfowl, especially Canada geese, mallards, northern pintails, plus tundra swans. Bald eagles hunt ducks when lake is partially frozen. View northern harriers, American kestrels, and red-tailed hawks in winter, too. In spring, watch for western and Clark's grebes. Northern rough-winged and barn swallows are present in fall; dunlins migrate through, while marsh wrens and killdeer stay year-round.

Viewing tips: At boat launch, see pintails and flocks of shorebirds such as dunlins on mud flats. In case of rain, set up scope under covered shelter. From northwest corner of parking lot, take unmarked trail through greasewood to see song sparrows and white-crowned sparrows.

Getting there: From Interstate 90, take Exit 176 (Moses Lake). Turn northeast onto Highway 171/West Broadway. Drive 2.6 miles. Turn right (south) onto Division Street. Drive 1.5 miles. Turn right (west) onto Linden Avenue. Drive .2 mile to parking lot. Note: Restrooms closed in winter.

Source: Audubon Washington. For free maps of Washington birding sites, call 866-922-4737 and ask for Great Washington State Birding Trail maps ("Cascade Loop" and/or "Coulee Corridor") or request online at www.wa.audubon.org.

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