An odd but excellent vantage point for birding Moses Lake, especially in winter when thousands of ducks and geese congregate in open water of partially frozen lake. Dunlin and Killdeer visit in winter, sandpipers migrate through and Great Blue Herons stay all year. See the Coulee Corridor of the Great Washington State Birding Trail.

Area Birding

Habitat: A shopping center – an unusual but excellent vantage point for Moses Lake and mud flats.

Birding: Winter’s low water and partially frozen lake surface concentrate thousands of ducks and geese into open water.  All birders can easily spot resident Great Blue Herons and Western and Least Sandpipers migrating through in early spring and late fall, and Killdeer and Dunlins visiting in winter.

Viewing: Use binoculars or set up a scope near the Central Basin Audubon Society kiosk to see Belted Kingfishers, shorebirds, wading birds, and waterfowl.

Access: From I-90, take exit 176 (Moses Lake).  Turn northeast onto Hwy 171/West Broadway Ave.  Drive 2.7 miles.  Turn left (north) onto Stratford Rd.  Drive 0.4 mile.  Turn right (east) at Valley Rd stoplight into shopping center, and immediately right (southeast) again.  Drive 0.1 mile through the parking lot to the lakeside kiosk on your left.