A Bird Walk at Wapato Lake NWR

Wapato is a charming marsh that straddles Washington and Yamhill counties to the south of Forest Grove. Originally a large lake, it was drained in the early 1900’s to grow onions and wapato, which is a starchy, potato-like tuber. In 2013 the restored area became a 4,300 acre National Wildlife Refuge.

It’s a good spot for shorebirds, herons, and ducks, as well as raptors and passerines like pipits. We’re hitting this during shorebird migration, so hopefully it will have a few peeps and might offer something uncommon, like Solitary, Pectoral or Baird’s sandpipers.

The Screamin’ Chicken Diner in Gaston is frequented by birders, memorable not only for the sign with Clyde the rooster in full howl but for a particularly toothsome house-made butterscotch syrup.

We’ll meet at the parking lot across the street from the Screamin’ Chicken. Scopes will be useful for this trip (I’ll bring one) as it’s a big place. All are welcome to join!

Please note! The Wapato of our outing is NOT the Wapato of Sauvie Island. We’ll be in Gaston, west of Portland and south of Forest Grove.

Trail Condition and Distance: raised path, 2 miles round trip
Elevation Change: level
Amenities: The toilet at the parking area was closed last year…
Exposure: Full sun exposure along the Levee Trail
Pacing: Slow
Public Transit: Yamhill County Bus 33 from Hillsboro