Rocky Ford Creek	xx	x
HABITAT:	80+ acres of WDFW shrub-steppe with cattail/bulrush marsh bisected by creek and dam..
BIRDING:	In late spring and early summer, watch and listen for Long-billed Curlews, Common Yellowthroats, and ‘winnowing’ Wilson’s Snipes. Virginia Rails issue grunting calls from marsh. View Northern Harriers and Red-tailed Hawks hunting aloft. See Great Blue Herons and Belted Kingfishers fishing below dam and along creek. Summer shrub-steppe residents include Western Meadowlarks, and Vesper and Lark Sparrows.
VIEWING:	Walk 0.5 mile down hill to Rocky Ford Creek Dam.
MORE BIRDING:	Drive south 1.1 miles on Neppel Rd, turn right (west) at Public Fishing sign onto gravel road. Drive 0.1 mile to lake. During summer, view Western and Clark’s Grebes; during mild winters watch Dunlins and Killdeer scurry over mud flats. Beginning in late October, shallow water of upper lake attracts thousands of waterbirds, primarily American Coots, Gadwalls, Northern Shovelers, and Canada Geese, with lesser numbers of Redheads, Ruddy Ducks, and Pied-billed Grebes. Waterbirds attract Bald Eagles. Also present are Rough-legged Hawks, Prairie Falcons, and possibly Gyrfalcons.
ACCESS:	From Highway 17 at milepost 65.4, turn south onto Neppel Rd. Drive 0.1 mile. Turn right (west) at Public Fishing sign onto unmarked gravel road. Drive 0.4 mile to WDFW parking area.

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