"Bruce Road "Refuge Overlook"" William Finley National Wildlife Refuge Things to Do Tip by glabah

Much of the land along Bruce Road is flat, with some forest land, some open marshes, and some open farm fields. However, approximately 1 mile west of the intersection of Bruce Road and Highway 99W, there is a small hill. Bruce Road goes straight over the northern part of it, not bothering to take a slight detour through the more flat area to the south.

This allowed the refuge, when it was formed, to add a slight addition to Bruce Road, and today there is a small gravel parking area on the south side of Bruce Road, labelled "Refuge Overlook" and this uses the hill as a natural rise to allow viewing of the surrounding countryside and flat lands.

I have once seen the elk herd from here, as well as four fighting juvenile bald eagles. Others have seen horned larks in the field south of here, but unfortunately I have never been able to find any of these.

The wetlands to the east of the overlook sometimes yields a few water birds, the most visible of which is the great egret as it is entirely white.

Watch the trees along the edge of the water, as sometimes birds of prey fly out of there to investigate what might be edible in the farm fields.

This is certainly a place that is best enjoyed with telephoto equipment, as much of what is in the fields is going to be quite far away from the overlook area.

Directions: Highway 99W or Belfountain Road to Bruce Road. The overlook is approximately 1/3 of the way towards 99W from Belfountain Road.
Website: http://www.fws.gov/WillametteValley/finley/