Finding Conboy Lake Refuge was our goal for today. Having heard positive comments about the Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge located near Glenwood, WA, we decided to give it a try. Google maps plotted a course for us from our home to the refuge. However, when we followed the directions we ended up at a locked gate on the opposite side of the lake from the headquarters. Apparently the Google location was positioned in the middle of the refuge. It wasn’t a big deal to circle the lake and find the correct road but it does seem an easy correction to make.
Headquarters found, we took a moment to visit with the Park Ranger before trying the hiking trail. The trail follows along an irrigation ditch for about a mile to an observation platform and then loops back through the forest to headquarters. It was an enjoyable stroll through the woods on a pleasant day. We were a bit early in the season for flowers and the migratory birds haven’t begun to arrive in numbers. We did see a Western Tanager (Piranga rubra) and heard some Sandhill Cranes. A few butterflies were out in numbers, the Mourning Cloak and Western Pine Elfin were the most numerous with a few Silvery Blues.
We will put the refuge on our list of places for a return visit.
byLarry
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