Visiting Middle Creek

 For those interested in waterfowl, Middle Creek is an geat place to visit in late winter. Many waterfowl species stop here during their move northward providing the opportunity for viewing and photography. Snow geese are perhaps the most famous migrants as they are present here in huge numbers if you select the right time for your visit. The PGC website contains a wealth of information for visitors.  If you are considering your first visit do yourself a favor and spend some time checking it out. To do so simply click HERE.

Middle Creek waterfowl can be accessed from both public road and by roads only open seasonally; the details are listed on the website.  This photo was taken at a good spot along Hopeland Road, the visitor center is visible in the background.  Open year around the public road allows access to a number of good locations.  A variety of birdlife utilize the pothole shown here providing good viewing and photographic opportunities. 

Hopeland Road is also an excellent spot for early morning flight shots as this flock of Tundra Swans demonstrates.

Turning towards the lake, the location is excellent for sunrise shots as well as silhouette shots at dawn.

Willow Point is accessible by a short walk from a parking lot and is strategically located for waterfowl viewing.  The snow geese frequently raft nearby during the night making it a good place to greet the dawn.

Willow Point is the one place where close-up encounters with snow geese are quite common.

During your visit pay close attention to the signs.  Visitors are restricted from most of the area to avoid unduly alarming the wildlife.  Restricted areas are marked both by signs and a single strand wire.  Make sure you stay on the correct side of the wire to assure that your visit will remain pleasant.

The self-guided driving tour, open seasonally, puts you into areas where the waterfowl feed as well as giving access near to the lake and a few potholes.  Sights like these look good in photographs but to be there and experience it is absolutely incredible. 

Middle Creek is not a place to capture close-up waterfowl photos, the crowd control is much to restrictive for that, but it is a great place to visit and the best place I know of to experience the incredible numbers of waterfowl during migration.