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» Merced National Wildlife Refuge
» Northwest Platform
The Northwest Viewing Platform
This is the observation platform at the main parking area just inside the refuge's entrance, where one can also find a picnic table, bathrooms of a sort, two trailheads, and the takeoff point for the driving tour. The cranes and Snow/Ross's Geese often aren't here, but you can see lots of other waterfowl - American Coots, Wilson's Snipe, Killdeer, assorted ducks - and smaller landlubbing birds like Black Phoebes and Golden-crowned Sparrows. There's a telescope on the platform, and while I'm not sure of its exact power, its range easily exceeds the 600 mm telephoto lens I've compared it with.
View from the Platform