We discovered a great new birding location up the North Santiam River in the little town of Lyons. Birds can be a little scarce sometimes in the dreary days of winter, so destinations with water are important to get to see winter migrating water fowl. The major national wildlife refuges in the Willamette Valley are off limits for dogs, so they don't work to well for us with our dog Buster. I remembered some undeveloped ponds in Lyons just next to the John Neil Linn County Park where we have camped in the past, so decided to check them out. When we arrived I was surprised to find the city of Lyons had developed a park with parking, graveled trails, picnic tables, and porta potties. And most important a nice diversity of water fowl has found it too.