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Benjamin F. Goss Bird Club

Waukesha County, Wisconsin
 
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Birding Hotspots in Waukesha County

The following list includes some suggested times to visit these areas and some of the birds you might see.

Fox River Sanctuary - located in the town of Waukesha. Access from Sunset Dr. to the river. Boardwalk and trails continue to Sentry Dr. Bike trail cuts through. BIRDS: Spring–ducks, geese, swallows, warblers and other passerines.

Minooka Park - located south of Waukesha on Sunset Dr. between Hwys. U and Y. County park sticker required. Pond and woods. BIRDS: Spring–ducks, herons, hawks, owls, woodpeckers, warblers, blackbirds and other passerines.

The Nature Conservancy at Falk Woods - located on Hwy. F (164) about two and a half miles south of Hwy. 59, between Glendale and Townline Roads. Marsh and woods. BIRDS: Spring–warblers and other deep woods birds, woodcocks.

Vernon Station - located south of Waukesha on Benson Rd. Take XX (Oakdale Dr.) south about 4 miles. Turn right on Benson Rd. and cross RR tracks. Woods and dikes. BIRDS: Spring (woods)–warblers and other passerines, hawks; Summer (dikes)–nesting birds include ducks, geese, coots, rails, cranes, herons, Black Terns, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Marsh Wrens.

Frog Alley - located on west side of Vernon Marsh on Frog Alley, which is 2 miles north of Mukwonago. Go east from Hwy. 83. Dikes, marsh, fields, tamarack. BIRDS: Spring–cranes, ducks, coots, grebes, geese, swans, rails, Black Terns, swallows, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Marsh Wrens; Winter–Long-eared and N. Saw-whet owls, shrikes, American Tree Sparrows, robins.

Sod Farm - located near Saylesville between Hwys. X and I and Point and Holiday Rds. BIRDS: Spring–ducks, geese, cranes, hawks, shorebirds.

Mukwonago Park - located about 2 miles west of Mukwonago on Hwy. 99. County park sticker required. Ponds, fields, restored prairie, woods. BIRDS: Spring–ducks, geese, swans, hawks, bluebirds and other passerines.

Phantom Lake - located about 1 mile west of Mukwonago. Take Hwy. 99 (LO) west to Hwy. I. Go south to where the Mukwonago River passes under the road. Pull off and check for birds. Continue to Sandy Beach Rd., which leads down to the lake. Private houses. BIRDS: Spring, Fall–ducks, grebes, Mute Swans, blackbirds, swallows.

Paradise Springs - located about 1 mile west of Eagle. Take Hwy. 59 west to N. Turn right and go about a half mile. Park is on the right. Paved Accessible Trail. Catch and release spring-fed pond, woods. BIRDS: Spring–hawks, owls, Belted Kingfishers, passerines.

Kettle Moraine State Forest, Southern Unit - Some 20,000 acres located in the southwestern corner of the county near Eagle, and extending into adjoining Jefferson and Walworth counties. State park sticker required. Oak/hickory woods, pine plantations, prairies, kettle ponds, marshes. Areas: Pinewoods Campground, Scuppernong ski/hiking trails, Scuppernong Prairie, Ottawa Lake (see next hotspot). An overlap of northern and southern birds. BIRDS: Spring, Summer, Fall– cranes, hawks, owls, woodpeckers (including Pileated), warblers (including nesting Hooded, Pine, Mourning), Acadian Flycatchers and other passerines; Winter (Scuppernong Prairie)–shrikes, Rough-legged Hawks.

Ottawa Lake - located on Hwy. ZZ west of Hwy. 67 about 5 miles south of Dousman. State park sticker required. Lake, marsh, fields, woods. BIRDS: Spring–ducks, geese, cranes, herons, shorebirds, hawks, owls and passerines, including Henslow’s Sparrows, Bobolinks, meadowlarks; Winter–shrikes, Rough-legged Hawks.

Nelson’s Woods, Waukesha Land Conservancy - located one and a half miles south of Dousman on Hwy. ZD. Dammed pond, creek, woods. BIRDS: Spring–ducks, herons, woodpeckers, swallows, warblers, other passerines.

Beaver Dam Lake - located on Hwy. CI near Jefferson County line. From Dousman, take Hwy. 67 about 4 miles south to CI. Turn right and go about two and a half miles. Lake is on the left with a place to park off the road. BIRDS: Spring, Summer–coots, grebes, ducks, rails, geese, cranes, herons, Black Terns, swallows, Yellow-headed Blackbirds. Many nest here.

Henrietta Lake/UWW Field Station - located on Waterville Rd., about 1 mile east of Dousman. Take Waterville Rd. south from Hwy. 18. Lake is on the right; field station is to the left. The Glacial Drumlin Bike Trail runs east-west through the area. Kettle lake with boardwalk, restored prairie, fields, woods. BIRDS: Spring–ducks, geese, woodcocks, swallows, bluebirds and other passerines.

Lapham Peak State Park - located about 1 mile south of I-94 on Hwy. C. Entrance is on east side of road. State park sticker required. Ponds, fields, woods. BIRDS: Spring–ducks, geese, herons, hawks, owls, woodpeckers (including Pileated), bluebirds, swallows and other passerines.

Nashotah Park - Located on Hwy. C just north of Hwy. 16. County park sticker required. Ponds, fields, restored prairie, woods. BIRDS: Spring–ducks, geese, herons, owls, hawks, bluebirds, Bobolinks, swallows, sparrows, warblers, Tufted Titmice and other passerines; Winter–shrikes.

Nagawicka Park - located in town of Delafield. Take Main St. (DR) 3 blocks east to Bleeker St. Turn left and follow road to end. Park in boat launch area. BIRDS: Early Spring as ice goes out–loons, swans, ducks, coots, grebes.

Pewaukee Lake - located north of I-94 on Hwy. E. Go to boat launch at west end of lake; also in Pewaukee at east end. BIRDS: Spring–loons, grebes, ducks, coots, geese, swans.

Retzer Nature Center - located a few miles west of Waukesha. Take Hwy. 18 to Hwy. DT south and watch for signs. Paved Accessible Trail. Ponds, restored prairies, fields, woods. BIRDS: Spring, Summer–hawks, owls, Upland Sandpipers, swallows, bluebirds, Bobolinks, sparrows, warblers and other passerines. Many nest here.