our birding brochure

877-525-3248 • www.LakeCityMN.org
SO
U
RE
A’S
O
ESOT
NN
S
T H SH
LAKE
CITY
MI
Lake City Tourism Bureau
P.O. Box 155
Lake City, MN 55041
SCARLET
TANAGER
HENSLOW
LARK SPARRO
W
SPARROW
Hundreds of rare songbirds,
ducks and hawks
IT
HUDSONIAN GODW
Globally Important Bird Area
Mergansers
Designated by the
American Bird Conservancy
TARY WARB
PROTHONA
LER
Three quarters of
world’s Common
Thousands of
Tundra Swans
ORCHARD
ORIOLE
Over 500
Bald Eagles
COMM
ON TER
N
SANDHILL
CRANE
Along America’s Greatest
Migration Corridor
BIRD WATCHING
SO
S
A’S
MI
LAKE
T H SH
RE
U
O
ESOT
NN
CITY
BIRD WATCHING Along America’s Greatest Migration Corridor
63
35
Frontenac
F
3 SP
58
67
2
Hok-Si-La Park
Cr eek
Lake City
Nelson
Bottoms
1
61
61
5
Zumbro
9 Zumb
35
McCarthy
thy L.
L /
Kellogg-Weaver
61
Dunes
4
7
8
Plainview
30
Whit
8 Whitewater
itewater River
Wh
42
42
W
Weaver
Minneiska
Wea
Weaver
Bottoms
Elba
LICAN
HITE PE
COMM
MERGAON
NSER
74
LaCrosse, Wis.
46 miles
35
61
74
WMA/SP
AN W
AMERIC
1
r
ive
ro River
mb
Zu
Miller
Cartography: Don Pirius
26
Editorial & Text: Carol Schumacher
33
C r e ek
61
DNR Area
Headquaters
Especially in November, December
and May check the two in-town
marinas and the Sportsman's
jetty for Black, White-winged and Surf
Scoters. Someday, Club
Eiders will be found here, too.
St
6
42
Theilman
Roschen
Park
P
9
Alma
Kellogg
K
ellogg
Bottoms
St
Head toward Ohuta Park and
follow the one way signs past the
mobile homes to a parking area.
Find great vistas in late fall where
Common Mergansers are in the
thousands and Bald Eagles are
fishing. Scoping carefully, even
in the distance, you might see a
rare Pacific, Red-throated or very
rare Yellow-billed Loon, besides
migrant Common Loons April-June
and in September until freeze-up.
ak
63
60
W
Riecks
Park
a
Iow
cross to the water’s edge. Any duck
species can be seen from here. Find
huge rafts of Common Mergansers
in November (and in December in a
warm winter). Check for shorebirds
on the sand April through
November (in cold weather, there
may be a Purple Sandpiper!) Bald
Eagles can be found in all seasons
from any vista.
O
Zumbro Falls
P
Lake City’s Lake Pepin
Vistas. Park on side streets and
S
60
4
Lake City
Dr
• Hundreds of rare migrating
songbirds, ducks and hawks
Rochester
19 miles
P
Dr
63
Wabasha
60
re
35
25
Nat'l Bald
Eagle Center
Dumfries
Ohuta
Park
ho
ore
• Three-quarters of
world’s population of
C. Mergansers in late
November
5
Nelson
Reads
Landing
ke
s
sh
ke
Maple
Springs
4
La
52
25
• Thousands of Tundra
Swans in the downriver
backwaters
• Over 500 Bald Eagles in
spring and fall
Eau Claire
Claire, Wis.
45 miles
N
La
Goodhue
52
Lake Pepin
S
63
35
L
Pe ake
pin
s
ell
W
WIS
MIN CON
NE SIN
SO
TA
5
Frontenac
1
Av
63
63
61
Ly
on
Red Wing
WISC
O
MINN NSIN
ESOT
A
1 Mile
Central
Point
W
61
Rip ple C r
iss
M
61
Hok-Si-La
Park
6 Miles
pi R
sp
s
s
i
Mpls./St. Paul
68 miles
Photography: W.J. Drazkowski,
Daria Dalager, Gary Krogman
Wild Wings
From Roschen
Park boat landing, see terns (Common,
Caspian, Foresters and Black are regular) during spring
migration and in fall, jaegers may be harassing gulls. Check
for Glaucous, Iceland, Thayers and less common Greater
and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Black-legged Kittiwakes
among the Herring and Ring-billed roosting on the lake at
night. Many species are waiting to be discovered along this
shore. Long-tailed Ducks, any loons, scoters and rafts of
Common Mergansers can be found here in spring or fall.
From Roschen Park, take two left turns and follow Oak
Street, staying close to the river. Past a creek and across
from a railroad trestle on your right, scope Lake Pepin for
shorebirds in May and scoters (especially Black) and gulls
in November. A good Bald Eagle spot is along the creek.
Check the water at open vistas behind the small brick
building further down Oak Street and at the dead end at the
Sportsman’s Club for Grater Scaup flocks and other ducks
and gulls.
Ch
ip p e
wa R
.
L.
Pepin
W
MI ISC.
NN
.
Nelson
Bottoms
61
al
e
TUNDA SWANS
ug
ef
From Nelson turn south onto Hwy WI 35. On the rock face cliffs,
look for perched and flying Peregrine Falcons between April
and fall. At Reick’s Lake in Alma, Wis., enjoy premium looks at
very close ducks in spring and fall. This is a renowned stop-over
site for migrating Tundra Swans mid-October through freeze-up
in late November and sometimes spring. The observation deck
has permanent scopes. In Alma, look for signs to Buena Vista
Park, well worth the drive for an awesome panoramic view of the
Mississippi River. In spring and fall, find migrating hawks and
eagles in good number, and summer through September soaring
American White Pelicans. You might catch the fly by Peregrine
Falcon near the smoke stack. Return to Lake City via the Hwy 60
bridge or head south to cross the Mississippi at Winona taking
Hwy 61 north. Alma is only 9 miles past Nelson, WI.
W
r
ate
ew
R.
WISC
MIN .
N.
R
61
Minneiska
life
Landing on Hwy 61, turn left onto Cty 59 and cross the tracks.
Pass the Hwy 60 interstate bridge and turn left at Pembroke Ave.
looking for the National Eagle Center signs as you approach
the river. Backtrack to the bridge and cross the river to enter
the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge at Nelson
Bottoms. At the boat landings and the woods edge in spring and
fall, songbird migration can be good. In this great bottomland
forest, Prothonotary and Ceruelan Warblers, several species of
woodpeckers, Great Crested Flycatchers and Yellow-throated
Vireos nest. Check the ponds and sloughs for migrating ducks
and possibly Tundra Swans and American White Pelicans close
to the road in season. In Nelson, follow Hwy 35 as the road
crosses through Tiffany Bottoms. At the Chippewa River, find
numerous Bald Eagles from November through March. Wabasha
is only 9.6 miles from Lake City and Nelson is another 3 miles.
il d
Wabasha to Alma. Immediately south of Reads
W
877-525-3248 • www.LakeCityMN.org
74
hit
Old Frontenac. At Hwy 61, continue up Cty 2, a great
songbird area. Scan the creek for migrating flocks. Walk
through Villa Maria where at dusk Chimney Swifts funnel
in. Walk the Old Frontenac Cemetery off Wood Street where
Tufted Titmice, Red-shouldered Hawks and birds in all
seasons can be seen. Wintering crossbills are sometimes
in the evergreen treetops and many birds hang in the low
brushy area. In Old Frontenac, walk any of the neighborhood
streets checking the area in spring for migrants and at
feeders for Tufted Titmouse and other wintering species.
Old Frontenac is only 8 miles from Lake City.
on
At Hwy 61, park left of Cty 2 and walk the signed trail right.
Listen for breeding Acadian Flycatcher near the woods
entrance, Prothonotary Warbler near the boardwalk, and
Pileated and Red-headed Woodpeckers along the trail. At
the lake’s edge, walk right checking for migrating Piping
Plover or other shorebirds beyond the point.
Weaver Bottoms
I
Buena
Vista
Park
25
1 Mile
7
Wh
it
114
26
iver
26
39
Whitewater
State Park
or
k
M id
d
eF
a
itew
Wh
33
104
37
22
10
39
74
S
th
ou
r
Fo
k
River
er
hitewat
W
33
119
1 Mile
115
37
Utica
14
14
Dover
18
St. Charles
90
8
27
24
152
9
14
Altura
112
39
er R .
107
9
248
37
t
107
31
Elba
26
2
107
28
74
33
37
Whitewater Valley-Highway 74. A scenic,
mostly public Wildlife Management Area and State Park
with cold water streams, ponds, bluffs and woodland areas.
One of Minnesota’s best birding areas along this 14-mile
stretch of Hwy 74. Easy access from Hwy 61 at Weaver.
Check hunting schedules before venturing through this
popular hunting area.
Woods: Find diverse species such as Blue-winged Warbler,
Eastern Towhee, some Cerulean Warbler, Wood Thrush,
Scarlet Tanager and Ruffed Grouse. Red-shouldered,
Broad-winged and Cooper’s Hawks nest, and in migration,
find Merlins, Sharp-shinned Hawks and N. Goshawks.
Peregrine Falcons have been spotted.
ati
Sand Point Trail. A lovely forested walk to Lake Pepin.
P
Alma
Nor th Fork Whitew
ater
R
31
Wetlands areas: Check for Common Moorhen, Least
Bittern, marsh bird, rails and Sandhill Crane.
rN
ive
iR
scenic vistas, oak savanna, bison farm adjacent bottomland
woods, wetlands and a small lake. Look for these areas
on a park map: From Old Frontenac, turn inland on Cty 2.
In the fields on your left, listen for dawn and dusk singing
Henslow’s Sparrows in late May and summer. Turn right onto
Cty 28 and listen for breeding Orchard Orioles or Northern
Shrikes in winter. The scenic overlook of Lake Pepin parking
lot has trees where you might find Cerulean Warblers, and
in winter, concentrations of Bald Eagles. Another hot area
and road worth driving, stopping or walking all seasons is
Hill Avenue for Wild Turkey, Ring-necked Pheasants and
songbirds. After a mile, gated park roads on your right have
breeding E. Towhee, Scarlet Tanagers and Wood Thrush.
Winter birds also find good shelter here. Also take Cty 2 to
Hwy 61 stopping at the wetlands and the lake area. Frontenac
State Park is only 6 miles from Lake City.
Peterson
Lake
Maloney
Lake
Weaver
Buffalo
Slough
35
E
35
ip p
Frontenac State Park. Very diverse uplands,
Indian Cr
84
ss
1 Mile
14
Whitewater
Wildlife
Management
Area
25
10
30
Ponds: Many heron and duck species, some in large
concentrations. Shorebirds in draw downs.
s si
(Staehli)
Wayside
P Park
ge
fu
Re
Creek
5
61
Riecks
Park
life
P
Sand Pt
Trail
(see separate detail)
61
Robinson
Lake
il d
2
iR
iv
lW
Villa
Maria
ip p
na
2
v er
1 Mile
io
at
N
er
Old
Frontenac
i
3
We
ll s
Beach
P
Zumbro
Bottoms
Forestry Unit
60
R
2
Park
HQ
Frontenac
Pond
Frontenac Station
60
P
Wabasha
o
br
m
(Public Areas)
Mi
ss
iss
P
59
Zu
28
Frontenac
State Park
P
(see separate
detail)
Dumfries
P
At Half Moon Landing, birds gather in shrubs and wood edges
during spring migration. At the Dunes SNA, listen for Eastern
Meadowlarks and Field Sparrows. You may see or hear Orchard
Orioles and Lark Sparrows, too. On the right at signs marked
McCarthy Lake WMA, find two parking spots. Walk the gated
road listening for Grasshopper Sparrows and Dickcissels. At the
first woods with a small wetland, you can hear Bell’s Vireos. On
the left side of Cty 84, find Nature Conservancy signs (private).
Walk any road in this area for sparrows. Tall pines in winter
might have crossbills, finches and owls.
35
4
10
among private areas. South of Kellogg and opposite Hwy 42
turn left, right, then left onto Cty 84, a loop off Hwy 61. In
low lying fields, check for flocks of Lapland Longspurs and
Horned Larks (erratic October-April). Flooded fields can host
interesting shorebird and ducks. Listen in spring and summer
for dawn-calling Sandhill Cranes (in fields in summer) and
Eastern Bluebirds on wires. This narrow road requires parking
at intersections, not blocking traffic. Kellogg is only 17.4 miles
from Lake City.
31
Beaver
Maloney
Lake
Mi
Camp
Lacupolis Reads
Landing
25
30
25
10
Half Moon
Lake
Nelson
30
Grotes
Pond
v
Hill A
25
Plainview
4
P
P
Maiden Rock
WISC
ONSIN
MINN
ESOT
A
59
lakeside parking areas with great vistas. These pull offs make
easy viewing of Common Mergansers and other duck species,
especially as the ice forms and retreats. Bald Eagles display
on the ice edges, some days over 500, and feed from November
through March. The confluence of the Chippewa River keeps the
water open year-round and food accessible for several species.
In fall and spring, scope for all three scoters, Long-tailed Ducks
and possible Barrow’s Goldeneye at the narrows and check for
jaegers and rare gulls in November. Take the first left in Reads
Landing driving toward the water. In spring the waterside road
is a migrant hotspot. Some duck species and numbers of Bald
Eagles roost and winter here. Reads Landing is only 8.5 miles
from Lake City.
35
Half
Moon
Lake
8
Weaver Bottoms. Best known as a significant
Tundra Swan concentration area from mid-October through
November, however, concentrations of several species of water
birds are found here. At MM 45 on Hwy 61, pull off and enter
the frontage at the cemeteries. Walk up this road and scope
safely. In spring and fall, find ducks of every species and check
for rarities. In July, August and September (sometimes June),
find number of American White Pelicans. Look skyward toward
the bluffs where they may be soaring high in the thermals. In
September to early October, Trumpeter Swan families stop. From
April to November, shorebirds are a bit far out, but American
Avocets and others stop. Herons and Bald Eagles are common.
Between MM 45 and Minnieska, unpredictable concentrations of
almost any species can be seen. Records here include thousands
of Ring-billed Gulls and huge migrant waves of Common Terns.
Scope for more solitary and unusual loons as well as Goldeneyes
and Long-tailed Ducks. Weaver Bottoms is only 26.6 miles from
Lake City.
Streams: Attract Winter Wren and Louisiana Waterthrush.
Winter: Scope for Golden Eagles flying above tree tops and
bluffs, not to be mistaken for immature Bald Eagles. Good
spot for finch, crossbills possible, owls (including a record
Great Gray in an invasion year). Well-maintained feeder
areas at Park and WMA headquarters.
The Whitewater Valley area is only 24.8 miles from Lake
City.
32
Dumfries
60
86
60
Zu
m b ro
60
Rive r
86
13
86
Zumbro
Bottoms
Forestry Unit
13
to Co. Rd. 18
Kellogg
P
Walking
Bridge
19
er
35
lA
v
P
116
at
Kellogg Dunes, Nature Conservancy and
McCarthy Lake area. A prairie patchwork of public land
Lake City to Reads Landing. Stop at the
Tiffany State
Wildlife Area
rN
P
84
14
o
br l
um ne
d Z an
Ol . Ch
R
SAW-WHET OWL
Hil
61
6
61
Wabasha
4
A migrant trap of mixed woods that juts out into Lake
Pepin where warblers drip from trees in a good mid-May
migration, including Cerulean and Connecticut. Check
the entrance road’s bottomland woods, wetland areas
and parking lot woods for Barred Owls, ducks, Pileated
Woodpeckers and migrants. A walk through the grass
opening to the right of the parking lot eventually weaves
throughout the campground with an overlook above a
“birdy” creek. Continue upriver through oaks and circle to
the lot through tall pines where there are more warblers,
records of Cooper’s Hawks
and Long-eared Owls. Walk
an old road down to the water
for shorebirds, gulls and tern
rarities. Heading upriver on
Hwy 61, scope the boat landing
and rest stop for loons, Greater
Scaup, gulls and Canvasbacks.
Try mid-late November for huge
Common Merganser flocks and
swooping/feeding Bald Eagles.
63
ak
eC
1 Mile
Hok-si-la Municipal Park-Lake City.
61
Sn
KelloggWeaver
Dunes
Nature State
Conser- Natural
vancy
Area
77
Lake
City
Lake Pepin
McCarthy
Lake
r.
63
ek
Gilber t Cre
2
iver
ive
P
P
1 Mile
Reads
Landing
5
McCarthy
Lake
Wildlife
Management
Area
e
Refug
ssi
ppi
R
WIS
MIN CONSIN
NES
OTA
ildlife
al W
ion
Mis
si
r
Rive
ter
a
ew
27
R
P
74
pi
61
Camp
Lacupolis
p
42
61
31
41
ip
P
ip
84
o
br
m nel
Zu n
ld h a
O .C
R
61
M
ESOT
A
Hok-Si-La
Municipal
Park Ripple Cr
iss
iss
42
35
ss
MINN
ONSIN
ge
efu
Kellogg
Cr.
si
WISC
W
nal
atio
N
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ive
iR
fe R
i
il dl
an
Maloney
Lake
Weaver
14
4
is
P
rm
iver
M
Lake
Pepin
Go
14
Zumbro R
l
Tiffany State
Wildlife Area
Lake Pepin
Beach
iver
Chippewa R
1 Mile
Boat
Ramp
61
86
P
Z
oR
br
um
iv
13
86
4
9
AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS
Theilman
4
19
1 Mile
to
19 Co.
Rd. 18
Zumbro Bottoms. A beautiful area with a
slightly complicated access, and well-maintained long
trails. The habitat is nearly identical to Whitewater Valley
with no ponds
or extensive
wetland areas.
BALD EAGLE
Favored during
the weekends by
horse lovers. Best
access is from Hwy
61 at Kellogg. The
Zumbro Bottoms
are only 13.7 miles
from Lake City.