Wakefield Road Area
Bear Trap Creek Wetland Mitigation (Bayfield Co.)
South Field Areas (Ashland Co.)
Habitat: Marsh, Non-Native Grassland and Pasture, Successional Oldfield.
Best Birds: Marshy ponds on north side of road in first mile west of Hwy 112 are good for waterfowl in spring. Sandhill Crane, Rough-legged Hawk, and Northern Harrier can also be seen here. Bobolink are in the grassland areas and Black-billed Cuckoo can also be seen along this stretch. This is an excellent spot for American Bittern. Moving westward, there is marsh on the south side of the road, also an excellent bet for American Bittern, Sora, Marsh Wren, and Sedge Wren.
Going south, Bear Trap Creek Wetland Mitigation has had LeConte’s Sparrow, and can seasonally flood for shorebirds. Further south, this grassland area can have Upland Sandpiper or Western Meadowlark. Going north on Ashland/Bayfield Road all the way to the back side of Ashland airport can be productive, with American Kestrel, Bobolink, and more chances for LeConte’s Sparrows in low-lying hayfields.
Directions: South of Ashland and W of Sanborn Ave/Hwy 112. All birding done from road. The first mile of Wakefield Rd. west of Hwy 112 is the most productive (46.51661, -90.91572). Ashland/Bayfield Rd is productive along the entire stretch between Hwy 118 and Ashland, including a relatively new Beartrap Creek Wetland Mitigation site (46.510474, -90.927692). There are also ponds on Hwy 112 between Wakefield and Ashland (46.52788, -90.90634), but viewing is often difficult due to highway traffic.
Site Address & Additional Information:
Wakefield Road, Ashland, WI 54806
Nick Anich
