Lake Wissota SP, Chippewa County, WI, US - eBird Hotspot
Habitat: Open Water, Beaches and Mudflats, Marsh, Native and Restored Grassland, Northern Hardwood Forest, Conifer Plantations.
Best Birds: There are several places to view the lake but the best is at the overlook, ½ mile in from the entrance station, at a parking lot on the right. Check for a variety of waterfowl - like scoters, grebes, and Common Loon - gulls, and swallows.
The Red Pine plantation past the parking lot and at the campground may hold Whip-poor-will, Northern Saw-whet Owl (especially during fall and winter) Yellow-throated Vireo, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pine Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, and crossbills in winter.
Northern Harrier and Eastern Meadowlark frequent the large prairie beyond the campground, where there are also Grasshopper, Clay-Colored, Field and Vesper Sparrow. The SE end of the park (where the road ends) has some of the best birding, including a nature trail around a beaver marsh which may hold Red-shouldered Hawk, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, and Swamp Sparrow. The east side of the park has woods and trails. Tufted Titmouse is here at the northern limit of its range.
Directions: 20 miles NE of Eau Claire/7 miles northeast of Chippewa Falls. Enter the park from County Hwy O, (44.97974, -91.31084). The beach is towards the south end of the park, (44.96081, -91.29449). Further on is the Beaver Meadow Trail, (44.96184, -91.28662).
Site Address and Additional Information:
Lake Wissota SP has 1,000 acres of a beach, grasslands, forests, and a beaver marsh.
18127 County Hwy O, Chippewa Falls, WI
Lake Wissota State Park | Wisconsin DNR
Rory Cameron
