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County V Pond

County V Pond https://ebird.org/hotspot/L271616

Habitat: Open Water, Mudflats, Cropland. This site is part of the 162 acre Vienna Waterfowl Protection Area.

Best Birds: Flooded agricultural fields north of Waunakee provide rest and feeding stops for a great diversity of waterfowl including Tundra Swan (migration/winter only) and Trumpeter Swan, Greater White-Fronted, Ross’s, Snow and Cackling Goose, Canvasback, Ruddy Duck, Redhead, Gadwall, American Black Duck, Northern Pintail, Lesser Scaup, Greater Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal and all three mergansers, and Horned and Eared Grebe

In addition to the common shorebird migrants, harder-to-find shorebirds that are found annually include Short-billed and Long-billed Dowitcher, Wilson’s Phalarope, Black-necked Stilt, Ruddy Turnstone, American Avocet, and occasionally Red-necked Phalarope. Plovers include Semipalmated Plover as well as harder to get Black-bellied Plover and American Golden-plover.

Rails found include Virginia.

In recent years there have been records of White-faced and Glossy Ibis. Other related species found regularly at these ponds are American Bittern, Least Bittern, Great Egret, and an occasional Snowy Egret.

Gulls include Bonaparte’s and occasionally Franklin’s Gull.

In summer this area hosts Ruddy Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Common Gallinule, Sandhill Crane, Black Tern, Least Bittern, Yellow-Headed Blackbird, and Marsh Wren.

Directions: 17 miles north of Madison and four miles north of Waunakee. The ponds can be viewed from the roadside on County Road V between Patton Rd and Schumacher Road (43.25006, -89.42556).  A small parking area south on Schumacher Road at 43.24562, -89.43607 provides access on foot to the public hunting lands.

Site Address & Additional Information:

County Road V, Waunakee WI

ViennaPotholeWebMap.pdf (countyofdane.com)

Kristin Schmitt and Shawn Miller