Hook Lake State Wildlife Area
https://ebird.org/wi/hotspot/L1132600
Habitat: Open Water, Marsh, Sedge Mat Bog, Southern Hardwood Forest, Pine Plantation, Native & Restored Grasslands, Non-Native Grassland & Pasture, Oak Savannah.
Best Birds: From the McManus Road parking area, this prairie and ag-field area holds typical species including Field Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark and sometimes Henslow’s and Clay-Colored Sparrow. Working the scrubby edges of these fields in fall migration produces many White-Throated White-Crowned and a few Lincoln’s Sparrow.
In winter Horned Lark, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur and an occasional Northern Shrike work the prairies and ag-fields (as well as any leftover Ring-Necked Pheasant from the October hunting season). In winter American Tree-Sparrow and Dark-Eyed Junco move into this habitat.
Moving north towards the pine/spruce area and then the hardwood forest area you can find many migrating warblers, thrushes, vireos and flycatchers. This area also holds both Great Horned Owl and Barred Owl, and occasional Northern Saw-Whet Owl. The loop trail that touches the east edge of the wetland bog is good for Willow Flycatcher (and Alder Flycatcher in migration), Warbling Vireo, and occasional Yellow-Billed Cuckoo.
The bog “lake” itself doesn’t have much open water anymore but still holds geese, ducks and grebes in most years. Walking in from the north end off of Hawkinson Road along the narrow easement is good habitat for Rusty Blackbird in migration. The parking area has nesting Yellow-Billed Cuckoo and the small creek has Northern Waterthrush during migration. Also look and listen for migrating Bobolink and Dickcissel in the ag-field west of this trail in spring.
Directions: 13 miles south of Madison, enter the parking area on McManus Road just 300 feet north of Rutland-Dunn Townline Road (42.933312, -89.321865), or park at the north access point along Hawkinson Road (42.959027, -89.318239).
Site Address & Additional Information:
McManus Rd, Oregon, WI
https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Lands/naturalareas/index.asp?SNA=242
Shawn Miller
