https://ebird.org/hotspot/L199454
Habitat: Open Water, Marsh and Mudflats.
Best Birds: The surrounding marsh holds Sora, Marsh Wren, and sparrows. Occasional migrant Lincoln’s, Swamp, White-crowned, and Vesper Sparrow can be found foraging on the gravel paths or adjacent shrubs. Evening roosts of up to 1,000 blackbirds in early spring are regular and worth checking for Rusty Blackbird. Blue-winged Teal and Osprey, Wood Duck regularly breed here.
Extensive mudflats attract a wide variety of shorebirds like Semipalmated Plover, Solitary Sandpiper, Dunlin and Short and Long-billed Dowitcher, Wilson’s Phalarope, and several species of gulls and terns, including Caspian and Forster’s. Check the small ponds and perimeter stream for a wide variety of ducks, American Bittern, Great Egret, Green Heron, rails, swallows, and Northern Waterthrush. Winter brings occasional Northern Shrike to the sparse scrub habitat while Snow Bunting can be found foraging near the gravel paths.
Directions: Located on the south side of Madison, roughly one mile south of US-12/18 off Moorland Rd. Gravel trails are accessible from the paved Capital City Trail (43.031585, -89.348944) and parking is available at the Lewis Nine Springs E-way lot (43.031347, -89.348879). A handicapped-accessible boardwalk and observation deck is across the street from the parking lot.
Site Address & Additional Information:
Moorland Rd, Madison WI
http://www.friendsofcapitalsprings.org/enjoy/mmsd/
Brandyn Kerscher
