Habitat: Open Water, Mixed Coniferous Forest, Jack Pine/Oak Barrens, Marsh, Mudflats, Sedge Meadow, and Alder Swamp.
Best Birds: During spring and fall migration, open water areas and exposed mudflats should be checked for ducks, grebes, and shorebirds. In summer, the rice beds and surrounding forests will produce herons, nightjars, various raptors, woodpeckers, thrushes, vireos, and warblers.
The forested area immediately around the Smith Bridge landing is dominated by overgrown Jack Pine and Northern Pin Oak forest. Highlight species in this area include Broad-winged Hawk, Bald Eagle, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Common Nighthawk, Pileated Woodpecker, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Wood Pewee,Common Raven, Yellow-throated Vireo, Hermit Thrush, and Veery.
Upstream (east) from the bridge, the forest surrounding the inlet bay is dominated by mature Red Pine and overmature Jack Pine with only scattered deciduous shrubs and understory trees. These more open forests support nesting Merlin, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Blue-headed Vireo, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Pine Warbler, and, rarely, Red Crossbill.
Paddling upstream through the Northern Wild Rice beds into the braided channels on the bay’s south side, visitors can expect to find Golden-winged Warbler in the Speckled Alder thickets that border the southern edge of the bay. Spotted Sandpiper and Killdeer are likely breeders on the exposed sand and mud flats, and both Sora and Virginia Rail can be found in sedge dominated areas.
Directions: 49 miles SSE of Superior/5.2 miles west of Wascott. South of County Road T on South Smith Bridge Road, is a boat landing and parking lot on the east side just north of the bridge (46.168791, -91.900584). This is a site best accessed by boat; the lands around the river just south of the landing and north half of the flowage are private but further south in the delta it is DNR land.
Site Address & Additional Information:
16498 S Smith Bridge Rd, Gordon, WI 54838
Matthew Berg
