https://ebird.org/wi/hotspot/L301784
Habitat: Northern and Southern Hardwood Forests, Bottomland Hardwoods, Open Water, Conifer Plantations, Native and Restored Grasslands.
Best Birds: Northern species near the southern limits of their breeding range include Broad-winged Hawk , Merlin (rare), Alder Flycatcher, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Purple Finch, Pine Siskin, Northern Waterthrush, and Black-and-white, Mourning, Chestnut-sided, Pine, and Black-throated Green Warbler.
In winter, both crossbills, Common Redpoll and Evening Grosbeak are possible.
Southern species at or near their northern limits include Red-shouldered Hawk (uncommon), Willow Flycatcher, Hooded Warbler (rare), and Cerulean Warbler.
Along the entrance road scan the grasslands for Sandhill Crane, Merlin, Northern Harrier, Sedge Wren, Field Sparrow, Henslow’s Sparrow (rare), Bobolink, Dickcissel, and Northern Shrike (winter). At the contact station, check for Blue-winged Warbler, and Eastern Towhee.
The Ice Age Trail crosses here. The south trail leads into a lowland habitat where Alder Flycatcher and Chestnut-sided Warbler are found. On the trail north is a Red Pine plantation where Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pine Warbler, and Cooper’s Hawk are found.
Past the plantation and the ridge of an esker that provides nice views of the surrounding forest habitat, the trail descends to a stream and a footbridge where Louisiana Waterthrush might be found. Crossing the bridge you enter a mature climax forest. Here Red-shouldered Hawk, Cerulean Warbler, and Yellow-throated Vireo are possible.
Past the contact station take the first left to the boat landing. At this intersection, there is a small stand of Red Pines where Red-breasted Nuthatch and Pine Warbler can be found. From here to the small stream crossing, the south side of the road often has American Woodcock (early spring), Veery, Winter Wren (uncommon early spring/rare summer), Brown Creeper, Mourning Warbler, and Northern Waterthrush. Red-shouldered and Broad-winged Hawk are often seen or heard. From the stream crossing to the boat landing look for Eastern Wood-Pewee, Wood Thrush, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Cerulean Warbler, and Scarlet Tanager. In the vicinity of the boat landing look for Virginia Rail, Osprey, Bald Eagle, both Willow and Alder Flycatchers, Marsh Wren, and Swamp Sparrow.
In late March-April a good variety of migrating waterbirds can be found from the boat landing including Common Loon. The picnic area is often the best spot to find Yellow-throated Vireo, Pine, and Cerulean Warbler. The bottomlands across the road from the picnic pavilion may have Black-and-white and Mourning Warbler.
Along the road to the trash recycling area Broad-winged Hawk, both cuckoos, Black-throated Green Warbler, and Hooded Warbler are possible.
Other birds that can be found at any time on the property are Barred Owl and Pileated Woodpecker.
Directions: 52 miles NNW of Milwaukee/20 miles southeast of Fond du Lac. From Highway 45 take County SS to County GGG south 1.3 miles to the park entrance (43.59264, -88.17047).
Site Address and Additional Information:
N1490 Co Rd GGG, Campbellsport, WI
Ice Age Trail parking, 43.59389, -88.17596
Boat landing parking, 43.59930, -88.18343
Kettle Moraine North Wisconsin State Park System | Wisconsin DNR
Jeff Baughman
