Headgates Park: https://ebird.org/wi/hotspot/L7653171
Habitat: Bottomland Hardwoods, Willow, Alder or Dogwood Swamp, Open Water, Pine Plantation.
Best Birds: Pearl Island offers several miles of trails between the Sugar River and the raceway to the dam in Brodhead. Pileated Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and Prothonotary Warbler can be found in the bottomland. Waterfowl can be seen on Decatur Lake. From Decatur Park a walk east behind the gate will take you to a Boy Scout area that has had Northern Parula regularly.
Directions: 34 miles S of Madison. From Highway 11 in Brodhead travel north on County E. To access a gravel path along the water, in 0.3 miles turn left on Decatur Rd and travel west for 0.5 to the parking lot (42.632927, -89.385741) along the Sugar River raceway. To access Decatur Park continue west on Decatur Rd for 1.2 miles. Turn right onto Park Rd / Rustic Rd 27 and travel 0.7 miles north to the park, (42.64359, -89.40989). Headgates Park is reached on County E; 1.7 miles from Brodhead turn left then continue on Golf Course Rd for 0.5 miles (42.647165, -89.397071).
Site Address & Additional Information:
Headgates Park W705 Golf Course Rd, Brodhead WI
Decatur Park 3740 Park Rd / Rustic Rd 27, Brodhead WI
Quentin Yoerger