Yellowstone Lake SP (general), Lafayette County, WI, US - eBird Hotspot
Habitat: Oak Savanna, Dry Prairie, Southern Hardwood Forest, Open Water, Marsh, Mudflats.
Best Birds: The savannah is located along the northeast portion of the park and is great for grassland birds such as Red-headed Woodpecker, Grasshopper, Vesper, Savannah and Henslow’s Sparrow, Eastern and Western Meadowlark, and Dickcissel. Though uncommon, White-eyed Vireo, Bell’s Vireo, Carolina Wren and Yellow-breasted Chat have been found in the park in summer.
The forested areas provide great habitat for cuckoos, woodpeckers, vireos, thrushes, and warblers. Lafayette County does not have many lakes therefore Yellowstone Lake attracts large numbers of migrating ducks and geese and Trumpeter and Tundra Swan. The Wildlife Loop is a one-mile constructed dike with diverse habitat surrounding the trail. The inside of the Wildlife Loop contains a small forested area, as well as deepwater habitat. The outside of the Wildlife Loop contains the major portion of Yellowstone Lake as well as the shallow shorebird area. The shorebird migration starting in July can be impressive. The banks of the dike provide wetland vegetation for Sora and Black-crowned Night Heron.
Directions: 46 miles SW of Madison. If traveling from the east access the park via County Road F. About 13 miles west of Blanchardville. Turn south on Lake Road to the park office. The Wildlife Loop starts directly southwest of the parking area. Also starting near the parking area is the Blue Ridge Trail which leads to the Savannah Loop and further south passes through the Yellowstone Savanna state natural area along the northeast shore of Yellowstone Lake.
Site Address & Additional Information:
8495 Lake Rd., Blanchardville, WI
Yellowstone Lake State Park | Wisconsin DNR
Yellowstone Savanna State Natural Area - Wisconsin DNR
West and south of the state park is the Yellowstone Wildlife Area which is well worth exploring. It primarily consists of rolling upland grasslands and agricultural fields, with scattered woods and old oak savannah.
Yellowstone Wildlife Area | Wisconsin DNR
Carl Schroeder, Matthew Nechvatal
