Scott Flowage, Monroe County, WI, US - eBird Hotspot
Habitats: Sedge Meadow, Conifer Bog, Open Water, Jack Pine-Oak Barrens, Black Oak Forest, Shrub Swamp, Marsh.
Best Birds: Scan the open water for Trumpeter Swan, Ring-necked Duck. Green-winged Teal, Common Loon, Black Tern, and various waders and shorebirds. The open meadow supports American Bittern, Northern Harrier, and Sedge Wren. Yellow Rail, Henslow’s Sparrow, Le Conte’s Sparrow and Bobolink should be sought in patches of wire-leaved sedge. The Tamarack swamp (bog forest) provides habitat for Alder Flycatcher, White-throated Sparrow, and Nashville Warbler. Listen for Lincoln’s Sparrow here as well.
The dry forest on adjacent uplands includes over-grown Jack Pine–oak barrens and patches of oak. Eastern Whip-poor-will, Great-crested Flycatcher, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee, Vesper Sparrow, and Scarlet Tanager are among the representative birds here. Specific avian composition of the upland forests will depend on patch size and length of recovery time from the last disturbance episode.
Directions: 64 miles NE of La Crosse/8 miles east of Warrens. From Warrens go east on Hwy EW ca 8.5 miles to Autumn Road then north and west on Autumn Road about 0.7 miles to a DNR gate and parking area. Park and walk west on the dike or use a canoe or kayak to explore the flowage. 44.141788, -90.374161.
Site Address & Additional Information:
Scott Flowage, 50 acres of open water with a maximum depth of 8 feet, was created by constructing a dike across Dead Creek, a channelized stream. The dike along the southern edge of this large peatland provides easy walking access to the wetland and forest edges. The open waters of the flowage are bordered by an extensive sedge meadow and Tamarack swamp. The interior wetlands are best explored via canoe or kayak.
Autumn Road, Scott WI
Eric Epstein
