Rainbow Flowage, Oneida County, WI, US - eBird Hotspot
Rainbow Wetlands SNA Hotspot requested
Habitat: Northern Hardwoods Forest, Mixed Coniferous Forest, Open Water, Mudflats, Sedge Meadow, Alder and Willow Swamp, Conifer Bog.
Best Birds: In spring and fall the flowage is heavily used by migrating waterfowl, gulls, and terns. In low rainfall years or when drawn down thousands of shorebirds may congregate in the fall on the exposed mudflats. Also look for Lapland Longspur and American Pipit. Common Loon, Bald Eagle and Osprey nest around the flowage.
Typical breeding birds of the peatlands are Sedge Wren, Swamp Sparrow, and Nashville Warbler. Uncommon to rare breeding birds of the muskeg are Spruce Grouse, Merlin, Black-backed Woodpecker, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Canada Jay, Boreal Chickadee, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Palm Warbler, Canada Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, and Evening Grosbeak.
Directions: 73 miles NNE of Wausau/12 miles southeast of Minoqua. The lake can be scanned from a boat launch on County Road D, 500 ft east of the intersection with County Road E (45.83518, -89.54614).
One of the best access points to the reservoir is on Oxbow Road. From the Wisconsin River bridge drive south on County Road O 1.1 miles to Oxbow Road. Follow Oxbow Road west to the end at a small parking area in a Red Pine plantation (45.86335, -89.49555). In late summer and fall hike along the shoreline to view exposed sand and mudflat for shorebirds and gulls, especially in dry summers. The shoreline just south of this point is part of the SNA.
Another location from which to scan the shoreline is on the south side of the flowage along Swamp Creek. On County Road D, park near the Swamp Creek crossing to check the water, (45.83403, -89.49358). West of the crossing go north on Swamp Creek Road to the end and hike the shoreline, (45.84106, -89.50920).
A final access point is on the northwest side of the flowage at the end of Stormy Landing Road around the boat landing (45.87825, -89.50542).
To access the Rainbow Wetlands SNA go 2.8 miles E on County Road D from the intersection of Hwy E and County D. Just past the Swamp Creek crossing, park and walk north into the SNA (45.8340, -89.4900). The SNA can also be accessed by boat, putting in from a landing on Swamp Creek Road (45.8392, -89.5047) a third of a mile north of County D.
Address and Additional Information:
Rainbow Flowage and peatlands is an Important Bird Area (IBA). The flowage is an impounded stretch of the Wisconsin River. The flowage is within the Northern Highland American Legion State Forest. The Rainbow Wetlands SNA is located east of the Rainbow Flowage and features a large peatland of sedge meadow, shrub swamp, open bog, and muskeg with Black Spruce and Tamarack. Within the muskeg, islands of higher ground contain Jack, Red and White Pine.
County Hwy D, Lake Tomahawk, WI
Rainbow Flowage Boat Launch, 45.83518, -89.54614
Rainbow Wetlands SNA, 45.8340, -89.4900
Rainbow Wetlands State Natural Area - Wisconsin DNR
Northern Highland American Legion State Forest | Wisconsin DNR
Carl Schroeder
