Lion’s Den Gorge
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L303312
Habitat: Mixed Coniferous Forest, Open Water, Marsh, and Successional Oldfield. 73 acres of wooded ravines and high bluff overlooking Lake Michigan and 44 acres of adjacent USFWS property.
Best Birds: Spring migrant numbers can be impressive with species including possible Olive-sided Flycatcher, Philadelphia Vireo, White-eyed Vireo, Summer Tanager, Western Tanager, and a wide variety of warblers like Cerulean, Hooded, Connecticut, Blue-winged, and Worm-eating. Although the tree height inhibits hawk watching, migrants are still observable.
Scope Lake Michigan for Long-tailed Duck and all 3 scoters, Red-necked Grebe, Common and Red-throated Loon.
The wooded ravines are fairly predictable for breeding Louisiana Waterthrush and Wood Thrush.
Look for Willow and occasionally Alder Flycatcher, Eastern Towhee, Clay-colored Sparrow, Field Sparrow, and Orchard Oriole on the Oldfield.
Wood Duck, Least Bittern, Sora, and Marsh Wren breed in the marsh.
Belted Kingfisher, Bank Swallow, and Rough-winged Swallow nest in the exposed bluff banks.
Directions: 3 miles south of Port Washington, just east of the County Rd. C and Ulao Rd. junction.
Site Address and Additional Information:
511 High Bluff Dr., Grafton, Wisconsin 53024
https://www.co.ozaukee.wi.us/662/Lions-Den-Gorge-Nature-Preserve
Access to Lake Michigan shoreline via stairs. Poison Ivy is plentiful, and stairs into gorge are steep!
Jim Frank
