https://ebird.org/hotspot/L297903
Habitat: Southern Hardwood Forest, Open Water, Alder Swamp, and Pine Plantation.
Best Birds: As you drive Stone’s Pocket Road north into the Baxter’s Hollow property, you will enter the gorge along Otter Creek. Louisiana Waterthrush is a common nesting species along the creek. The wooded slopes of the gorge are great habitat for Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Acadian Flycatcher, Carolina Wren, Worm-eating Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, and Hooded Warbler. The large pines in the gorge attract nesting species like Black-throated Green Warbler and Blackburnian Warbler. Yellow-throated Warbler have been present some years, singing from the tops of the mature White Pines. A few other species that have been found in the gorge during the nesting season include Blue-headed Vireo, Canada Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, and Kentucky Warbler.
The hiking trail at Baxter’s Hollow takes you past an Alder Swamp where Alder Flycatcher nest, and then continues into the expansive forest where Broad-winged Hawk, Acadian Flycatcher, Hooded Warbler, and Mourning Warbler can be found.
The pine plantation near the first parking area is a good place to look and listen for Northern Saw-whet Owl and Long-eared Owl in winter. Other species that can be found at Baxter’s during the winter include Golden Eagle, Red Crossbill, and Purple Finch.
Directions: 35 miles NW of Madison/6 miles south of Baraboo on Hwy 12, then turn west onto King’s Corner Road. Travel on Kings Corner for 1.5 miles and turn north on Stone’s Pocket Road and continue north into Baxter’s Hollow.
Site Address & Additional Information:
Baxter’s Hollow is 5,914 acres of mostly Southern Hardwood Forest and steep terrain in the Baraboo Hills. The highlight of this property is the gorge along Otter Creek which is lined with large White Pines and mature Southern Hardwood Forest. Near the north end of Stone’s Pocket Road there is a hiking trail which takes you past an Alder Swamp and then continues far into the forest atop the bluff. Near the first parking area is a Pine Plantation on the east side of the road.
Stones Pocket Rd, North Freedom, WI 53951
https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Lands/naturalareas/index.asp?SNA=82
https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/baxters-hollow-rd/
Aaron Holschbach
