Sheboygan Lakefront (general), Sheboygan County, WI, US - eBird Hotspot
Habitat: Open Water, Beach.
harbor, marina and the mouth of the Sheboygan River, sandy beaches and rocky shoreline, manmade jetties and piers.
Best Birds: Excellent views of Lake Michigan from North Point Park as well as from the south pier of the harbor. In between, the rocky shoreline, beaches, marina and harbor all regularly host birds found at few other places in the state. All of eastern North America’s gulls may be found here including Little Gull, which are regular in June, Laughing, Iceland, and Lesser Black-backed. Glaucous and Great Black-backed Gull are often seen in winter. Caspian, Common and Forster’s Tern are all seen frequently in spring and fall, often gathering in large numbers on the beach. Scan the lake for Long-tailed Duck, all three scoters, Horned Grebe, and Common and Red-throated Loon. Harlequin Duck are fond of the rocky shoreline. In mid-summer flocks of American White Pelican wander down from Green Bay.
During check the shoreline and jetties for Sanderling, Dunlin, Ruddy Turnstone, Willet, American Avocet, and Whimbrel. When lake levels are low, the rocky pools attract Red Phalarope and Purple Sandpiper.
In late fall and winter, look for American Pipit and Snow Bunting on the shoreline near the North Point parking lot,.
All this birdlife attracts predators such as Bald Eagle, Osprey, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, and in winter Snowy Owl, often seen on the marina’s rock breakwalls.
Walking North Point Drive provides excellent birding in migration, when passerines are funneled along the Lake Michigan shoreline. On the narrow brushy and wooded bluff above North Point Park look for migrating warblers, vireos, and sparrows.
Directions: In the City of Sheboygan, 57 miles north of Milwaukee. From I-43, take Exit #123 (Hwy 28 east) then continue east to the lakefront. There are several good vantage points of the lakeshore. The best view of the harbor, the lake, and the mouth of the Sheboygan River is at the end of South Pier Drive (43.74825, -87.70355). Pennsylvania Avenue’s east end (43.74978, -87.70342) provides another perspective on the harbor. The marina can be scanned from the boat ramp (43.75172, -87.70318). Deland Park (43.75739, -87.70331) has a broad sandy beach worth inspecting. The northernmost location on the lakefront is North Point Park (43.76293, -87.69624) which provides the best views of the open waters of Lake Michigan, the rocky shoreline, and the jetties. On the bluff above is North Point Drive (43.76367, -87.69673), which has views of the brushy slope facing the lake.
Site Address and Additional Information:
715 Broughton Dr, Sheboygan, WI
Dave & Margaret Brasser
