Beaver Dam Lake (Waukesha Co.), Waukesha County, WI, US - eBird Hotspot
Habitat: Marsh, Open Water, Native and restored Grasslands, Successional Old Field, Oak Savannas. This shallow lake is 36 acres in size and only 6 feet deep at the maximum depth, less in dry years.
Best Birds: Snow Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose and Ross’s Goose, and ducks during migration, Virginia Rail, Common Gallinule, Sandhill Crane, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Egret, American Bittern, Least Bittern (rare), Swamp Sparrow, Yellow-headed Blackbird (when water levels are high),common in migration are. Red-necked Grebe is possible. American White Pelican and Trumpeter Swan are seen occasionally. Both Black Tern and Forster’s Tern are seen yearly.
In the grasslands, savanna, and successional habitat Wild Turkey, Red-headed Woodpecker, Willow Flycatcher, Brown Thrasher, Clay-colored Sparrow, Orchard Oriole, Eastern Meadowlark, Bobolink and Dickcissel are possible. Bald Eagle, Osprey, Northern Harrier, Cooper’s Hawk, Chimney Swift, and Purple Martin can be seen flying over the lake.
Directions: 40 miles SW of Milwaukee, in southwestern Waukesha County. The nearest town is Eagle located about 6 miles to the southeast. The lake lies southeast between County Hwy CI and Hwy Z, (Z is the county line road between Waukesha and Jefferson Counties). A small parking area and boat launch is located on Hwy CI opposite a farm, (42.92671, -88.53095). A viewpoint on the south end of the lake (42.91841, -88.54207) does not have a parking lot, but the shoulders are wide enough to pull off the road and traffic tends to be light.
Site Address & Additional Information:
County Road CI and County Road Z, Eagle WI
Anne Moretti
