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Hotspots

Retzer Nature Center | Birding Hotspot Review | Waukesha, Wisconsin

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Location

Waukesha, Wisconsin
S14W28167 Madison St, Waukesha, WI 53188

Notable Birds to See

Eastern Bluebird, Bobolink, Henslow’s Sparrow, Clay-colored Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Indigo Bunting.

Check out our video on Retzer Nature Center
Logistics

Retzer Nature Center has its own parking lot with plenty of space, even on busier days. They have a wide variety of trails ranging from a paved loop trail to boardwalks, to grass, to woodchips. Most of these trails do not have steep grades so walking is pretty easy.

Habitat

There are a many different habitats at Retzer Nature center that draw in a variety of bird species. Near the visitor center there is mixed deciduous and coniferous woods with regular coniferous woods being other places on the property. There is a stream that flows through the lower elevation parts of the center and a small pond. The most notable habitat is the prairie at the top of the large hill. This is where the best birding typically is. There is also a trail that goes through a fen. Altogether, the variety of habitat in a relatively small area is quite impressive.

Seasonal Differences in Species

As with most places in the northern United States, time of the year is going to be a major factor in the birds you find at Retzer Nature Center. In fall and winter, year-round residents such as Northern Cardinals, White-breasted Nuthatches and Downy Woodpeckers are common here as well as winter visitors such as Dark-eyed Juncos and occasionally irruptive species such as Pine Siskins and Red-breasted Nuthatches.

Spring and summer are generally the best seasons to go birding at Retzer Nature center due to the birds that breed on the property. Bobolinks and Henslow’s Sparrows are two signature species that arrive in spring and then spend most of the summer along with other grassland species. If you’re looking for warblers, Retzer isn’t going to necessarily be at the top of the list. On any given day in spring some species can be moving through especially Yellow-rumped Warblers, Common Yellowthroats and Palm Warblers. Blackpoll Warblers, Chestnut-sided Warblers, Golden-winged Warblers, and Blue-winged Warblers are all species I have found at Retzer before but not with regularity.

Personal Experiences

Retzer Nature Center is a place I have visited ever since I’ve been a little kid. I find it to be a very relaxing and peaceful place to spend time in and at this point I know the birds there in every season like the back of my hand. The multitude of habitats along with the beautiful scenery is top notch for the area and there are some pretty solid bird species that are reliable on an annual basis. It’s definitely my go-to spot to get my first of year Bobolinks and Henslow’s Sparrows each year.

One of the few downsides to Retzer Nature Center is that it’s a very popular place for photographers to take family portraits; so sometimes the trails near the visitor center can be a little crowded. If that’s the case, venturing out on the other trails usually solves the problem.

Video of a Birding Tournament Held at Retzer Nature Center
Other Things to See and Do

Retzer Nature actually has a lot of festivals and other things that occur on the grounds. There is an annual apple harvest festival which is a great family event as well as several clubs and organizations that meet there. One organization is the Ben Goss Bird Club that hosts weekly meetings. Another unique feature is the planetarium in the same building as the visitor center.

Review

Retzer Nature Center is an excellent place for a relaxing day of birding, hiking, and exploring. It’s a fantastic place for families to explore nature together and while it’s not a place to get crazy rarities or an outrageous species total, the birding is solid and there are some nice species to find.

Other Nearby Hotspots

Glacial Drumlin Trail, Paradise Valley SWA

Hotspots

Lake Park | Birding Hotspot Review | Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Location

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2975 N Lake Park Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53211

Notable Birds to See

Louisiana Waterthrush, Connecticut Warbler, Mourning Warbler, Red-headed Woodpeckers, Harris’s sparrows and other fall sparrows, other general migrants.

Badgerland Birding Searches for a Connecticut Warbler at Lake Park
Logistics

Lake Park is easily accessible as it has multiple parking lots serving as points of entry. One lot is on N Lincoln Memorial Dr and another farther south off of East Newberry Blvd. Both lots are technically on a street called N Lake Park Rd. However, these two streets are not connected so it can be a bit confusing.

Walking at Lake Park is easy as it has many roads and walking paths. Most of them are relatively flat. There are some areas of the park that are only accessible with stairs but overall, birding at the park is easy for everyone including those who are less mobile.

Note: There has been construction on one of the bridges at the park for over a year which restricts access to a small portion of the park. While the restricted area has traditionally been a good birding spot, the construction does not impede birders from accessing the majority of the park.

Habitat

What makes Lake Park an interesting place to go birding is the habitat that it offers. While it does have plenty of open space like most parks do, it also has ravines with walking trails going right through them in addition to a small creek. When birds are present, these ravines are extremely productive and useful for different types of viewing. Above the ravine, birders are able to get somewhat of an eye level view while the trails in the ravine contain many different ground dwelling species.

There are a few bird feeders spread out through the park that attract some migratory species as well as typical year round residents.

This park is accessible to birders with physical limitations as sidewalks and walking paths line the trees and ravines. However, there are stairs that go down into the actual ravines.

Seasonal Differences in Species

When birding at Lake Park, the time of the year is going to be quite relevant. In winter, birds like Dark-eyed Juncos and American Tree Sparrows are found near the bird feeders as well as species like Northern Cardinals, Black-capped Chickadees, and White-breasted Nuthatches.

In summer, there’s not much to see at Lake Park other than the regular summer birds such as Eastern Wood-peewees and Red-eyed Vireos.

The best times to go birding at Lake Park are in the fall and the spring. Spring can be absolutely crazy with almost every species of warbler that migrates through the state being found there. Some of these species include but are not limited to Cerulean Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Mourning Warbler, Connecticut Warbler, and Louisiana Waterthrush. Lake Park typically has records of Louisiana Waterthrush annually during the early parts of spring migration.

Many of the same warblers move through the park in fall with Cape May, Bay-breasted, and Blackpoll Warblers being some of the more common species to move through. In both fall and spring, migratory sparrows and other passerines come through as well including White-throated, White-crowned, and sometimes even rare species such as Harris’s Sparrows.

Badgerland Birding searches for warblers at Lake Park
Personal Experiences

Being a Wisconsin resident who lives within half an hour of Lake Park, it is one of my favorite places to go in the spring time. There have been days when the sheer numbers of warblers and other migratory birds is shocking and it’s honestly difficult to stay focused with how much is going on. The area is well known by local birders so if the birding is good, be prepared to share the space with others.

In a recent trip to Lake Park this fall the numbers of warblers were still quite pleasing with many Cape May, and Bay-breasted Warblers foraging in the trees in addition to a Mourning Warbler, a few Tennessee Warblers, and a single Magnolia Warbler.

I typically don’t go to Lake Park in winter or summer as without migrants there aren’t a ton of different species there that can’t simply be found in a backyard or deciduous forest. Red-headed Woodpeckers can still be found there in summer however.

Other Things to See and Do

Lake Park has a few interesting features to see even if the birds aren’t present. Springs and small creeks going through the ravines offer some nice serene views and sounds. There are also some historical statues to see and a lighthouse that people can walk up into for a small fee. One of the most fascinating things about the park is that any people believe that it contains a buried treasure. This treasure know as “The Secret” is part of a book that looked to give people an exciting quest as the author buried treasure boxes around major cities in the United States. Due to the clues in the book, treasure hunters believe that one of these treasure boxes was placed in Lake Park.

Palm Warbler
Review

Lake park is one of the most popular places to go birding in the Milwaukee area. It’s located just one street away from Lake Michigan so birding there during migration is typically quite good. For anyone visiting the Milwaukee area during peak migration in spring or fall, Lake Park is a must visit.

Other Nearby Hotspots

Veterans Park, Bradford Beach, McKinley Beach, Lakeshore State Park, Discovery World Harbor.

2018 Birding Blog, Habitat Highlights, Hotspots, Places

Port Washington Harbor/Coal Dock Park

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In Port Washington, Wisconsin, warm outflow from the WE Energies power plant keeps the water in and around the harbor open year round, even in the harshest of winter temperatures. The open water combined with an annual die off of Gizzard Shad create a literal and figurative hotspot for bird activity.

Getting to Know the Area

The Port Washington lake front is divided into different areas with each offering something slightly different in terms of bird habitat. The marina is lined with a break wall on all sides with a small opening to the east. This wall provides a great place for wintering gulls such as Great Black-backed, Lesser Black-backed, Glaucous, and Iceland gulls. In addition to gulls, Snowy Owls have also been known to station themselves on the large rocks of the break wall.

To the north of the marina inside of the break wall is a small sandy area where geese tend to congregate. Other than the many Canada Geese that reside in this area, Cackling Geese, Snow Geese, and Ross’s Geese also make an occasional appearance. Just south of this area is open water amongst the piers. In this location, waterfowl are very active as the docks provide some cover.

South of the piers is where most of the birds can be found. Just north of Coal Dock Park is the most open water inside of the break wall. Here, Red-throated Loons can be found as well as American Black Ducks, Long-tailed Ducks, and many other migratory species. East of coal dock park is a smaller section of open water surrounded on all sides by rocks. This section of the marina is connected to a canal that comes directly from the power plant. Many water birds enjoy this location as the water remains open and warm. Farther south is a bird sanctuary with a trail leading around the perimeter of the grounds. This sanctuary is home to American Tree Sparrows as well as other sparrow species in spring, summer, and fall.

What to Look For

Slaty-backed Gull
Slaty-backed Gull

While the waters around Port Washington Harbor provide a haven for birds year round, the winter months are when the harbor becomes most alive with bird activity. The combination of wintering and migrating waterfowl along with winter gulls. Numerous seasonal rarities have already been reported this year. When visiting, be on the look out for the following species:

Slaty-backed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Snowy Owl
Harlequin Duck
Long-tailed Duck
White-winged Scoter
Red-throated Loon

What it Means

While the weather is still cold, Port Washington harbor will remain a great place to bird. Eventually, as winter melts into spring, many of the winter birds residing in the harbor will move on and more migratory species will move through. If you’re in need of some waterfowl or gulls to add to your year list, it’s definitely the place to be so far in 2018.