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Great Egret


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Elk Mountain

Hot Springs, SD

Wildlife ViewingRestroomsPhotography Opportunities

When to Visit:
January - Most ProductiveFebruary - Most ProductiveMarch - Most ProductiveApril - Most ProductiveMay - Most ProductiveJune - Most ProductiveJuly - Most ProductiveAugust - Most ProductiveSeptember - Most ProductiveOctober - Most ProductiveNovember - Most ProductiveDecember - Most Productive

This site is in the Black Hills of South Dakota.  The road that travels to the fire tower has a mixture of habitats including a couple small ponds, grassland, Ponderosa Pine forest, and burned Ponderosa.

Specialty Species:

Golden Eagle - Anywhere along FR123

Lewis’s Woodpecker - Look in the burned Ponderosa Pine forest, they can be quite common

Red-headed Woodpecker - Look in the same burned Ponderosa Pine forest as the Lewis's Woodpecker.

Clark’s Nutcracker - Not present in the summer but can be found occasionally once you reach the forested section of the road.

Cassin’s Finch - Can be found anywhere in the Ponderosa Pines (the only pine in the area).  Listen for its song to locate one.

Where to Bird:

Along the start of this road there are many Lark Sparrows and usually a pair of nesting Say’s Phoebe at one of the residences during the summer.  Once you get into the pine forest some of the possible birds are Common Poorwill, Townsend’s Solitaire, Western Tanager

Hours:

Open 24/7

Fees:

None

Accessiblity:

Gravel road but 2 wheel drive with low clearance will work just fine.

Trails:

None

Non-birding Equipment Needed:

Lenght of Visit:

3-4 Hours

Map:

Website:

Directions:

From Custer, SD: Drive west on 16 for 23.7 miles to Dewey Road.  Turn left (south) on Dewey Road and follow for 3 miles to FR123.

Address:

None Available

Nearby Birding:

Whitney Preserve
Custer State Park