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Great Egret


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Saratoga Lake and Marshes

Saratoga, WY

Spotting Scope RecommendedHandicap Accesible

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

A large lake and a series of marshes provides excellent bird habitat just north of the town of Saratoga.

Specialty Species:

American Bittern (Spring-Fall)

Snowy Egret (Spring-Fall)

Dabbling Ducks (Spring-Fall)

Diving Ducks (Spring-Fall)

Osprey (Spring, Fall)

Prairie Falcon (All Year)

Virginia Rail (Spring-Fall)

Sora (Spring-Fall)

Black Tern (Spring-Fall)

Marsh Wren (Spring-Fall)

Where to Bird:

From Saratoga take 130 north and follow signs to Saratoga Lake.  Follow Saratoga Lake Road east and south to view the southern part of the lake.  Look for Western and Clark’s Grebe as well as American White Pelicans.  Occasionally, there are Black Terns and Osprey flying over this part of the lake as well.  Watch for Marsh Wren along the edges of the lake where there are cattails.  Follow Saratoga Lake Road back west and turn right on the road that follows the lake north.  Park where this road dead ends and scan the lake.  American Bitterns and Snowy Egrets can be seen along the edge of the lake from this spot.  Turn around and hike away from the lake towards a large marsh on the opposite side of the road.  This spot is a great place to look for American Bittern, Virginia Rail, and Sora.  Drive back down the road to 130 and turn right. 

Less than a mile down the road, there is a small parking lot with a small observation shelter.  Scan the marsh from the shelter or from the trails that take you closer to the marsh for Canvasback, Redhead, and Ruddy Duck among other ducks.  There are also many Marsh Wrens and a few Virginia Rails and Soras in this marsh.  Watch the power lines for raptors including Osprey, Swainson’s Hawk, Prairie Falcon, and Golden Eagle.

Hours:

None Posted

Fees:

None

Accessiblity:

All spots are easily accessible by car.  Scanning the lakes and marshes can easily be accomplished from the car.

Trails:

There are a few short foot trails close to the viewing shelter.

Non-birding Equipment Needed:

Lenght of Visit:

1-3 Hours

Map:

Website:

Directions:

From Saratoga: Take 130 north for just under two miles and follow the signs to Saratoga Lake or continue on 130 for just less than a mile to the small parking lot.

 

Address:

None Available

Nearby Birding:

Sierra Madre Mountains