TUNDRA SWANS in the Alma Area

Despite the freezing temperatures, there are swans and waterfowl in the Alma area today. There over a thousand Tundra Swans in pool 4. You'll need a spotting scope to see them from the riverfront at Cedar Ridge Resort. This photo was taken looking up-river. There are more just down-river past Jay Hawk Ranch (best seen driving up river - but be very careful if you decide to pull off State Rd 35 to watch).

The Mississippi River is icing up, as are the shallow ponds and sloughs - where the swans and puddle ducks forage.

We spotted a 5 swans sitting on the ice in front of the observation deck at Rieck's Lake Park, and 5 more further back on the open Buffalo River, bathing. A nice surprise: close-to-bird views.

They were joined by dozens of noisy Canada Geese and only a few Mallards.

We spotted a dozen Bald Eagles flying overhead, in the cottonwoods along the river and in pairs, working on their nests.

Look for Red-tailed Hawks hunting from trees along the roads and a Rough-legged Hawk, hovering over the recently harvested corn fields on the river side of the Tell Farm on State Road 37.

BALD EAGLES & TUNDRA SWANS in the Alma Area

Not great weather for humans (40-degrees and spitting rain), but great for ducks, geese and swans.

Here's what we found near Nelson this afternoon:

The up-river side of Big Lake (Pool 4) was full of Tundra Swans, Canada Geese and ducks.
We spotted easily a thousand swans from the Nelson Cemetery. (Do NOT watch from the shoulders on State Road 35).

Look across the River from the Nelson Cemetery

Look down-river from the Cemetery - past the sewage ponds. Rafts of waterfowl as far as the eye can see.

Tundra Swans at Nelson, Wisconsin

Cedar Ridge Resort: Pull off State Rd 35 on the river side of the road. Drive to the railroad tracks. Roll down your car windows - you can see and hear the swans and watch the waterfowl without getting out of the car.

Rieck's Lake Park: 24 Tundra Swans - off to the east from the observation deck, a dozen coots by the campground and only a handful of American Wigeons, Green-winged Teal, Mallards and Gadwalls close to Badlands Road. Watch for American Tree Sparrows flitting around with the juncos

Not much to see along State Road 37. No swans at County Road F and at County II (at Tell). There were a half-dozen Ring-necked Ducks in the pond behind the Alma Town Hall. Great views of Bald Eagles (singles and pairs) and Red-tailed Hawks on both sides of the Buffalo River.

TUNDRA SWANS in the Alma Area

Despite the rain and snow, today was a great day to see swans in the Alma Area.

The best place for close-to-the-car views:  County Road II and State Road 37 at the Tell Tavern.
We spotted a dozen foraging about 30 yards from the road - and about 3 dozen more at the far side of the lake (at 11:30am).

We spotted less than a dozen east of Tell on the lake at County Road F and Cesler Valley Road. 

We didn't see a single coot at Reick's Lake Park today, and only 3 swans were close to the parking area (at noon).  The swans took off the minute we got out of the car.  We spotted them again, down-river in the pond at the intersection of SR 37 and Great River Road (SR 35).

Big Lake is the place to see large numbers of swans (at the up-river end of Pool 4 near Nelson).   Head up-river on Great River Road to Cedar Ridge Resort.  Turn left and drive down to the waterfront - to the Cedar Ridge Resort dock.   Look directly across the river - that's the best view of hundreds of swans.

Continue up-river and pull off to the right at the Nelson Cemetery.  Pull out your binoculars and look across the Mississippi and down-river.  You'll see (and hear) them off in the distance flying along the tree line and feeding in the shallows.  

Other waterfowl in the Alma area today:

Canada Goose
Green-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Mallard
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Northern Pintail

We spotted Wild Turkey in the cornfields, Red-tailed Hawks perched in trees along the highways (and fields) - and Bald Eagles hunting at Riecks Lake Park.

Where to See TUNDRA SWANS in Alma

Where are the Tundra Swans at Rieck's Lake Park in Alma?

Late this afternoon, we spotted a half-dozen up-river from the Observation Deck, resting (and for the most part, hidden) in the vegetation.  They flew over the deck at 4:45pm.  For a better look at this group of swans, head towards Nelson on State Rd 35 (Great River Road), turn right on County Road I, then right again on Badland Road which parallels the up-river side of the Buffalo River.  Click here for a map.

A dozen Tundra Swans have been hanging out in the pond at Tell (State Road 37 and County Road II) at Tell.  Click here for a map.

You can get good looks at Tundra Swans (~100) east of Rieck's Lake Park at County Road F and Cesler Valley Road, click here.

Tundra Swans on County Road F

Further up Great River Road (State Rd 35) towards Nelson, there are hundreds of swans off in the distance near the islands on the far side of the Mississippi River.  Pull off the road on the river side of Cedar Ridge Resort and at the parking area at the Nelson Cemetery.

Before you head out to look for swans, take a look at the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge website.  Check out the fall flight surveys.  Rieck's Lake is part of Pool 4.  Click here for links to the pool maps.