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Tom’s ‘Big Year’ – Fall Edition

Oct 15, 2026 | Featured, Guest Post

Contributed by Tom Andersen, Landmark Board Member

The Siskiwit River here is a series of scenic falls and glides

Straight Lake

Board Member Tom Andersen is an enthusiastic birder but doesn’t count his sightings unless he’s captured a photo, and he has been diligently cataloguing photos for Landmark Conservancy over the years.

Tom set a goal of birding as many properties protected by Landmark as he can during 2026. This fall, we are highlighting his visits to Straight Lake State Park and Johnson Preserve.

Tom is a bird nerd!

Board Member Tom Andersen.
Click any image in this post to enlarge.

Straight Lake joined the park system in 2005; the land was at risk of development and Landmark Conservancy partnered with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to help purchase it, using funds from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. Located in northern Polk County, the 2,780-acre park features lake views and impressive glacial features, as well as a premier segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.

Johnson Preserve was permanently protected in 2016 when the landowner partnered with Landmark Conservancy to donate a conservation easement on the property. Deer Lake Conservancy then purchased the property from the landowner in 2017, and they continue to own and manage this public preserve. Located in central Polk County, the trails on this 95-acre property connect with 3 adjacent preserves, totaling over 6 miles.

Straight Lake State Park

For me, fall starts September 1st (meteorological fall). It means looking for warblers. Unlike in the spring, I am looking for first fall returning warblers. Identification of these birds can be challenging at times, which makes it even more interesting and fun. It is fascinating to think that some of the warblers passing through may have come from faraway places to the north while some may have been the offspring of the parents that I photographed in Bayfield County.

Black-throated Green Warbler perched on a slender branch amid bright green leaves.

First fall returning Black-throated Green Warbler

Bay-breasted Warbler perched beside a tree trunk in a shaded forest setting.

Bay-breasted Warbler

These two young birds are on the journey south for the winter. The Black-throated Green is heading for Central America and likely was fledged in Wisconsin, quite possibly in a property protected by Landmark. The Bay-breasted is probably headed to Costa Rica or Ecuador and would have likely come from Ontario. It’s a long flight from Ontario to Costa Rica.

Straight Lake State Park is an ideal location for hiking and birding. It is a wilderness park free from roads and motorized vehicles. It must be explored on foot (only) making it ideal for birding. Two beautiful lakes are found on the property, and access for a canoe or kayak is carry-in only. Fishing is available in both lakes and Rainbow Lake even has trout (Rainbow trout, of course).

Straight Lake surrounded by dense green trees beneath a bright blue, partly cloudy sky.

Straight Lake

Rainbow Lake beneath dramatic gray-and-blue clouds.

Rainbow Lake

A narrow shallow stream bordered by dense grasses, reeds, shrubs, and trees.
A wooded forest trail surrounded by dense green foliage and tall deciduous trees.
Wooded picnic area beside a calm pond, with a wooden picnic table, nearby grill, and tree canopy.
A weathered trail sign reading “ICE AGE TRAIL” and “STRAIGHT LAKE SEGMENT.”
A wooden trail information kiosk surrounded by dense green forest, providing visitor guidance and park notices.

Hiking trails in the park are very well maintained. Access to the Ice Age Trail is at the northwest portion of the park and a great place to start birding.

American Redstart perched among fallen branches and leaves.

You will likely see the American Redstarts here.

A moss-covered boulder surrounded by dense green forest vegetation. Black-and-white dog sits beside boulder, highlighting scale and natural woodland setting.

There are many unique geological features at Straight Lake State Park and at this side of the property this giant erratic (the biggest I’ve ever seen) looms over the trail.

A rare treat here might be this beautiful young Magnolia Warbler or better yet, this Philadelphia Vireo (a first for this lad).

Magnolia Warbler perched among leafy branches.
Philadelphia Vireo perched among dense green leaves.
Oven Bird perched among leafy tree branches.

And, of course, you could encounter an Oven Bird, but you can also expect that you are not the only one hunting birds.

Cooper's Hawk perched among leafy tree branches.

Johnson Preserve

Map showing Lower Rock Creek and Johnson Preserve, with preserve boundaries, roads, waterways, and surrounding shoreline.

Deer Lake and the 95-acre Johnson Preserve is located just a 30-minute drive south of Straight Lake State Park and is east of St. Croix Falls. You could even visit both in one day! The Preserve is located on the north side of Deer Lake and has parking areas on both the east and west sides.

I found two distinctly different forest types on this property. A large portion of the property on the western side is a hardwood forest, while the smaller eastern portion is a nice mix of white pine and spruce with some open prairie.

Mowed grass path winding through tall wildflowers and meadow vegetation toward dense mixed forest at Johnson Preserve.

The trails and property at Johnson Preserve are nicely maintained by Deer Lake Conservancy.

A duck swimming across a sunlit pond just before you park on Anderson Lane.

Pay special attention to the small pond just before you park on Anderson Lane.

A Johnson Preserve doe and her fawn partially hidden among dense branches and green foliage.

This Johnson Preserve doe and her fawn entertained me for a spell while I patiently waited for birds to pass by.

When I’m trout fishing, I spend 75% of my time looking and 25% fishing; if I do this, I will catch more fish. The same applies to my birding – seventy-five  percent looking and 25% hiking.

Watching warblers on the way to their winter grounds is so different than in the spring.

In the fall you may look for an hour and not see anything and then fifty of them will come through foraging for bugs in the trees all around you. And then, as if on cue, they move on. Often groups will be a mix of birds. These three birds were in a group made up of about 90% Tennessee Warblers, 8% Nashville Warblers, and only 2% Chestnut-sided Warblers.

Nashville Warbler perched on a branch among lush green leaves.

Nashville Warbler

Tennessee Warbler perched among dense, crisscrossing tree branches.

Tennessee Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler perched among thin branches and dense leafy vegetation.

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Link to Tom’s spring and summer posts for more birding adventures! To learn about additional Landmark projects that are open to the public, visit the Get Outside page on our website.