b

Little Dixie Lake

Missouri  >  United States

Conservation area of 733 acres with forest, grasslands, ponds and a 205-acre lake. More than 200 bird species have been recorded.

Tillagd* av William Collins
Senast uppdaterad 21 oktober 2025

Beskrivning

The 205-acre Little Dixie Lake was created through the damming of Owl Creek. The Little Dixie Lake Conservation Area is about 733 acres. The area's oak-hickory forests have heavy undergrowth, and once-open pastures have reverted to various stages of old-field and young forest habitat. Stands of warm-season grasses and other prairie plants are managed by periodic prescribed burns and haying.

Late fall and winter can be good for waterfowl until the lake freezes. Cackling Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose and Snow Goose have all been recorded, as well as at least 22 species of ducks. Unusual sightings include Common Loon, Eared Grebe and Horned Grebe. A good variety of songbirds may be found in migration and during nesting season. Along the trails you can find woodpeckers, vireos, wrens, thrushes, and 33 species of warblers. There is a good variety of wintering sparrows.

Between April and August, Henslow's Sparrow, one of North America’s most elusive grassland specialists, has been recorded in the northeast part of the area. These sparrows favor overgrown fields with dense herbaceous cover - precisely the kind of habitat maintained around the lake’s prairie restoration zones. But it is hard to find them as the bird is notoriously secretive and often stays low in the grass.

Other birds that can be spotted more easily include Osprey, Bald Eagle, Summer Tanager, Dickcissel, Eastern Meadowlark, Orchard Oriole and Double-crested Cormorant.

Detaljer

Tillgänglighet

Little Dixie Lake Conservation Area is located in Callaway County, ten miles west of Kingdom City. From Kingdom City, take I-70 west 10 miles, take the Route J exit south to Route RA. The main Little Dixie Lake CA parking area is off Route RA at the junction with Route J in Millersburg. Little Dixie Lake has 3 parking areas (southwest, west and southeast portions of the lake) that provide excellent views of the lake and easy access to trails. And there is a separate small parking in the north. Press P on the map for directions to a parking.

Little Dixie Lake Conservation Area is open to the public year‑round with no entry fee. Facilities and features include a boat ramp, boat dock, picnic area and toilets (3 privies at the lakeside parking lots).

There are several walking trails to explore the area. Boundary Trail (6 miles), is accessed from all parking areas, it follows the area’s boundary, encircling the area, with occasional loops toward the interior. Shoreline Trail (4.5 miles), is accessed from the 3 lakeside parking lots, extends for varying distances and connects in several places with the Boundary Trail. Dixie Woods Nature Trail winds gently through woods and a small glade (4 mile paved, is accessed from the southeast lakeside parking lot and has rest pull-offs for wheelchairs). Note that the trails can be very muddy in early spring.

Terräng och habitat

Skog , Slätt , Sjö

Förhållanden

Sumpigt

Rundtur

Ja

Tubkikare behövs?

Kan vara användbart

Bästa säsong för skådning

Vår , Höst , Sommar

Bästa tid för ett besök

Vårsträck

Rutt

Bred stig , Smal stig

Hur ansträngande vandring

Genomsnittlig vandring

Nås

Till fots

Fågeltorn / plattform

Nej

Länkar

Se lokaler i området som är publicerade på Birdingplaces

Karta

Top 5 fåglar

Andra fåglar du kan se här

Visa fler fåglar Visa färre fåglar
Visa fler bilder Visa färre bilder

Kommentarer

Skriv kommentar, tips eller om fågelobservationer
Betygsätt denna lokal
Lägg till i mina favoriter
Ta bort från mina favoriter