Lake Ontelaunee
Seasonal Field Pool, Evansville Road
Directions: To reach the Evansville Road seasonal pool from Peters Creek, drive north on Maidencreek Road to Evansville Road, across from the entrance to the Evansville Cement Plant. Turn right on Evansville Road and go 0.7 mile and look for the pool in the large field on the right past the farmhouse. Bird this spot initially from the car, as ducks flush easily. Shorebirds are less spooky. To continue on the Lake Ontelaunee circuit, return to Maidencreek Road and turn right, proceeding to Water Street.
Description: In wet years, a low spot in a field on Evansville Road holds water from late winter at least through May. The pool attracts geese, swans, and puddle ducks including Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, Green-winged and Blue-winged teal. Regular shorebirds include Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary, Spotted, Semipalmated, Least and Pectoral sandpipers, Dunlin, and Wilson's Snipe. Birders have found local rarities like Eurasian Wigeon, Black-bellied Plover, American Golden-Plover, Short-billed Dowitcher, and Red-necked Phalarope. Horned Larks, Eastern Meadowlarks and Bobolinks are sometimes seen in surrounding fields.