Lake Nicol is an attractive, easily accessible, well-maintained, and popular wooded park on a substantial lake. The entrance road features several acres of open, mature pine woods. Pine Warblers and Brown-headed Nuthatches are permanent residents here, as are Red-headed Woodpeckers and Eastern Bluebirds. In winter, this the best place to see Golden-crowned Kinglets. The woods near the lake are made up of largely mature pines near the water, while hardwoods border the dirt roads through the park. You'll find a good mixture of songbirds in the trees, and the water attracts waders and swallows. All the local birds of prey are represented, including visits from Bald Eagles and Osprey. A few waterfowl use the lake in winter, and shorebirds are occasionally seen on the lake banks and mudflats when the water levels in the lake drop.

It is situated minutes from a large new shopping center, and the many homes in the vicinity lend it the air of a 'neighborhood' park. The proximity to ample services and improved roads makes it a magnet for local students and others seeking entertainment in the outdoors. Picnicking, fishing, boating and general parties and gatherings are popular pastimes at the lake. It would be advisable to visit early in the morning before crowds gather or on weekdays, as the noise and human presence might dampen bird activity.

Lake Nicol is in close proximity to Lake Harris on the map, but the two lakes are actually separated by a 20 minute drive. The two lakes complement each other and the pair of sites could be easily birded together in a half-day. Add in a visit to the UA Arboretum for a completely different eco-system and additional birds any time during the year.

Contact Lake Nicol

REMINDER: This listing is a free service of LandCAN.
Lake Nicol is not employed by or affiliated with the Land Conservation Assistance Network, and the Network does not certify or guarantee their services. The reader must perform their own due diligence and use their own judgment in the selection of any professional.

Listed in:

• Ecotourism