In fall and winter the 24-acre lake may hold Canada and Cackling Geese, dabblers, Hooded Mergansers, Pied-billed and Horned Grebes. Sparrows include Chipping, White-throated, White-crowned, and a single Harris’s. The good year-round woodpecker population is joined by migrating Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. Typical mid-Missouri nesting passerines are present. Warblers reported include Northern Waterthrush, Yellow, Palm, Blackpoll and Black-throated Green.

From the junction of US 54 and I-70, take Highway 54 north to the first Mexico exit and go north on Bus.54/Clark about 1 mile to a left onto Lakeview Road. One parking lot with access to the boat ramp and fishing dock is on Lakeview. To reach the south side of the lake and most of the activity area, continue to Fairground St. and turn left (south) to the entrance.

 The 1.5-mile paved trail around the lake provides excellent access to views of the water and vegetation around it. If a shorter walk is desired, a bit of backtracking is required. Parking lots, a picnic area with tables and pavilions, the campground and open space along the trail may be productive for birding when people numbers are low. The Mexico Garden Club maintains a wildflower area with bluebird boxes near the entrance on Fairground St. In wet conditions, the area near the northwest end of the lake (check the west side of Fairgrounds St.) may have some marsh skulkers.