Three large reservoirs span the upper watershed of the Osage River in southwest Missouri. These lakes (Truman, Pomme de Terre and Stockton) are deep enough that they remain partly open throughout the winter, attracting a wide variety of diving ducks and other fish-eating birds.
Rafts of scaup, ring-necks and redheads appear on the open waters, joined by smaller flocks of buffleheads, common mergansers and common goldeneyes. Bald eagles and a variety of gulls gather along the margins of the ice while peregrine falcons patrol the lake from nearby trees.
These Missouri lakes also attract a number of rare visitors, which may arrive anytime from November through March; these include Pacific, yellow-billed and red-throated loons, white-winged, surf and black scoters and pomarine or parasitic jaegers.
All three reservoirs are west of U.S. 65 and the deeper waters near the dams tend to be most productive. Truman Lake is just west of Warsaw, Pomme de Terre Lake is south of Hermitage (via Missouri 254) and Stockton Lake is best reached via Missouri 32, west of Bolivar. Winter birders are advised to wear warm, multi-layered clothing and to bring along a spotting scope, if available.
