Eastern Screech Owl, red morph catching some sun in Milwaukee County. It was a beautiful day with low winds and sunny skies, but temps only around 37 degrees for a high. It was cold! Image was taken on April 24, 2024.
Driving through Jackson Park in Milwaukee gave nice looks at a Greater- White-fronted Goose. It was hanging around with about 25 Canada Geese. It has been reported on and off the last week and I thought I would try my like at seeing it, it was there when I was there. When I was present and dog walker not knowingly moved the geese into the pond. It must be a common thing at the city park. It was a nice sunny day with pleasant temps around 45 degrees. Images were taken on April 19, 2024.
The Greater White-fronted Goose on shore near the Canada Geese…
Feeding with the Canada Geese…
After getting into the pond to avoid any dog…
Preening…
Off it goes to the middle area of the pond…
I went to a location of where a Great Horned Owl has been sitting on a nest to see how far things have moved along. The owlets are very visible, moving around and probably will be leaving the nest soon. They gave some nice views today while I was there. An adult Great Horned Owl was off in a distance high in a tree keeping an eye on the nest. It was a beautiful morning with full sun, 60 degrees and low winds. Image was taken on April 10, 2024.
3 Great Horned Owl owlets in the photo if you can see them…
This little one has the mouth open wanting something to eat from an adult…
Profile view…
While out birding I came across a Killdeer walking along a road. I looked around and saw and adult Killdeer sitting on the nest. The bird stood up and I saw the eggs, two of them. I immediately left the area not to disturb anything. A couple photos here showing both birds, the one on the nest and the other about 75 feet away from the nest. It was a beautiful morning with full sun, 60 degrees and low winds. Image was taken on April 10, 2024.
The Killdeer on the nest but stood up when I drove by…
The other adult bird away from the nest…
Closeup…
One of my birding stops today was Lake Park in Milwaukee County. There were some nice birds seen but the highlight was this Pine Warbler, male that gave nice looks as I was just strolling around. There were a few Kinglets, Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned and also some Yellow-rumped Warblers to name a few. It was a beautiful morning with full sun, 60 degrees and low winds. Image was taken on April 10, 2024.
Pine Warbler, male…
It was a fun day photographing the beauty of the Wood Ducks in Milwaukee County. They were very active at times and sometimes just doing nothing but hanging out. It was mostly sunny with steady north winds making it cold with temps at 36 degrees. Images were taken on March 28, 2024.
Wood Duck, this male stretching…
Wood Duck, female, that color on the head…just up from a dive…
Just looking pretty…
Beautiful male Wood Duck…
Stunning female Wood Duck…
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This female Wood Duck just up from a dive under…
A stop this morning at the Fox River in Waukesha provided nice views of a I’m assuming female Hooded Merganser. Also present was a female Common Merganser. They swam around the river finding things to eat. The pedestrian traffic along the river usually keeps visiting ducks in the middle of the river. I got a break once when this cutie was a little closer to the shore. It was a cold morning with temps around 30 degrees and pretty good winds out of the north coming down the river. The full sun did not help warm things up till mid morning. Images were taken on March 10, 2024.
The female Hooded Merganser…
The female Hooded Merganser…
Has a fish and ate it too…
The female Common Merganser…
Windy day, feathers up…
Another …
I had a opportunity to photograph a pair of Eastern Bluebirds and did not turn it down. The pair found things to each, one insect was what looked like a centipede. Insects are starting to move around with the warmer temperatures. It was a cool morning with sunny skies and a little bit of a breeze. Images were taken on March 1, 2024.
The male Eastern Bluebird…
The female Eastern Bluebird…
At take off…
The female Eastern Bluebird…calling…
The male with a centipede…
There was a breeze, feathers were blowing in the wind…
Coming in for a landing…
Looking for more insects below…
Perched pretty…
I saw reports of this rare bird being seen in Ashland County for about a week. The Fieldfare, a super rare bird for Wisconsin, a 1st state record is native to Europe. I obviously need it for my state life list. It was being seen all week, but not everyday which made it a hard decision to drive 6 hours one way to try for it. I finally decided, I might as well try for it and made the run up to Ashland leaving the house at midnight to get there when the sun comes up. After everyone, 40 birders and I were wandering around for over an hour the bird suddenly appeared and put on a very brief appearance for the 40 birders and I, some from as far away as Montana and Maine, at Prentice Park in Ashland Co. When this bird has been seen during the week, it is only giving looks from roughly 7-8:30 am daily, then disappearing for the rest of the day. I walked away with a very distant shot at about 500 feet as the bird perched on the other side of a large field. A big thank you to the finders of this bird and getting the word out for others to see it. Life Bird for Wisconsin #377. It was a cool morning to start with temps around 26 degrees, a slight breeze and mostly cloudy skies. Image was taken on February 21, 2024.
Late Saturday afternoon I got wind of a very rare for Wisconsin, an adult Glaucous-winged Gull, being reported at the Prairie du Sac Dam in Sauk County. This gull noamally winters on the west coast of California and breeds along the west coast of Canada and Alaska in the summer. I needed this bird for my Wisconsin life list so I thought I might as well try for it. I arrived there at the dam early morning with plenty darkness. As it got lighter more birders showed up. It was seen by a couple of birders about 30 minutes after it got light but I did not get my eyes on it. There were easily 200 plus gulls flying over the Wisconsin River so it was very challenging to spot for this gull. After another hour or so had passed, it was once again re-found and I got some distant photos shooting into the sun just below the dam. It gave nice views but photos were another story. It was seen for 5 minutes and then it was out of sight again. It was a sunny morning with mild temps with a little bit of a breeze. Photos taken on February 18, 2024. Wisconsin life bird #376.
During the winter months I bird locations all over southeastern Wisconsin with hopes to find a Northern Saw-whet Owl. I dig here and there and it has been a quiet winter until last week. I have come across 2 of them just recently. They are so tiny, cute and motionless in the trees when I found them, and are that way when I leave. One had a vole in it’s talons. They may be cute with their catlike face and quiet looking, but they are highly nocturnal with activity beginning at late dusk. I always tell anyone who asks how to find them, I tell them look in pine trees, even if it is just one out in the open. It has been cold weather with some light snow, temps this morning around 10 degrees
Northern Saw-whet Owl…
The Northern Saw-whet Owl with the vole…
I left the house this morning like many mornings this time of year in search for the Northern Saw-whet Owl. I have looked hard the last month and this morning was my lucky day. Coming around a corner on a path, I looked up and here is one looking right at me!! When this happens I usually am in shock for a few seconds. This Saw-whet had a vole in its talons so it was just out for breakfast I guess. I took a couple of quick photos and off I went. It looked so beautifully perched in the tree when I left it. Always a great time when you come across one of these. It was a cloudy morning with temps around 28 degrees and a good breeze making it feel like winter again. Image was taken on February 11, 2024.
The Northern Saw-whet Owl with the vole…
While birding I came across an Eastern Screech Owl, red morph high in a tree cavity. The sun was just touching it’s face, making a nice setting for a photo. It was a sunny morning with mild temps around 40 degrees with low winds. Image was taken on February 9, 2024.
I did some birding like yesterday looking for owls in Milwaukee County. Walking across a field in front of me and looking right at me was a beautiful Eastern Screech Owl, brown morph. From a long distance I took a photo. A couple of steps ahead and the owl disappeared into the cavity below. I left the area, so it can get back out and enjoy the day. It is always fun finding an owl at a new location. It was a gorgeous day with full sun, low winds and mild temps around 40 degrees. Image was taken on February 1, 2024.
The Eastern Screech Owl just enjoying the sun…
This Eastern Screech Owl, brown morph flew by me today and landed close by while birding in Milwaukee County. It was a nice surprise, it only hung around for about 10 seconds, enough to get one photo. It was a mostly cloudy morning with a good breeze but temps were milder than they have been in the past, around 35 degrees. Image was taken on January 31, 2024.
The Eastern Screech Owl giving nice looks for about 10 seconds…
A Barred Owl seen and photographed in Milwaukee County Wisconsin. A typical January morning with cloudy skies, low winds and temps around 30 degrees. Image was taken on January 22, 2024.
While out birding one of my stops was Lakeshore State Park. It was a nice surprise to see the Red Fox that is seen there once in a while. It did some scratching, rolled in the snow and then sat nicely for a photo. It was a very cold morning with a high around 10, a light breeze but full sun maybe it feel a little better. Images were taken on January 20, 2024.
The Red Fox enjoying the sun…
Just looking off in a distance…
Stretching…
A moment to look…
A scratch…
Rolling around in the snow…
Life is good!
While birding at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee County I was observing a Long-eared Owl at a distance. Moments later a Red Fox was starting to work it’s way towards the owl. I could tell that something was going to happen as the Red Fox got about 20′ from the roosting owl near the ground the owl flushed. The Long-eared Owl landed near me in a tree. I took a few photos and left the area. On another note… there was a 2nd Long-eared Owl when got there. It flew away from it’s roosting spot with the other owl and must have spotted a vole or something. Moments later a Rough-legged Hawk came by and snatched the Long-eared Owl off the ground and off they went. I saw a photo of the two in flight, a sad moment for the day. It was a very cold morning with a high around 10, a light breeze but full sun maybe it feel a little better. Images were taken on January 20, 2024.
The Long-eared Owl…
While birding out in Waukesha County I came across 16 Sandhill Cranes on the Bark River in Delafield. They were just hanging out doing some preening and not very active. They are probably saving their energy for the days ahead with snow and cold in the forecast. It was a cloudy day, mild temps around 34 degrees, with low winds. Images were taken on January 11, 2024.
Sandhill Crane…
Sandhill Cranes, pair…
All of them, 16 Sandhill Cranes…
A pair…
Some preening…
Some more preening…
Sandhill Cranes…
Preening…
A group, some preening…
Just beautiful…
I have put together a collection of some of the Wisconsin birding moments from the year 2023. The collection includes vagrants, special visitors, or just the beautiful birds that nest here or migrate through the state of Wisconsin. All images were taken in 2023. It was a very exciting year with the birds and also birding with some old birding friends and meeting some new ones, too. Finishing up this year with adding 4 more birds to my Wisconsin life list now standing at 375. Thanks to everyone who helped make this happen. When putting this post together, once again, it amazes me what birds were seen this year here in Wisconsin!
Trumpeter Swan on the Bark River Trail in Waukesha Co 1-9-2023
Mute Swan on the Fox River at Frame Park in Waukesha Co 1-15-2023
Long-eared Owl in Milwaukee Co 1-16-2023
Long-eared Owl in Milwaukee Co 1-16-2023
Barred Owl in Milwaukee Co 1-18-2023
American Tree Sparrow in Waukesha Co 1-29-2023
Mandarin Duck at South Shore Yacht Club in Milwaukee Co 2-10-2023
Mandarin Duck at South Shore Yacht Club in Milwaukee Co 2-10-2023
Mandarin Duck at South Shore Yacht Club in Milwaukee Co 2-10-2023
Wood Duck at Greenfield Park in Milwaukee Co 2-20-2023
Wood Duck at Greenfield Park in Milwaukee Co 2-20-2023
The pair of Redhead Ducks, male L female R on the Fox River in Waukesha Co 2-20-2023
Redhead Duck, male on the Fox River in Waukesha Co 2-20-2023
Redhead Duck female on the Fox River in Waukesha Co 2-20-2023
Sandhill Crane finding things to eat in Waukesha County 2-28-2023
Sandhill Crane in Waukesha County 2-28-2023
Sandhill Crane in the South Kettle Moraine in Waukesha Co 3-1-2023
Sandhill Cranes painting in Delafield in Waukesha Co Wisconsin on 3-5-2023
Sandhill Cranes (2) painting themselves in Delafield in Waukesha Co Wisconsin on 3-5-2023
Sandhill Crane in Delafield Waukesha C poking in the mud, they find things to eat 3-5-2023
Killdeer at the Milwaukee Lakefront, a cloacal kiss 3-8-2023
Killdeer at the Milwaukee Lakefront 3-8-2023
Great Horned Owl, owlet on the nest waiting in Waukesha Co 3-20-2023
Great Horned owlet in Milwaukee Co 3-21-2023
Great Horned owlets in Milwaukee Co 3-21-2023
Great Blue Heron at the nest in Waukesha Co 3-24-2023
Great Blue Heron on the nest in Waukesha Co 3-24-2023
Eastern Screech Owl gray morph, precious, this owl in Milwaukee Co 3-27-2023
Eastern Screech Owl gray morph, blends in so well in Milwaukee Co 3-27-2023
Red-headed Woodpecker in Marquette Co 3-31-23
Horned Grebe at the Fox River in Waukesha 4-5-2023
Northern Mockingbird, looking and listening for something to eat at Grant Park Milwaukee Co 4-18-2023
Northern Mockingbird at Grant Park Milwaukee Co 4-18-2023
Northern Mockingbird with a tasty worm at Grant Park Milwaukee Co 4-18-2023
Ross’s Goose at Veterans Park in Milwaukee Co 4-20-2023
Ross’s Goose at Veterans Park in Milwaukee Co 4-20-2023
Bonaparte’s Gull at Grant Park in Milwaukee Co 4-25-2023
Flame-colored Tanager at Sheridan Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on 4-30-2023
Flame-colored Tanager at Sheridan Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin, hopping around in Sumac just below the bluff eating gnats 4-30-23
Willets at South Shore Park in Bayview in Milwaukee Co 4-30-2023
Willet getting something here to eat at South Shore Park in Bayview in Milwaukee Co 4-30-2023
Willet at South Shore Park in Bayview in Milwaukee Co 4-30-2023
Black-throated Blue Warbler, male at Wehr Nature Center Milwaukee Co 5-7-2023
Black-and-white Warbler, male at Wehr Nature Center Milwaukee Co 5-7-2023
Black-throated Green Warbler, male at Wehr Nature Center Milwaukee Co 5-12-2023
White-crowned Sparrow in Marquette Co 5-10-2023
Tree Swallow Marquette Co 5-10-2023
Downy Woodpecker, female Marquette Co 5-10-2023
Ruby-throated Hummingbird getting nectar at an apple tree Marquette Co 5-10-2023
Eastern Towhee, male Marquette Co 5-10-2023
Yellow-rumped Warbler Marquette Co 5-10-2023
Chipping Sparrow Marquette Co 5-10-2023
White-throated Sparrow Marquette Co 5-10-2023
Downy Woodpecker, male Marquette Co 5-10-2023
Baltimore Oriole, male in Marquette Co 5-10-2023
Baltimore Oriole, male singing in Marquette Co 5-10-2023
House Wren singing in Marquette Co 5-10-2023
Brown Thrasher in Marquette Co 5-10-2023
Northern Cardinal, male in Marquette Co 5-10-2023
The Scarlet Tanager, male singing at the Fox River Sanctuary in Waukesha Co 5-13-2023
Scarlet Tanager male at the Fox River Sanctuary in Waukesha Co 5-13-2023
Rose-breasted Grosbeak, male in Marquette Co 5-18-2023
Indigo Bunting, male in Marquette Co 5-19-2023
Baltimore Oriole, immature male in Milwaukee Co 5-19-2023
Red-winged Blackbird, male calling at the Fox River in Waukesha 5-20-2023
Sandhill Crane Colt in Waukesha Co 5-20-2023
Baltimore Oriole, female in Marquette Co 5-21-2023
Bobolink calling and waiting for a female at Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha Co 5-22-23
Bobolink, calling and waiting for a male at Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha Co 5-22-23
Ruddy Duck at the Fox River in Waukesha 5-22-2023
Ruddy Turnstone looking for bugs at Bender Park in Milwaukee Co 5-22-2023
Ruddy Turnstone, male at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Co 5-25-2023
One of the 4 Ruddy Turnstones, male at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Co 5-25-2023
One of the Dunlins, in breeding plumage at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Co 5-29-2023
Dunlin, nonbreediing adult plumage at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Co 5-29-2023
A Semipalmated Plover, at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Co 5-29-2023
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, female in Milwaukee Co 6-5-2023
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, female in Milwaukee Co 6-5-2023
Limpkin at Case Eagle Park in Racine Co 7-21-2023
Limpkin, going down for something here at Case Eagle Park in Racine Co 7-21-2023
Limpkin calling at Case Eagle Park in Racine Co 7-21-2023
Roseate Spoonbill hanging out with a Great Egret and Great Blue Heron at Ken Euers Wetland in Brown Co 7-29-2023
Lesser Yellowlegs, looking for something to eat at Mill Pond in South Milwaukee 8-12-2023
Lesser Yellowlegs, going for something to eat at Mill Pond in South Milwaukee 8-12-2023
Lesser Yellowlegs, preening at Mill Pond in South Milwaukee 8-12-2023
American Flamingos, 2 adults and 1 juvenile at South Beach at Port Washington in Ozaukee Co 9-22-2023
The 5 of them, American Flamingos at South Beach at Port Washington in Ozaukee Co 9-22-2023
American Flamingo adult at South Beach at Port Washington in Ozaukee Co 9-22-2023
Black-crowned Night Heron at Greenfield Park in Milwaukee Co 9-22-2023
Wood Duck, male in Milwaukee Co 10-9-2023
Wood Duck, female in Milwaukee Co 10-9-2023
Wood Duck, female with a crabapple in Milwaukee Co 10-9-2023
Wood Duck, male with a crabapple in Milwaukee Co 10-9-2023
Horned Grebe at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Co 10-20-2023
Snow Bunting at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Co 11-2-2023
Snow Bunting at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Co 11-2-2023
Long-tailed Duck at South Milwaukee Yacht Club in Milwaukee Co 11-4-2023
Long-tailed Duck at South Milwaukee Yacht Club in Milwaukee Co 11-4-2023
Hooded Merganser at the Fox River in Waukesha 11-10-2023
Red-tailed Hawk, juvenile at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Co in 11-13-2023
White-breasted Nuthatch in Marquette Co 11-16-2023
Red-winged Blackbird at Lakeshore State Park 11-16-2023
Red Crossbill, male in Marquette Co 11-18-2023
Red Crossbills, males in Marquette Co 11-18-2023
Iceland Gull 2nd cycle on the Fox River at Frame Park in Waukesha 11-20-2023
Ancient Murrelet at George Pinney County Park in Door Co 11-21-2023
Ancient Murrelet at George Pinney County Park in Door Co 11-21-2023
Great Horned Owl resting in a White Pine in Waukesha Co 11-25-2023
Eastern Screech Owl, grey morph in Milwaukee Co 11-27-2023
House Finch, male enjoying a crab apple at the Fox River in Waukesha 12-14-2023
House Finch, female enjoying a crab apple at the Fox River in Waukesha 12-14-2023
American White Pelican on the rocks at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Co 12-16-2023
American White Pelican at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Co 12-16-2023
Barred Owl seen on a walk in Marquette Co 12-27-2023
Barred Owl in Milwaukee Co 12-29-2023
