Category Archives: Bird Categories

Wilson’s Snipe at Pennsylvania Avenue at Oak Creek in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on April 16, 2025

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The birding highlight of the day was the Wilson’s Snipe. There were about 15 of these shorebirds on Pennsylvania Avenue, some in the ditch and some in the field. They forged along the ditch and field and found things to eat while I was there, probing the ditch bank and field. On occasion they would rest. They blend in so well, easy to miss. It was a nice sunny day with temps around 50 degrees, a slight wind but nothing like we have had. Images were taken on April 16, 2025

The Wilson’s Snipe

Probing and finding things to eat…

The back view…

Sometimes in the water moving up and down the ditch…

 

 

Eared Grebe at Lake Park on Lake Michigan in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on April 11, 2025

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I heard a report of a Eared Grebe on the Milwaukee Lakefront. This is considered a rare bird for this area as it’s normal range is the Mississippi River and west. I am starting to do more birding on the Milwaukee Lakefront now that migration has begun so it was a place to check out. It was present and gave nice views from a distance. It fed the whole time I was there about 10 minutes. It was a mostly cloudy in the morning with mild temps around 50 degree but winds made it feel colder. Image was taken on April 11, 2025.

Common Grackle in Waukesha County Wisconsin on April 6, 2025

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While I was out birding I had a Common Grackle right outside my car window on a small tree so I took that opportunity to get a photo. It was displaying nicely which made for a nice capture. When you see a large blackbird with that yellow gold eye, it is a Common Grackle. It was a pleasant morning with lows winds and temps around 45 degrees with some periods of sun. Image was taken on April 6, 2025.

Great Horned Owl owlets in Waukesha County Wisconsin on April 6, 2025

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Out doing some general birding in Waukesha County and I stumbled across a Great Horned Owl nest. There were 2 owlets in the nest from what I could see. I did not see any adults around but I’m sure they were close by. Always fun to find a new nest especially when you don’t expect it. I took a shot and moved on to other areas. I’ll probably check back at this nest in a week or two. It was a pleasant morning with lows winds and temps around 45 degrees with some periods of sun. Image was taken on April 6, 2025.

Great Horned Owl owlets on the nest in Waukesha County Wisconsin on April 4, 2025

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I got a tip on a Great Horned Owl nest with maybe owlets on it.  I did not pass up the opportunity. When I found the nest there were 3 owlets sitting so cute. I took a couple of quick photos and left the location. It was a nice day with mild temps around 50 degrees and partly cloudy skies with low winds. Image was taken on April 4, 2025.

Killdeer in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on April 3, 2025

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One of my birding stops this morning gave nice looks at 2 Killdeer. I’m sure they will be nesting at this location, looks like they are ready to as the habitat is perfect, gravely area with some grass spots around with full sun. We will see.It was a nice morning with partly sunny skies, temps in the lower 40’s and some wind at times. Images were taken on April 3, 2025.

Some preening…

Eastern Bluebirds in Southeastern Wisconsin on March 15, 2025

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I had a opportunity to photograph a pair of Eastern Bluebirds and did not turn it down. The pair found things to eat. 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 15, 2025

Eastern Bluebird, male

Eastern Bluebird, female

Eastern Bluebird, male

Eastern Bluebird, male

Eastern Bluebird, female

Eastern Bluebird, male

Eastern Bluebird, male, a soft landing…

Eastern Bluebird, male, fluffing up…

Eastern Bluebird, male, with some wind…

Eastern Bluebird, male, early morning sun, perched pretty…

Eastern Bluebird, female

Eastern Bluebird, male, with some wind…

Sandhill Cranes in Waukesha County Wisconsin on March 12, 2025

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Birding in Waukesha County I came across a pair of Sandhill Cranes. They were finding things to eat and along with that I noticed they have started painting themselves. That took place at another location like a ditch or something where they get that orange brown soil to paint on their feathers. Painting their feathers is something they do so when they nest they will blend in with their surroundings. It was a beautiful day with plenty of sunshine, lows winds and temps around 48 degrees. Images were taken on March 12, 2025.

One of the Sandhill Cranes…some painting on the feathers there…

Sandhill Cranes with more painting done on their feathers…

More looks at the painting…

 

Preening…not sure how long these two have been back…

2 Northern Saw-whet Owls in southern Wisconsin on March 11, 2025

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I found 2 Northern Saw-whet Owls back in December 2024 and today I found them again. They were a few feet apart from each other but in different trees. Maybe they will be nesting in that area, that would be so cool! It was a beautiful day with full sun, a good breeze at times, with temps about 48 degrees. Images were taken on March 11, 2025.

The pair of Northern Saw-whet Owls…

 

Sandhill Cranes in migration flying north over Waukesha County Wisconsin on March 9, 2025

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I was out doing some chores this afternoon on the driveway when I heard the sweet sounds of Sandhill Cranes flying overhead. There were 5 groups up very high. The cranes fly into the wind to gain speed, they soar in thermals, or updrafts of warm air, to reach their desired altitude.

As the Sandhill Cranes head north up so very high…

Great Blue Herons in southeastern Wisconsin on March 7, 2025

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One of my birding stops today provided nice views of 7 Great Blue Herons. 2 were on the nest and the others in the area. These are probably migrating birds that have just arrived from the south. They won’t be wasting anytime once the weather warms up a little to start the raising of the kids. It was a snowy day with light winds, temps are still cold at 34 degrees. Images were taken on March 7, 2025.

Great Blue Herons at the nesting site…

Great Horned Owl in the nest in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on March 6, 2025

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One of my birding stops today was checking on a previous found Great Horned Owl in a nest. The male is in the area bringing food to the female when needed but stays well away from the nest not to attract predators. The female bird in the nest is up a little higher since the last visit so that means the little owlets are probably out of the eggs and getting bigger fast. It was a nice sunny day but a very cold wind from the north, it still felt like winter with temps around 35 degrees. Image was taken on March 6, 2025.

Great Horned Owl in the nest in Waukesha County Wisconsin on March 2, 2025

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Today I decided to focus on Great Horned Owls in nests. I had hit 4 locations wandering around the woods with hopes to find one in a nest. It was just a gorgeous morning to be out strolling around the woods with the snow being gone. Things were pretty quiet overall. As the morning was winding down and I was at my last location, I spotted this beautiful Great Horned Owl sitting in a nest. It was a cold morning starting out at 18 degrees, some wind and full sun which at times felt good. Images were taken on March 2, 2025.

There she is sitting on some eggs…the male is typically within sight of the nest off aways…

She is at the top of that tree…cell pic

Northern Saw-whet Owl in Southeastern Wisconsin on February 18, 2025

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It has been very cold with temp highs of 6 degrees. I have been mostly birding from the car and in general birding has been slow out there. Most rivers, ponds and lakes are froze over and winter finches are limited. Roadside birds have been Horned Larks, Red-tailed Hawks and American Tree Sparrows. At home about 25 American Tree Sparrows, 15 Dark-eyed Juncos and some Mourning Doves have been at the bird feeders steady. I decided to check on a Northern Saw-whet Owl I found back in December of last year. It was present, in the same tree too as it was back then, amazing. I took a photo and left the area. It was cold, there was a little sun, and also a good breeze at times. Image was taken on February 18, 2025.

The Northern Saw-whet Owl…

Horned Larks in Waukesha County Wisconsin on February 14, 2025

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Driving some of the back roads in Waukesha County this morning I came across a flock of Horned Larks. A common place to find them, but not always, on Kincaid Ln, Dousman, the road going into Paradise Valley WA. There were about 15 of them and they were eating grass or weed seeds along the shoulder of the road that was plowed. This is a common event with these birds in the winter months but not always easy to locate. The first ones I have come across this winter. It was a cloudy day and with some wind, temps were 20 degrees. Images were taken on February 14, 2025.

The Horned Lark…

With a grass or weed seed in the bill…

Here digging and finding grass or weed seeds in the snow along the road…

With a grass or weed seed…

On the run…

With a grass or weed seed just dug out of the snow…

Eastern Screech Owl, gray morph in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on February 11, 2025

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This Eastern Screech Owl, gray morph was a fun one to find today. I’m still in search for more Northern Saw-whet Owls this winter which is what lead me to find this owl today. As I’m walking around some large pines with no branches on the lower  6 feet of the tree I hear Black-capped Chickadees making a heck of a ruckus above. I look up into the tree I’m under and see nothing but a couple of Chickadees moving around. I moved on to a couple more of the large pines and saw nothing. Then I thought, I better double check that tree where all the action was. Looking up again into the tree, I see a Gray Squirrel running around. That’s sorta odd? Walking away from the tree I look back about 25 feet, a screech owl is watching me, enjoying some sun. It was a cold morning with temps at 20 degrees mid-morning, some wind at times but full sun that did bring in some warmth out of the wind. Image was taken on February 11, 2025.

Eastern Screech Owl, gray morph…

Cell phone pic – just enjoying the sun…

The owl is so tiny on this photo, but it is there, cell phone pic…

Eastern Screech Owl in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on January 26, 2025

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I stopped at a few birding spots this morning and one of them provided nice looks at a Eastern Screech Owl. It was nestled in a very old crab apple tree in a natural cavity. It was out enough to catch some very nice sun. It was a cold morning with temps of 16 degrees, sunny skies and a good wind at times. Image was taken on January 26, 2025

Can you find the Eastern Screech Owl?

Eastern Screech Owl in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on January 24, 2025

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One of my birding stops today gave great views of a Eastern Screech Owl. It was perched in a spruce tree along a road. It was enjoying the morning sun on a cold day with temps around 18 degrees, some wind at times but sunny skies that were warm at times. Image was taken on January 24, 2025.

The Eastern Screech Owl perched in the pine…