Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies Archives - Window to Wildlife

Buff-breasted Sandpipers, Black-bellied Plovers and more at the Milwaukee lakefront in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on September 8, 2024

A couple of stops on the Milwaukee lakefront provided great looks at some migrating shorebirds. Lakeshore State Park had 3 Buff-breasted Sandpipers and 3 Black-bellied Plovers. Pebble Beach near McKinley Beach had 5 Semipalmated Plovers, 3 Semipalmated Sandpipers and 2 Sanderlings. The shorebirds at Lakeshore State Park moved around from the beach to the inland short grass area a couple of times near the beach while I was there. Nice to see these birds stopping along the lake on a beautiful morning with some sun and cool temps around 50 degrees. Images were taken on September 8, 2024.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper…

Buff-breasted Sandpiper…

Buff-breasted Sandpiper, something in the bill…

Black-bellied Plover…

Black-bellied Plover, preening…

Black-bellied Plover, shaking off…

Black-bellied Plover, finding things to eat…

Buff-breasted Sandpiper bathing…

Buff-breasted Sandpiper …

Buff-breasted Sandpiper after bathing…

Semipalmated Sandpiper…

Semipalmated Sandpiper finding things to eat…

Semipalmated Sandpiper, just looking pretty…

Semipalmated Plover…

Sanderling…

Sanderling…

Sanderling…

Killdeer chicks in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on June 3, 2024

By admin | June 3, 2024 - 9:08 pm |June 4, 2024 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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While birding the Milwaukee County lakefront I came across a couple of Killdeer chicks. 2 adults were close by with one sitting on a nest. It was a beautiful morning with plenty of sunshine, cool temps early and low winds. Images were taken on June 3, 2024.

Killdeer chick stretching…

Adult Killdeer on the nest close by…

Killdeer adult just in the area…

American Avocets at Bradford Beach in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on April 24, 2024

By admin | April 24, 2024 - 3:35 pm |April 25, 2024 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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Word was out that American Avocets were moving north along the Milwaukee Lakefront. They had made very brief stops, just for moments at Grant Park, South Shore Yacht Club, Pebble Beach and finally taking a rest and doing some feeding at Bradford Beach. It was very cold, 37 degree, windy and cloudy too. I heard 37 birds were present and they all hung out in one area. The gulls were constantly in their faces so for the most part they were a tight group. Images were taken on April 24, 2024.

Some of the group of the American Avocets…

Such beautiful birds!!!

One here with something to eat in the bill…

Finding things to eat…

Some up, some down…

Lesser Yellowlegs at the South Milwaukee Mill Pond in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on August 12, 2023

By admin | August 12, 2023 - 12:33 pm |August 12, 2023 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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One of my birding stops today gave nice looks at Lesser Yellowlegs at the South Milwaukee Mill Pond. Water level there is very low right now and it provides some great habitat for shorebirds migrating south. About 7 were present and often moved around on the pond feeding. It was a beautiful day with mild temps and plenty of sunshine with a nice breeze too. Images were taken on August 12, 2023.

A Lesser Yellowlegs looking for something to eat…

Going for something to eat…

Scratching…

Preening…

More preening…

Looking pretty…

Just resting…

Looking for something to eat…

And more preening…

Dunlins at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on May 29, 2023

By admin | May 29, 2023 - 1:36 pm |May 29, 2023 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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A birding stop today gave nice views of 5 Dunlins. They were found at the far north end of McKinley Beach, some call it pebble beach. One of the Dunlins was a non-breeding adult. What a beautiful species!! I caught a little bit of their feeding action of finding things to eat that had washed up on the beach or in the water at the shore edge. It was a beautiful morning with full sun and temps were around 70 degrees. Images were taken on May 29, 2023.

One of the Dunlins in breeding plumage near the shore getting things to eat…

They are always finding things to eat…

Dunlin, a non-breeding adult…

Another of the non-breeding adult Dunlin plumage…

At waters edge finding things to eat…

Something in the bill here…

Willets at South Shore Park in Bayview Wisconsin on April 30, 2023

By admin | April 30, 2023 - 3:20 pm |April 30, 2023 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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With all the excitement at Sheridan Park with the Flame-colored Tanager there was also something going on nearby at South Shore Park in Bayview. 3 Willets were present getting things to eat and I’m sure also a rest stop in their trip flying north to their breeding grounds. Always nice to see this species around the 1st of May. It was a dark cloudy day and stiff winds off the lake from the east with temps around 38 degrees. Images were taken on April 30, 2023.

Two of the Willets walking along the beach finding things to eat…

Finding something here to eat…

That leg…

Getting something here…

Willets at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin on April 29, 2022

By admin | April 29, 2022 - 9:19 pm |May 2, 2022 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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I stopped by McKinley Beach and it was a nice surprise to see 24 Willets. They were spread out all over the beach finding things to eat. No pedestrians or dogs were around so they were just doing their thing. Some looked very tired as they were probably were just stopping for a break on their migration trip. It was a nice afternoon with some sun and warmer temps around 50 degrees. Images were taken on April 29, 2022.

A group of the Willets on the beach…

Walking the beach finding things to eat…

Something to eat in the bill…

A pair…

Some larger waves were coming in…

Getting something to eat underwater…

That tongue…

Closeup…

In the bubbles…

One resting its eyes…

Preening…

More preening…

The birds feathers, protection for their body…

Just resting…

Purple Sandpipers at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on January 17, 2022

By admin | January 17, 2022 - 9:03 pm |January 17, 2022 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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The rare species for the area, the Purple Sandpiper found on January 1, 2022 is still hanging around on the Milwaukee lakefront. Another Purple Sandpiper has also joined it so there are two now for the last week or so. I have not been down to the lakefront for some time and decided to check them out. They both were present at the beach area and gave nice views. The first one I found was feeding along the icy shore and the second I found bathing underneath a rocky area. It was a cloudy morning but temps has eased some from the last week, today was 23 degrees, low winds, it was pleasant. Images were taken on January 17, 2022.

The Purple Sandpiper, bird #1 finding things to eat along the shore…

The Purple Sandpiper, bird #2 found under some large rocks bathing…

Flew around under the rocks, maybe stretching those wings?

Purple Sandpiper at McKinley Marina in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on January 1, 2022

By admin | January 1, 2022 - 11:30 am |January 1, 2022 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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It was a nice surprise to hear of a Purple Sandpiper at McKinley Beach this morning on New Year’s Day. When I arrived at the Milwaukee lakefront it was still present feeding along a little sand area just south of the beach. This bird was found by Jessica H, nice find and thank you for getting the word out for others to see. A cold and cloudy morning with good winds off the lake at about 20 degrees. Image were taken on January 1, 2022.

The Purple Sandpiper finding things to eat…

Black-bellied Plover at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on September 6, 2021

By admin | September 6, 2021 - 9:51 am |September 6, 2021 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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Walking Lakeshore State Park I observed a Black-bellied Plover at the beach area. This juvenile bird gave nice views. It walked back and forth along the beach area getting things to eat. It was a gorgeous morning with sunny skies and pleasant temperatures. Images were taken on September 6, 2021.

The Black-bellied Plover, juvenile…

Something in the bill to eat…

Down it went…

Close up…

The bird was finding plenty to eat…

More things to eat…

Some preening…

Just another shot…

A stretch…

A back view…

And more to eat…

Another nice treat…

Shorebirds at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin on June 4, 2021

By admin | June 4, 2021 - 3:02 pm |June 4, 2021 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

Short-billed Dowitchers at Grant Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on May 13, 2021

By admin | May 15, 2021 - 9:07 pm |May 15, 2021 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

Sanderling at South Shore Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on May 10, 2021

By admin | May 10, 2021 - 8:32 pm |May 10, 2021 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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Hitting a few beaches along the Milwaukee lakefront produced one Sanderling at South Shore Park. The bird was looking beautiful going into its breeding plumage. The bird fed up and down the beach shoreline and sometimes being flushed by walkers which use this beach. It was a cold day out with good winds coming off the lake at 40 degree temps, I did not see the sun till later in the day. Images were taken on May 10, 2021.

The Sanderling flying out over the water and then back to the beach as walkers came by…

Waiting for something to eat…

Getting something…

Something small in the bill to eat…

Looking for something to eat here…

Something in the bill…they eat sand crabs, amphipods, isopods, insects, marine worms, small mollusks…

Moving up onto the shore after a wave came in and goes back out…

More food in the bill…they like to watch for food in the sand after a wave comes in…

And more food…

American Avocet at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on May 2, 2021

By admin | May 2, 2021 - 1:42 pm |May 2, 2021 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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I checked the Milwaukee lakefront beaches early morning and they were empty. I decided to look for a few warblers at Lake Park, it was pretty birdie but after awhile thought I would check out a few other places. I decided to check the beach at Lakeshore State Park once more before leaving the lakefront. I’m glad I did as there was one lone American Avocet. It was not real active, I think just taking a break from maybe a long flight. While viewing the Avocet a Hudsonian Godwit made a very brief appearance. It was on the beach for maybe 15-30 seconds and off it went. It landed on the opposite end of the beach from where I was, another birder captured a photo for an ID. It was a beautiful morning with mostly sunny skies, low winds and temps in the 60’s to start. Images were taken on May 2, 2021.

The American Avocet…

American Avocet in flight…pedestrians on the beach not knowingly flushed the bird on a few occasions but it usually returned to the beach area…

Here getting something to eat maybe…

So beautiful!

At takeoff…

That bill…

American Avocets and Willets at North Beach in Racine Wisconsin on April 28, 2021

By admin | April 28, 2021 - 6:17 pm |April 28, 2021 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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Word was out that American Avocets were in Racine. I made the run down there and they were, along with cool Willets. They were at North Beach on Lake Michigan. Probably my favorite bird and bird to photograph as they are so beautiful! Birders are very lucky if they get to lay their eyes on this species once every spring. They put on a nice show just standing around, feeding and taking a couple of times to the sky. These birds are known as one day wonders, typically seen one day and not the next. It was another cool morning with wins out of the northeast, temps in the mid 40’s and overcast. Images were taken on April 28, 2021.

The American Avocets…

They typically face into the wind, being ready for takeoff…I think I counted 26 birds!

Coming in for a landing…

American Avocets and Willets in flight…

Willets at waters edge…some were feeding…

American Avocet…

American Avocets at waters edge…

Willet…

Willet getting something to eat…

Waiting for something to eat…

Sanderling at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on November 19, 2020

By admin | November 19, 2020 - 9:15 pm |November 19, 2020 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

Sanderlings and Dunlins at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on October 31, 2020

By admin | October 31, 2020 - 5:43 pm |October 31, 2020 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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I started out my birding morning at McKinley Beach walking north along the lake. I heard of a Common Redpoll being seen in that area. No luck with that but on my way back to the beach area, using my bins, I noticed some shorebirds on the south end of the beach. A quick walk over provided nice looks at 3 Dunlins and 2 Sanderlings. They seemed hungry and fed while I was present other than a little bathing by one Sanderling. It was a chilly morning with good winds from the north with some sun. Other places along the lakefront I stopped at were quiet. Images were taken on October 31, 2020.

One of the Dunlins in nonbreeding plumage…

Dunlin with food in the bill…

3 Dunlins…

Sanderling with the waves coming in…

Sanderling bathing…

Sanderling with food in the bill…

Sanderling closeup…

Sanderling looking pretty…

Sanderling preening…

Sanderling preening…

Sanderling fluffing up…

Sanderling, some wing stretching…

Sanderling

Dunlin posing pretty…

White-rumped Sandpiper at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on October 30, 2020

By admin | October 30, 2020 - 3:17 pm |October 30, 2020 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

3 Comments

While approaching the beach area at Lakeshore State Park a bird drops out of the sky 100 feet in front of me and lands at the beach. I was like what?? The bird, a White-rumped Sandpiper which is considered a rare bird for this location on this date. I quickly took a couple of photos as a guy behind me has 2 leashed dogs and he walks them at the beach everyday. I had 1 minute to photograph this bird as the dogs start coming down the beach right behind me and the bird flushed. The bird took off and while birding at the park the next 30 minutes I did not see the bird return. It was a partly cloudy morning, a cold breeze from the north, temps around 35 degrees. Images were taken on October 30, 2020.

White-rumped Sandpiper, a white rump there…

Getting something to eat…

Back view…

More to eat in a very short time…

More to eat…

Moving out in the water before being flushed…

Dunlin at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on October 26, 2020

By admin | October 26, 2020 - 2:17 pm |October 26, 2020 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

3 Comments

Birding Lakeshore State Park this morning I was surprised to come across a Dunlin. The bird was in nonbreeding plumage so it was not as colorful as if it were spring, but still a beautiful bird. It was feeding on the east shore of the island. It appeared it was finding plenty to eat and moving around on a few of the rocks. It was a cold morning out with snow flurries earlier in the morning, temps around 34 with a good cloud cover. Images were taken on October 26, 2020.

The Dunlin getting back up on the rock after a little slip…

A beautiful shorebird!

Something on the bill…

Down into the water for something to eat…

Looking for things to eat…

Looking for things to eat…

It seemed like it was finding plenty…

Dunlin in breeding plumage, image taken on May 23, 2017

Sanderlings and a Semipalmated Plover at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin on September 8, 2020

By admin | September 8, 2020 - 12:46 pm |September 10, 2020 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

3 Comments

One of my birding stops early this morning was McKinley Beach. Present there were 7 Sanderlings and 1 Semipalmated Plover. They were feeding on some nice algae mats there. It was a gloomy morning out and just after seeing these birds it started raining. Nothing else special to note at the other couple of places I stopped before McKinley Beach. Images were taken on September 8, 2020.