Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies Archives - Page 2 of 4 - Window to Wildlife

American Golden-Plover at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on August 28, 2020

While walking Lakeshore State Park this morning checking out the beach area, it was empty. I started to walk east across the field and after a couple of 100 feet I turned around to look at the beach again and a shorebird had just dropped in. I’m like what?? I put my bins up and decided it was a plover by the size and body. As I got closer I assumed it was an American Golden-Plover. Someone told me once, a chunky bill is a Black-bellied Plover. This bill was not chunky. I immediately took some photos, and only getting a few, bikers, dog walkers being good, walkers in general, the area all of the sudden became very busy, I watched the bird fly off to the northeast across the grass field. Not really sure what spooked it as I was looking at images on my camera. It was a warm morning, a nice breeze helped, sunny skies. Images were taken on August 28, 2020.

The American Golden Plover

American Golden-Plover

American Golden-Plover, with a feather…

American Golden-Plover

Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on August 26, 2020

By admin | August 26, 2020 - 2:47 pm |August 26, 2020 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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I had seen a couple reports of a Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Lakeshore State Park so this morning I thought I would try my luck. It was there along the end of a mowed field with a Lesser Yellowlegs. After watching this bird for awhile sitting up on a clump of grass, it decided to hunt a little in the grass for insects to eat. I saw on one image it had a moth in its bill. Later it flew to the beach area and hung out for a while. When I left the area other birders had arrived and were enjoying nice views. It was a warm morning with early temps at 84 degrees, full sun, a little breeze. Images were taken on August 26, 2020.

Buff-breasted standing on top of a clump of grass…

Off to do a little hunting for insects…

A moth in the bill…

Always changing directions as it walks, looking and listening for something to eat…

Getting something here…

Near the beach area on a rock…

Those beautiful feathers…

The closeup

Preening…

A resting Lesser Yellowlegs a couple of feet from the Buff-breasted, they are friends it appeared…

American Pipits at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee County on November 1, 2019

By admin | November 1, 2019 - 3:27 pm |November 1, 2019 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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A stop at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee along the lakefront provided views of 2 American Pipits. Thinking these are 1st winter birds…They fed along the beach clutter along the shore finding things to eat. Ring-billed Gulls were in the same area and slightly harassed the pipits on occasion flushing them. Nice to see something different for a change. Images were taken on November 1, 2019.

American Pipit

Binomial name: Anthus rubescens

Category: Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

Size: 6.5” long, 10.5” wing span

Weight: .74 Oz.

Note: Pipits are found on all continents, except Antarctica

Finding things to each with a Ring-billed Gull nearby…

Looking for something to eat…

The two American Pipits perched on a log just looking around…

Something in the bill to eat…

Just looking pretty!

Semipalmated Plover and Sanderlings at Bradford Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin on September 10, 2019

By admin | September 10, 2019 - 8:09 pm |September 10, 2019 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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With some light rain falling this morning, I decided to check a few beaches on Milwaukee’s lakefront. Bradford Beach had 1 Sempalmated Plover and 21 Sanderlings. I took a few shots when the rain let up. Always so cute to see the Sanderlings running up and down the beach, in and out in search of things to eat. McKinley Beach and Lakeshore State Park had nothing today, at least when I stopped. It was a foggy morning, slight drizzle at times and light winds from the east. Images were taken on September 10, 2019.

Semipalmated Plover

Semipalmated Plover going for something here…

Semipalmated Plover with a Sanderling in the background…

Just looking…

Sanderling with something in the bill…

Sanderling getting something….

Sanderling, the wing stretch…

Sanderling reflection…

The bug goes flying!

Sanderling, something in the bill…

Sanderlings, three of a kind…

Just looking…

More food in the bill…

Waiting for the next wave, and then getting the next food…

Spotted Sandpiper Feeding at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on September 5, 2019

By admin | September 7, 2019 - 6:50 am |September 7, 2019 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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Birding Lakeshore State Park I came across a juvenile Spotted Sandpiper that was feeding on the rocks on the big lake. Watching this bird for about 15 minutes, it never stopped feeding, catching very small insects and eating them. It bounced from rock to rock, back and forth putting on a great show for me. My presence watching from a distance was not a problem for this bird, it never stopped searching for and feeding on insects. Eat to survive, and this bird was doing just that. After a few minutes I left. It was a beautiful day at the park as they say, with perfect temps with a slight breeze, partly cloudy. Images were taken on September 5, 2019.

Spotted Sandpiper checking out this old log getting a few insects off of it with Bittersweet Nightshade Berries in the background…

Insect in the bill…around all the rocks it looked for food and found it, small insects…

It sees an insect…

And gets that insect!

Posing pretty!

Looks up the side of a large rock for insects…

Insect in bill….finds insects under this old stick…

Over the edge of the rock it reaches and grabs an insect…

Closeup…

Great pose, the Spotted Sandpiper, juvenile…

Moving around on the rocks in search of food…

Insect in bill….it finds a few things to eat here on the side of this rock…

Another nice view…

Sneaking around on the rocks looking for those insects…

Another beautiful shorebird, the Spotted Sandpiper…

Sanderlings at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin on September 3, 2019

By admin | September 5, 2019 - 9:55 pm |September 5, 2019 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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After photographing the Red Knot at Lakeshore State Park I headed over to McKinley Beach. 3 Sanderlings were present and they were feeding along the beach area at waters edge finding things to eat. It was a beautiful day and exciting to see the first Sanderlings of the fall migration. Images were taken on September 3, 2019.

Sanderling looking for things to eat…

Something in the bill to eat…

Another catch…

Food in the bill…

Walking around and looking for things to eat…

Something in the bill to eat…

Posing…

Close up…

Walking and looking for things to eat, sand on the bill from the last probe…

Grabbing something to eat here…

Food in the bill…

The Sanderling, what a beautiful shorebird!

Red Knot at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on September 3, 2019

By admin | September 3, 2019 - 4:24 pm |September 3, 2019 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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I got a tip that a rare bird for this area, a Red Knot was seen and reported yesterday at Lakeshore State Park. I made the run down to the lakefront this morning assuming the bird was not present but something else could have come in. The juvenile bird was present at the beach area at the park and gave nice views. It fed finding things to eat while I was present taking some photographs. This bird is considered a rare sighting as the normal range for this species is east and west coasts of North America. Thanks to Tracy C for finding this bird and getting the word out for others to try for it. It was partly cloudy early morning with light winds and mild temps. Images were taken on September 3, 2019.

The Red Knot, a juvenile

Walking the beach area finding things to eat…

Getting something here to eat…

Closeup…

Just looking…

Getting something to eat here…

The Red Knot sees something to eat…

The Red Knot grabs it!

Something in the bill…

A leg up…

Another closeup…

For those who have not seen an adult close to full breeding plumage, this adult I photographed in Hustisford on August 16, 2014

American Avocets, Willets and a Marbled Godwit at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on May 1, 2019

By admin | May 1, 2019 - 4:21 pm |May 2, 2019 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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My first birding stop this morning was Lakeshore State Park. I having been hitting it regularly the last few weeks waiting for the American Avocets. This morning was the day as 14 were present when I arrived, btw, my favorite bird! A few minutes later 24 Willets showed up and a while later another ~35 showed up. It was exciting to see this species again. Last year May 5, was the day they showed up at this park. Very skittish they were as when a person walking by the beach area at the park, the American Avocets flushed and landed in the lagoon in a very tight group. It seemed that after about 15-20 minutes they worked their way back to the beach area and hung out with the Willets, sometimes by themselves too. A Marbled Godwit was found in the group of Willets on the beach by Jennifer A later on. The bird may have just joined the group on one of the flushes. All the birds were flushed many times while I was there but by pedestrians not knowing what was going on, it was all innocent. Weather was not great as there was a mist coming down for at least the first hour I was there. On and off it was very cold out there on the island park. Stunning birds regardless! It was a fun time with friend birders and photographers that showed while I was there. Images were taken on May 1, 2019.

The American Avocet, male

Flying free…

A group of them…they hung tight all day…

The American Avocets returning to the beach area…

Marbled Godwit left, Willet right

Willets coming to the beach with the Marbled Godwit standing out…

Willets coming in…

Willet

Willets with the Marbled Godwit in the middle…

Willets coming in…

Marbled Godwit preening

American Avocets in flight coming in…

Willets coming in…

American Avocets, a pair, could be a female left, male right…

Willets landing at the beach…

American Avocets landing at the beach…

Willet and Marbled Godwit left to right…

Marbled Godwit in front with the Willets

The Marbled Godwit

Huddled out in the lagoon…all 14 of them…

Willet playing with a crayfish claw that a gull left after eating the crayfish…

Marbled Godwit with something in the bill to eat…

Willet with something in the bill to eat too…

Willets in coming…

Marbled Godwith surrounded by Willets but feeling at home…

Dunlins at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on October 19, 2018

By admin | October 19, 2018 - 2:51 pm |October 20, 2018 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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Birding the Milwaukee lakefront this morning the bird species of the day was Dunlin. There were two nonbreeding adults present at the beach area at Lakeshore State Park. They fed up and down the beach area along with some gulls hanging around. Other birds to note along the lakefront this morning was a Ruddy Duck, male in the lagoon at Lakeshore State Park, also, two Sanderlings at McKinley Beach. Sanderlings this fall have been frequent along the lake, they have been seen on and off since August 22, sometimes as many as 31 in a flock. It was a dark gloomy morning and as I was leaving it was starting to rain. Chilly temps with good breeze, it was scarf weather for me. Images were taken on October 19, 2018.

Dunlin, very more colorful in their breeding plumage in the spring of the year…

Dunlin

Binomial name: Calidris alpina

Category: Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

Size: 8.5” long, 17” wing span

Weight: 2.1 oz

Going into the water for something to eat…

Something to eat in the bill…

Dunlin, a nice pose…

The two of them…

As I watched, they pick up things, must assume food and drop it…

Close up…

With something to eat…

They are often in the water with their bill and sometimes the head too getting food…

More food in the bill…

Getting something to eat…

The beauty of the back feathers…

Getting things to eat…

Dunlins bill is under the water getting something to eat…

Walking along the beach towards me…

Pectoral Sandpipers at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on September 21, 2018

By admin | September 21, 2018 - 2:51 pm |September 21, 2018 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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One of my birding stops this morning was Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee. As I was scoping out a group of about 75 Ring-billed Gulls picking through a grassy area for things to eat, I spotted 2 sandpipers. Getting a closer look at them, they were Pectoral Sandpipers. They were feeding right along with the Ring-billed Gulls. It was a nice little surprise this morning considering what has been being seen there. The other species to note were, juvenile Green Heron, a juvenile Red-winged Blackbird and ~25 Double-crested Cormorants. A cooler morning with little sun early turning cloudy. Winds were calm to start but were picking up quickly. Images were taken on September 21, 2018.

Pectoral Sandpiper

Feeding….something in the bill…

Something in the bill…

A closeup…

Looking around in the grass for something to eat…

These birds move fast through the grass….going to get something here….

Going for something to eat…

Walking through the grass in search of something to eat…

Grabbing something here to eat…

A beautiful bird…

They squint as they go down in the grass to catch their food, not to poke their eyes…

Something in the bill…

Something in the bill…

I might think two juvenile birds…

One by itself…

Profile…

Sanderlings at Bradford Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin on September 19, 2018

By admin | September 20, 2018 - 9:05 pm |September 24, 2018 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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One of my first birding stops in the morning was Bradford Beach in Milwaukee. You never know what will be there. 8 Sanderlings were present across the whole shore of the beach. Walkers on the beach not even knowingly flush the feeding birds around which is very typical. The Sanderlings usually when flushed just fly out over the water a few 100 feet and return to a different area on the beach for more feeding. While running up and down the beach they are feeding on small crustaceans, amphipods, etc. Sanderlings like following waves in and out along the beach as that is where they find their fresh food. It was an overcast morning, low winds, mild temps. Images were taken on September 20, 2018.

The Sanderling feeding with something in the bill…

Sanderling

Binomial name: Calidris alba

Category: Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

Size: 8” long, 17” wing span

Weight: 2.1 Oz.

Note: An arctic breeder, a long distance migrator, winters in South America, South Europe, Africa, and Australia

Finding something small to eat…

Something in the bill…

Something in the bill…

Two of the Sanderlings moving along the beach together…

The Sanderling follows the wave in, the quickly runs to see what has been brought in…

Wave recedes back out, the Sanderling has something in his bill but continually looks for more food…

A pair…

The Sanderlings run in all directions with waves coming and going looking for things to eat…

The big bite!

Moving along in search of something to eat…

The Sanderling probes into the sand, I think the bill filters out the sand and what remains is the food…

Something in the bill…

Probing…

Running along the receding wave…

Looking around after some wave action for things to eat…

Looking…

Getting something small…

Something in the bill…

On the run…

Red Knot at Racine North Beach in Racine County Wisconsin on September 11, 2018

By admin | September 11, 2018 - 1:40 pm |September 11, 2018 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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I arrived at North Beach in Racine at sunrise with hopes to see the Red Knot that was reported yesterday. After 45 minutes of walking the entire beach from the north to the south, I found this juvenile bird right near the pier on the south end. After only a moment of watching it through my bins, the beach cleaning machine flushed the bird far to the north. It remained there for awhile feeding and going through mussels, etc finding things to eat. I took a few images of this rare visitor and it was present when I walked away. Thanks to Rick Fare for finding this 2nd Red Knot as another one was had just been reported in the same location on September 8th. Thanks for getting the word out to for others to see it. Not a life bird as I got one back on August 16th 2014 in Hustisford. It was a beautiful morning with full sun, a light breeze, mild temps. Images were taken on September 11, 2018.

Red Knot, a juvenile bird…

Red Knot

Binomial name: Calidris canutus

Category: Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

Size: 10.5” long, 23” wing span

Weight: 4.7 Oz.

Note: A rare visitor as the normal range for this species is breeding on the Canadian coasts and wintering on the southern east and west coasts of the United States.

Picking through the mussels and finding food in them…

Food in the bill…

More food in the bill…

Something in the bill…

Going to eat it…

Gets something out of a mussel…

Sanderling , left – Red Knot, right

Blurry flight shot, but look at the amazing feather patterns…

Walking along the beach checking out mussels, looking for something to eat…

More things to eat…

More…

Hunting for food…

Looking pretty…

Moving up and down the beach…

Tossing a mussel around……………and it gets something, it is on the tip of the bill….

Going inside the mussel for something to eat…

Pectoral Sandpipers at Veterans Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on September 4, 2018

By admin | September 4, 2018 - 2:08 pm |September 4, 2018 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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A stop this morning at Veterans Park along the lakefront in Milwaukee provided some nice views of 2 Pectoral Sandpipers. These birds were in a wet grassy area in the park. They rested some and fed too. I did not hang around long as probably have come along way so far in their migration south and needed to take a break and do some feeding. I hot humid morning, with full sun, low winds. Thanks to Mike W for the text on these birds when I was on my way into town this morning. Images were taken on September 4, 2018.

Pectoral Sandpiper

Binomial name: Calidris melanotos

Category: Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

Size: 8.75” long, 18” wing span

Weight: 2.6 Oz.

Note: Some breed in the boggy tundra of northeast Asia, and some in a range from Alaska to central Canada.

Pectoral Sandpiper, the two…

Walking through the grass, probing into the ground and getting things to eat…

In search of food…

Something here…

Food…

The close up…

Aware…

Moving about the area…

Such a beautiful bird…

Shorebirds at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin on August 22, 2018

By admin | August 22, 2018 - 1:39 pm |August 23, 2018 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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I have hit the lakefront in Milwaukee a few times in the last week or so with hopes to see some migrating shorebirds. McKinley Beach was the hot spot this morning. Today was the first sighting of them for me for the fall migration here and it was a fun time to see the first of them. Present were, 2 Semipalmated Plovers, 2 Lesser Yellowlegs, 7 Sanderlings, 1 Least Sandpiper, and a Semipalmated Sandpiper. It was a full sun morning, with a nice cool breeze off the lake to start the day. Images were taken on August 22, 2018.

Sanderling with something to eat at the end of the bill…

Sanderling with some to eat…

Least Sandpiper moving along the shore…

Lesser Yellowlegs just about to grab something to eat…

Lesser Yellowlegs with something to eat…

Semipalmated Plover posing…

Semipalmated Plover getting something to eat…

Least Sandpiper, sitting low for a couple of moments….I have seen this action when a predator is in the area, I looked up but did not see anything…

Sanderling on the algae…

Lesser Yellowlegs moving about…

Lesser Yellowlegs, wings up here because of a recent wave, in search of food…

Least Sandpiper

Lesser Yellowlegs looking for food…, that is all they do it seems…

Lesser Yellowlegs with a worm…

Sanderling

Lesser Yellowlegs with a little wave action…

Sanderling with something in the bill to eat…

Least Sandpiper

Lesser Yellowlegs walking through the algae, in search of food…

Sanderling, the close up…

Lesser Yellowlegs looking…

Semipalmated Plover lays on the sand trying to be flat and unnoticed as a predator must be around, it does this for about 10 seconds and I see its eyes look up on occasion…

Semipalmated Plover stands with a fly in its bill…

Semipalmated Plover walking and looking on the beach…

American Woodcock Foraging at Lake Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on April 17, 2018

By admin | April 17, 2018 - 8:26 pm |April 17, 2018 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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One of my birding stops today was Lake Park in Milwaukee. As I stood on a ravine top, out of the corner of my eye a bird flew up from below and landed a couple hundred feet away. I knew this was a new bird to the area. From a distance it actually looked like a large hummingbird flying up. Well, I knew it was not that, but in a minute I knew it was an American Woodcock. I knew I was not going to be chasing this bird around the park. Walking around the park some more I noticed movement in a ravine off a bridge. It was a couple of the American Woodcocks foraging in open running water in the ravine probing down deep with their long bills. One took to the higher ground on the side of a ravine and walked around some but ended up back near the bottom of the ravine. This one foraged near rocks and an old stump thinking it was finding things to eat. I thought it was all pretty exciting, the whole show these 2 birds put on. A total of 4 birds seen, the other 2 were up the ravine just foraging and resting. A nice day to be out, some sun, a good wind, still felt like winter with temps in the mid 30’s. Images were taken on April 17, 2018.

A short flight here…

American Woodcock

Binomial name: Scolopax minor

Category: Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

Size: 11” long, 18” wingspan

Weight: 7 Oz

The walk..

Foraging

Mud on the bill from probing…

Foraging

Foraging

Foraging

Foraging at the base of a rock….

Foraging on a ravine slope…

Foraging at the bottom of a ravine in the running water…

Foraging at the bottom of a ravine in the running water…

Foraging at the bottom of a ravine in the running water…

Purple Sandpiper at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on November 28, 2017

By admin | November 28, 2017 - 3:25 pm |November 28, 2017 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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Doing some birding along the lakefront in Milwaukee this morning I came across a stunning Purple Sandpiper. I have been looking hard all fall along the lake for this species and it finally happened. As it was, I was at Lakeshore State Park on the east end of the island on the big lake. I spotted a sandpiper type bird, darker in color bird fly out from the big rock shore at waters edge out over the water about 10 feet and then return to the big rocks at waters edge farther south about ~ 100 feet. This bird would never have been seen as no one ever walks along the water with the very large rocks but I just happened to catch the flight. I knew immediately it had to be the Purple Sandpiper, a rare bird as it’s normal range is the east coast of the US, but are seen just once in awhile late fall Nov-Dec. I climbed down to the rocks and after awhile spotted it feeding. It did not seem to mind me at a distance as it just continually fed as big waves just kept coming in. A few times the waves pushed this bird around, obviously this is a tough bird and is used to that. This species has been seen only a few times in the state in the last few years. The day started out with some sun and then clouds moved in with very mild temps of 50 degrees plus. Awesome bird and a fun morning. The last time and only time I saw Purple Sandpipers were December 13, 2012 at Wind Point in Racine by the lighthouse rocky shoreline and there were 2 of them. Images were taken on November 28, 2017.

Purple Sandpiper with something in the bill…

Purple Sandpiper

Binomial name: Calidris maritima

Category: Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

Size: 9” long, 17” wing span

Weight: 2.5 oz

Notes: Breeds in the tundra and winters along rocky shores of the Atlantic Coast making this a rare bird for Wisconsin.

Just standing pretty before a flight down the shore…I saw this numerous times. Feed, perch, look around, then fly to the next spot…

Has something to eat…

Something in the bill…

The close-up

Feeding in the wave action…

Some preening here…

Feeding

Feeding in the wave action that just hit the shore…standing on large rocks here in the water, there is no beach

In the waves…standing on a large rock with a wave rolling over it…

Getting something…

It may have something in the bill…

Getting something to eat as the waves move…standing on a large rock with a wave rolling over it….

In the splash…standing on a rock with some wave action…no beach here

Coming up from the rocks at the water before the next flight…

Lesser Yellowlegs at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on October 23, 2017

By admin | October 23, 2017 - 8:09 pm |October 24, 2017 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

Lesser Yellowlegs

Binomial name: Tringa flavipes

Category: Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

Size: 10.5” long, 24” wing span

Weight: 2.8 oz

Notes: Breeds in northern Canada and Alaska, winters at coasts of southern US and Mexico.

Eyeing something up here

Watching…

Going down….did it get it?

A miss…

Just walking along the shore…

Some preening…

Just finished preening…

Got something here….

Coming into shore…

Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on October 15, 2017

By admin | October 15, 2017 - 12:56 pm |October 15, 2017 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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A stop at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee provided nice views of both the Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs. A total of 4 Greaters and 1 Lesser. When I arrive early about 7:15, just the 4 Greaters were present. After a few minutes the Lesser Yellowlegs showed up. They look tired as they probably just had put on some miles. They did next to no feeding while I was there and just rested. It was a cool morning, overcast with some strong west winds. Also present at Lakeshore State park provided brief view of a thinking now, a Common Snipe by the looks of the distant image, not a American Woodcock as first thought as it flushed while I walked the path and it just went way up and headed north, also an American Kestrel which I have not seen for awhile. Another lakefront beach, McKinley had 12 Sanderlings, and the Black Scoters were still present off North Point that Tom W reported yesterday. Images were taken on October 15, 2017.

Greater Yellowlegs

Greater Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs in front with Greater behind

Lesser Yellowlegs in front with Greater behind

Greater Yellowlegs riding the waves…

Lesser Yellowlegs on the right, I thought it was feeding but appeared to be playing with this item…

Greater Yellowlegs moving along the beach area…

Lesser Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs, I thought it was feeding but appeared to be playing with this item…

Lesser Yellowlegs in front…

Lesser Yellowlegs

2 Greater Yellowlegs

Eyes closed, resting…

Greater Yellowlegs, the double…

Greater Yellowlegs…

Sanderlings at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin on October 6, 2017

By admin | October 6, 2017 - 6:18 pm |October 6, 2017 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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A stop at McKinley Beach this morning in Milwaukee gave brief views of 8 Sanderlings feeding pretty much non-stop. Also present were the commonly seen Ring-billed Gulls at this location. After only a couple minutes a dog approached the area and all the birds flushed with the Sanderlings heading south. Other birds to note along the local lakefront were many Double-crested Cormorants everywhere, and ~ a dozen Northern Shovelers, and a Ruddy Duck being at Lakeshore State Park. It was a overcast morning with mild temps around 58 degrees with some steady winds and waves off the lake. Images were taken on October 6, 2017.

Sanderling with a bite to eat…

Sanderlings feeding along the beach bank…

Sanderlings feeding along the beach with Ring-billed Gulls

Moving along the beach with waves rolling in…

Along the beach they go…

Trying to avoid the waves…

Shaking it off!

Size comparison image with a Ring-billed Gull and a Sanderling…

Some preening

More preening

Scratching…

Coming towards me…

In the wave…

Out of the wave action…

Just waiting for the sight of something to eat…

Sanderlings and Semipalmated Sandpipers at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin on September 10, 2017

By admin | September 10, 2017 - 7:35 pm |September 10, 2017 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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A brief stop at the McKinley Beach this morning provided nice views of 2 Sanderlings and 2 Semipalmated Sandpipers. One of the Sanderlings was transitioning into nonbreeding plumage and still had some of its breeding plumage, an interesting look. The birds fed on the algae mat at the beach. Other than that the lakefront was pretty slow at Bradford Beach, Lakeshore State Park and the harbor. Images were taken on September 10, 2017.