I came upon some Long-eared Owls today while birding in Milwaukee County. They gave nice views from a distance. It was an extremely cold day with temps in the lower teens for highs, some good winds, made it feel like arctic circle. Images were taken on January 8, 2018.
Binomial name: Asio otus
Category: Typical Owls
Size: 15” long, 36” wing span
Weight: 9 oz
I watched this perched Snowy Owl for a couple of short minutes this morning on the Milwaukee lakefront. Then it’s head went up and looked to the north as if it had heard something. A moment later it took to the air and headed north out of sight. It was a cold morning with temps around -5 F and very little wind, the sun made it feel not too bad. Here are a couple flight shots as it left the area. Images were taken on December 26, 2017.
The Snowy Owl just after lift off…
Just smooth sailing for this Snowy Owl…
On its way to its prey…
A nice surprise! As I sat in my car looking for any sign of a gull at Bradford Beach this morning off in a distance I spotted this big white bird flying to the south. It was over the water and then heading right towards me. Still off in a distance, I thought, gezz, this gull, looks almost like a Snowy Owl. As I watched, it landed on the beach, to my surprise, it was a Snowy Owl. As I was getting out of my car, I was not surprised to see a dog walker with their dog walking towards me. I quickly got a few images as I knew time time was running out with this dog coming. I watched the owl look to the road, then back towards the dog, that was it, the owl headed out over the water. I never saw a Snowy Owl on a beach before, not that I could remember. It was a dull morning with cloudy skies, temps around 16, and a good wind out of the west. Images were taken on December 15, 2017.
Snowy Owl right after landing…
The head pops up…
The Snowy Owl looks to the road…
The Snowy Owl looks to the dog getting closer…
And off it goes out over the water…
With the first snow fall of the season that I was present in Milwaukee, I checked the Lake Express for a Snowy Owl. A Snowy Owl was present just enjoying the falling snow. It looked right at home in this surrounding. It was very cold, with temps in the high teens, and a stiff wind out of the north with cloudy skies, it felt like below zero. Images were taken on December 9, 2017.
While doing some birding in Milwaukee County this morning I came across a Snowy Owl. It was perched on top of a large dirt pile. For the most part the Snowy Owl was resting and left undisturbed, a couple of times the eyes almost opened. The moon made a nice back drop for the Snowy Owl image. I took a couple of images and left the area. It was a very cold morning, full sun with temps in the teens, stiff winds made it bitter cold out there. Images were taken on December 8, 2017.
Snowy Owl snoozing with the moon…
Starting out birding at Lakeshore State Park in the morning provided great views of a not only the beautiful Purple Sandpiper I recently reported, but also a stunning Snowy Owl. Walking the paths at the park the Snowy Owl was found sitting in a large rock area between some rocks. Staying a good distance away motionless I sat for about 20 minutes and then the bird perched up on a higher rock for another 20 minutes. Under no pressure, I was waiting patiently for a flight shot, the owl eventually took flight and flew over and landed middle of the walk bridge to the island and landed on the railing. A woman walking walked up the bridge not even seeing owl along with a gull all came together at once and I heard a scream! The owl flew to the fishing pier to where I was near. The Snowy Owl sat on the hand railing there for about 15 minutes before a family walked out on the fishing pier for a family photo shoot with the skyline not seeing the owl. The owl flushed across the lagoon to some rocks near the water. It took 3 drinks in front of a handful of Mallards. There was not interaction between the Snowy Owl and ducks. After about 15 minutes at that location the Snowy Owl flew to the north out of sight. Maybe out to a breakwall. The Snowy Owl put on an amazing show. I stopped at Lakeshore State Park this morning for some general birding, no sign of the Snowy Owl, it is hanging out some where else I guess. That Lakeshore State Park sure presents some great birds on an annual basis, wow! Images were taken on November 28, 2017.
Images are in order of the way the events happened…
Hanging out between some big rocks at the park…
Always looking around in all directions for predators…
Perches up on a large rock, then minutes later the Snowy Owl flies to the walk bridge to the island at the park…
Always looking around in all directions for predators…tail up, looks like he is about to fly….
Here the Snowy Owl flies to the walk bridge to the island and lands on the railing, then the walker comes along… and it flushes to the fishing pier
Flying to the fishing pier…
Perched on the fishing pier railing…
Moments before the family walks up the ramp to the fishing pier…
The Snowy Owl flies across to this location and immediately takes a drink, a total of 3 here as the Mallards go about their business…
It appeared there was absolutely interaction between the ducks and the Snowy Owl…
Drinking…
Right after a drink…
After the drink and some passing time, the Snowy Owl takes to the sky and heads north out of sight…
The Snowy Owl along the lakefront in Milwaukee gave nice views this morning. Not much action other than some preening and a yawn. Still nice to see this beautiful owl. Images were taken on November 14, 2017.
A little preening here…
The yawn…
Laying low as a Northern Harrier was in the area
In the planter
The highlight on the Milwaukee lakefront this morning was a Snowy Owl at the Lake Express Ferry. It only hung around resting on top of a container for a couple of minutes before took off and landed on the breakwall. A majestic bird that always makes you stare at it. It was a cold day with temps around 35 degrees and some sun and a breeze. Images were taken on November 6, 2017
Binomial name: Bubo scandiacus
Category: Typical Owls
Description: Adult males are mostly white with a few dark feather tips. Adult females and juveniles are white with dark scalloping on chest, back, wings, and tail. Yellow eyes, black beak, and feathery feet.
Size: 20”- 28” long, 49” – 59” wingspan
Weight: 3.5 lb. – 6.6 lb.
Habitat: Wide open, treeless spaces such as shorelines, lakes, open fields, and agricultural sites.
A Snowy Owl was found on the Milwaukee lakefront this morning. It had caught an American Coot for something to eat and was sitting on that during the picture taking. The bird never moved from the spot while I was present. First one of the fall season reported in the area that I know of. It was a cold morning with stiff winds and little sun to warm up with. Images were taken on October 31, 2017.
Snowy Owl with the American Coot
Binomial name: Bubo scandiacus
Category: Typical Owls
Description: Adult males are mostly white with a few dark feather tips. Adult females and juveniles are white with dark scalloping on chest, back, wings, and tail. Yellow eyes, black beak, and feathery feet.
Size: 20”- 28” long, 49” – 59” wingspan
Weight: 3.5 lb. – 6.6 lb.
Habitat: Wide open, treeless spaces such as shorelines, lakes, open fields, and agricultural sites.
Just looking around, this bird seemed content just sitting there. Probably resting from a long flight…
The back view…
While out birding, I captured a Great Horned Owl with an owlet at a distance. The owlet is pretty good size sitting along side an adult. Image taken in southeastern Wisconsin on March 19, 2017.
With a day of falling snow, it was be a great day to check out a few owls. I checked out a few spots with a little luck. The Barred Owl was hunkered down when found, it never moved. The Long-eared Owls sat tight as well. With the snow falling on and off during the day, it made for a winter wonderland atmosphere out in the woods. Images were taken on March 13, 2017
The Barred Owl blends right in, how exciting!
Barred Owl nest hole…
Long-eard Owl with snow…
The Long-eared Owl is hidden pretty well….
The highlight out birding today was setting my binoculars on a couple of Barred Owls. They did a little flying around on their own and surprisingly one could not be relocated as they just blend in. Image is one of the two seen. Image was taken on February 23, 2017
Binomial name: Strix varia
Category: Typical Owls
Size: 21” long, 42” wing span
Weight: 1.6 lb
Long-eared Owl in Wisconsin on January 6, 2017
Long-eared Owl
Binomial name: Asio otus
Category: Typical Owls
Size: 15” long, 36” wing span
Weight: 9 oz
Eastern Screech-Owl in Wisconsin on January 3, 2017
Eastern Screech-Owl
Binomial name: Otus asio
Category: Typical Owls
Size: 8.5” long, 20” wing span
Weight: 6 oz
On a very foggy morning…
Eastern Screech-Owl, adult red morph in Waukesha County on December 28, 2016
Great Horned Owl owlet in Wisconsin on May 9, 2016
Binomial name: Bubo virginianus
Category: Owls
Size: 22” long, 44” wing span
Weight: 3.1 lb
Barred Owl Owlets in Wisconsin on May 9, 2016 2 of 3-4 owlets photographed
Binomial name: Strix varia
Category: Typical Owls
Size: 21” long, 42” wing span
Weight: 1.6 lb
Climbing a tree
An Eastern Screech-Owl, a red morph giving great views this afternoon in Milwaukee County Wisconsin. What a beautiful owl! Always amazes me how they blend in with the habitat you see them in, but that is one reason they can survive. Images were taken on April 9, 2016.
Eastern Screech-Owl
Binomial name: Otus asio
Category: Typical Owls
Size: 8.5” long, 20” wing span
Weight: 6 oz
I did a little birding this morning on the lakefront on Milwaukee’s south side. The Lake Express Ferry had ~6 Killdeer and they were for the most part hunkered down with the snow that fell yesterday waiting for things to warm up and melt. South Shore Yacht Club had up to 8 Horned Grebes going into breeding plumage. Dave G, thank you Dave, alerted me of 2 Common Loons near the Petroleum Pier when I was at the Express, by the time I got over there, there was still one present in breeding plumage. The loon pretty much stayed out away from shore but it is really nice to see the first loon of the year. After returning to SSYC I ran into a team of birder-photograhers, Todd, Caron, Keith, Valerie and Bruce too. Todd told me about a Eastern Screech Owl he had just found and I checked it out, thank you Todd. Cool to see a Eastern Screech Owl in a natural cavity. It was a fun morning out with some friends I have not seen for awhile and meeting some new ones too. Sunny morning with a bright blue sky cool temps, but winds made it still feel like winter. Images were taken on March 25, 2016.
Eastern Screech Owl
Binomial name: Otus asio
Category: Typical Owls
Size: 8.5” long, 20” wing span
Weight: 6 oz
Amazing how the owl blends in with the habitat
Horned Grebe
Horned Grebe
Horned Grebe preening
Horned Grebe
Horned Grebe
Common Loon, distant shot
Killdeer in the snow!
Killdeer
Killdeer calling
Killdeer resting
Killdeer
Killdeer
Killdeer
A couple shots of a Great Horned Owl in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on March 15, 2016. Seeing one of these is always a treat!
Binomial name: Bubo virginianus
Category: Owls
Size: 22” long, 44” wing span
Weight: 3.1 lb
