Ruby-crowned Kinglets were in abundance at the Fox River Sanctuary in Waukesha, Wisconsin. It was a 1st for me to be able to see and photograph the striking raised scarlet crown on the Ruby-crowned Kinglet. It only lasted for about 10 seconds. Small insects were thick in the trees hanging … Continue reading
Garganey at the Crex Meadows Wildlife Area in Grantsburg, Wisconsin on May 1, 2014. The male Garganey will be a 1st state record for this species in the state pending acceptance. The normal range for this species is quite large covering much of Eurasia in breeding season and winters in … Continue reading
A Worm-eating Warbler was present at Fox River Parkway South in Waukesha Wisconsin on April 29, 2014. This gloomy morning gave way to some decent views and nice action of the bird searching and finding food on the forest floor. I viewed the bird twice at about 6:30 a.m. and … Continue reading
I birded the Milwaukee lakefront this morning for a short period of time. The highlight was Caspian Terns. There were a small amount present on Bradford Beach sitting with many Ring-billed Gulls. There were also a small group of them fishing for food over at McKinley Marina. 5 Black-crowned Night-Herons … Continue reading
One of the first wildflowers to bloom here in the midwest. Photographs were taken April 20-22, 2014. Bloodroot Scientific name: Sanguinaria canadensis North America plant status: Native Duration: Perennial Habitat: Partial shade to shade in medium to moist soil. Blooming time: April-May Bloom color: White Plant height: 6”-7” Cool facts: … Continue reading
I stopped for a short time today at the Fox River Sanctuary in Waukesha Wisconsin to do some birding. I watched a pair of Downy Woodpeckers excavating a nest hole in a dead tree. First I observed the male working at the nest hole and then the female took over … Continue reading
Birding at the Fox River Sanctuary yesterday in Waukesha Wisconsin I came across a couple Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. These birds were present along with many Yellow-rumped Warlbers that were there coming through. They continued to move through the trees and brush searching and getting insects for food. Image taken April 22, … Continue reading
I birded for a short time this afternoon at the Fox River Sanctuary in Waukesha Wisconsin. Looking up, the trees were loaded with Yellow-rumped Warblers. I saw one Black-and-white Warbler in the mass of Yellow-rumps and just for a moment. A breezy day with temps about 50, the sun made … Continue reading
I did some birding late morning at the Scuppernong Springs Nature Trails in South Kettle Moraine in Waukesha Co. Wisconsin. I did get some nice views of the Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Some of the other bird species present were the Brown Creeper, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Sandhill Cranes … Continue reading
While birding Milwaukee’s Lakefront this morning I located the Surf Scoter that had been recently reported. It was just north of the South Shore Yacht Club. The Red-necked Grebe was also still present that had been reported but it was out near the breakwall. It was a gloomy morning and … Continue reading
I spent a short time down at the Fox River Sanctuary in Waukesha today and observed my 1st Yellow-rumped Warblers of the season. There were 3 present and they were hopping around in the trees eating what appeared to be small insects. I also enjoyed watching 2 different Black-capped Chickadees … Continue reading
Pied-billed Grebes on the Fox River in downtown Waukesha Wisconsin. Pied-billed Grebes have been present for at least a month now, along with the Horned Grebes which have been around for the last couple of weeks. One of the highlights today was watching a Pied-billed eat a Sunfish that appeared … Continue reading
Baird’s Sandpiper photographed in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. This appears to be the earliest recorded date for a Baird’s Sandpiper to arrive in Wisconsin. There were 3 Baird’s Sandpipers at this location in a field just north of Hwy 106 on Mehring Road. I also tried 3 times in the last … Continue reading
The Fox River in downtown Waukesha Wisconsin has been pretty exciting with duck species the last couple of weeks and now Grebe species are showing up too. A striking Horned Grebe did some diving for food and gave some nice views this morning. A couple of Pied-billed Grebes gave distant … Continue reading
The Fox River in downtown Waukesha Wisconsin has been pretty exciting with duck species the last couple of weeks. Some hang around for a day or two, some weeks. Yesterday there were over 3o scaups, mostly Lesser Scaups. The majority of the scaups were napping most of the time I … Continue reading
Redhead ducks have been present at the Fox River in downtown Waukesha, WI for the last couple of weeks. Today, 8 of them were present. With 10-degree temps in the morning, thin ice had formed overnight on the river. The ice kept the ducks near the open water area by … Continue reading
A Ring-necked Duck showed up at the Fox River in downtown Waukesha, WI today. It hung around with other species present that were Common Goldeneye Ducks (m-f), Red-breasted (m-f) and ~20 Common Mergansers (m-f), Redheads (m-f) Scaups (m-f ). A pair of Buffleheads were reported, but I could not locate … Continue reading
In the last couple of days, Red-winged Blackbirds have arrived at the Fox River in downtown Waukesha, WI. It sure sounded like spring was in the air this morning when I saw and heard 5 Male Red-winged Blackbirds along the river walk. They were perched high in trees and on … Continue reading
A pair of Hooded Mergansers were present on the Fox River in downtown Waukesha WI. today. The female has been around for a couple of days but a male arrived this afternoon. The pair hung together swimming, catching prey and preening. Other species present were Common Goldeneye Ducks (m-f), Red-breasted … Continue reading
Mute Swans on the Fox River in downtown Waukesha Wisconsin. A pair of Mute Swans have stopped in for a visit here on the river with some open water as temperatures have eased in recent days. Most places in the area are still froze over. Their stay so far has … Continue reading
