A tour of fall colors on a road trip at the Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park in Michigan’s UP provided some of the most stunning fall colors ever witnessed. It was only a one day tour for a few hours on a day I would have called PEAK season for … Continue reading
While birding Lakeshore State Park a cute little American Mink caught my eye. It was grooming itself and scratching its back on the pier, rolling over, it was having a great time. I was a ways off and I don’t think it saw me, it was so cute, what a … Continue reading
On a walk this morning at Lakeshore State Park I noticed a Pied-billed Grebe feeding along the cattails. It did its normal feeding routine of diving for 15-30 seconds presumably getting something to eat and then resurfacing for a longer time. A fairly quiet day at the park other than … Continue reading
Once again a Snow Goose has stopped for a visit at Greenfield Park. I found this adult hanging out with Canada Geese, typically of what one will do when visiting. The Snow Goose was not in the lagoon but on shore. Minimum action from this species in shots but still … Continue reading
While birding Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee the highlight of the walk were 3 Marsh Wrens at the small detention ponds. There are a few areas of cattails there and the Marsh Wrens were in and out of each area every couple minutes getting insects. They were quick up and … Continue reading
The Chukar, a Eurasian species introduced here in the US is considered a released game bird here in Wisconsin. I found this adult feeding along a roadside in Racine County this morning eating seeds. It put on a nice show eating seeds as I watched it at a distance. I … Continue reading
After a tip from a friend about a Mississippi Kite here in Wisconsin, I decided to check it out. I arrived early and found this male bird perched in a dead tree in the area it might be found. I watched it for awhile as it repeatedly went for large … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
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. … Continue reading
While birding Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee this morning it was a nice surprise to see a Sora. This juvenile bird was feeding along the rocks and in the water at one of the detention ponds. It gave nice views for a few minutes and then a gull flew over … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
Another opportunity came up for me to get on a Sailbirding adventure at the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center and I did not pass it up. It was a beautiful day, low winds to start with mostly sunny skies. Sailor Carl Eisenberg lead the group with excellent birders Jennifer Ambrose and … Continue reading
I saw a recent report of the Canada Jay and Boreal Chickadee species in Forest County Wisconsin. I had the urge to try for these species once again to get them on my Wisconsin life list. An earlier winter trip a couple of years ago for these species was a … Continue reading
With a nice day I decided to go out and capture a few nice wildflowers. Weather this year has been exceptional for natives here in the yard in Waukesha County with abundant moisture and warm temperatures but not too hot, just in the 80’s. Some blooms have been hanging on … Continue reading
An exciting moment this morning at Greenfield Park was an Osprey stopping by and catching a goldfish for most likely for some young. This Osprey has been seen on and off at the park for the last couple of weeks. It usually stops once in the morning and I guess … Continue reading
When first observed through the window at home in a tree I assumed this was some unseen before grooming being done by 3 different squirrels. 2 Grey and 1 Black squirrels were doing what I thought was grooming for about 20 minutes. Black Squirrels have been seen in the yard … Continue reading
With birding slower during the summer I turn towards taking some images of the native wildflowers around us. Some images are of species not native to Wisconsin but the states around us, they are noted. Many of the images taken here in the yard and also a few on the … Continue reading
On a recent trip to Sawyer County in Northern Wisconsin, I had the opportunity to watch and enjoy Common Loons with the chicks. These chicks were already big and only saw chicks on the back of an adult from a distance one time. A total of 8 adults and 4 … Continue reading
While fishing along a shoreline in a boat in Sawyer County, it was a sweet surprise to find a pair of Great Horned Owl owlets starring at me. Two days in a row these owlets were perched in the same area, a dark woodland along the shoreline. No adults were … Continue reading
