admin, Author at Window to Wildlife - Photography by Jim Edlhuber

About admin

Window to Wildlife features the photography of Jim Edlhuber. A lifelong native of Wisconsin, Jim has been photographing wildlife for 20 years. He considers himself an avid photographer and is always trying to capture nature and wildlife through his lens. He is in several photography clubs and has won numerous awards for his work. In recent years, Jim has focused mostly on birding photography and finds it to be the most challenging.

Common Eider in Superior Wisconsin on January 30, 2015

5 Comments

I made the trip up to Superior Wisconsin in hopes to see the reported rare for this region, the Common Eider. Daryl Christensen made the trip up with me for what would be a very exciting event. We arrived in Superior about 8:15 am and hit Barkers Island as the reported location that this duck had last been viewed. The small open water on each side of the bridge to the island held 4 Mallard Ducks on one side and 8 Common Goldeneyes on the other. The recent reports told of the Common Eider, female, being mixed in the very many Mallards and might be hard to locate? We left the area and traveled some of the city near the bay looking for open water. Everything was froze up. We even traveled the bridge into Minnesota in hopes to spot open water somewhere in the area from above, but had the same result, froze up. We went back to the island and a couple more ducks were present but no Common Eider. At this point we thought we may have lost the chances of seeing the Common Eider. We thought we would take a drive out of town to locate the deer carcass that had been reported on a Hwy 13 road side with a possible Black-billed Magpie. We located a carcass, watched over it for almost 30 minutes with no luck and decided maybe head back into town in hopes the Common Eider has made an appearance. Sure enough, there the Common Eider sat on the ice with approximately 40 other ducks, with some in the water. To say the least, we had two very excited birders making the day complete, each with a new life bird. A drake Northern Pintail was also in the group of ducks that had just came in and it gave nice views. We put together the ducks maybe spend the night way out in open water, during the morning hours they start returning to the small open water near the island bridge, just a thought. Thanks to the finder of this bird and all the birders that kept the continuing reports of this bird coming in. Images were taken on January 30, 2015.

Common Eider

Binomial name: Somateria mollissima

Category: Ducks, Geese, and Swans

Size: 24” long, 38” wing span

Weight: 4.7 lbs

Common Eider with Mallard, male behind

Common Eider hanging out with Mallards, male

Preening

Just out of water with Mallards

Just out of water with Mallards

Common Eider with Mallard, female

Looking for a place to loaf, with Mallards

Taking a break on the ice

Mallard, male front, Common Eider back

Common Eider with Mallard behind, male

Common Eider stretching

Common Eider with Northern Pintail behind, male

Northern Pintail, male

Northern Pintail

Northern Pintail

Northern Pintail

Northern Pintail in Superior Wisconsin on January 30, 2015

By admin | January 29, 2015 - 1:20 pm |February 2, 2015 Bird Categories, Ducks, Geese, and Swans

Northern Pintail

Binomial name: Anas acuta

Category: Ducks, Geese, and Swans

Size: 21” long, 34” wing span

Weight: 1.8 lbs

Snowy Owl near the Horicon Marsh on January 27, 2015

By admin | January 27, 2015 - 7:21 pm |January 29, 2015 Bird Categories, Typical Owls

2 Comments

I made a run up to the Horicon Marsh this morning to see what was going on. I guess the highlight was a Snowy Owl on a pole. Other species present were a couple of Rough-legged Hawks, 5 Red-tailed Hawks, 5 American Kestrels. No Northern Goshawk today. I watched this Snowy Owl for awhile on the pole as it looked and listen. It gave nice views but never left the pole when I was present. Even though a little sun was in the forecast, it never came out. With mild temps, just another gloomy January day near the Horicon Marsh. Images were taken on January 27, 2015

The yawn

Looking and listening

The stretch

Preening

Looking and listening

The stretch

Preening

Northern Goshawk near the Horicon Marsh on January 22, 2015

By admin | January 22, 2015 - 3:25 pm |January 23, 2015 Bird Categories, Hawks, Kites, Eagles, and Allies

Northern Goshawk

Binomial name: Accipiter gentilis

Category: Hawks, Kites, Eagles, and Allies

Size: 21” long, 41” wing span

Weight: 2.1 lb

Birding in the South Kettle Moraine State Forest in Waukesha County Wisconsin on January 19, 2015

By admin | January 19, 2015 - 3:10 pm |January 19, 2015 Bird Categories, Woodpeckers and Allies

Snowy Owls near the Horicon Marsh on January 16, 2015

By admin | January 16, 2015 - 8:41 pm |January 19, 2015 Bird Categories, Typical Owls

6 Comments

I made another run up near Horicon Marsh to see what was happening. For the most part the day was slow but there was some excitement at times. One Snowy Owl put on a show a few times going for prey and just off hunting. One time going for prey it got something out of sight in the cattails. On another long run I think its prey off the ice but it was fast action and I missed it. Some sun was in the forecast I read for today, but it was just another cloudy day, cold with low winds. It always amazes me the speed these birds have as they travel long distances in only seconds. Images were taken on January 16, 2015.

Going for the prey!

Snowy Owl

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.

Diet: Small mammals such as rodents, lemmings, voles, mice, rats, rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, and other birds such as shorebirds, songbirds, ducks, geese, and pheasants.

Nesting: The female builds a nest on a mound with good visibility. She scrapes away the top layer of soil and, over several days, presses her body into the ground to make a depression. She will lay a clutch of 3 to 11 eggs and incubate them for about 5 weeks. Both parents will defend the nest and care for the hatchlings which are born pure white. The same nest may be used year after year.

Notes: Snowy owls are considered the heaviest owl in North America, weighing about a pound more than its closest contender, the Great Horned Owl. A snowy owl was featured in the Harry Potter series when Harry received his pet, Hedwig. It is also the official bird of Quebec.

Going for the prey!

Going for the prey!

Going for the prey!

Going for the prey!

Across the ice to a hunting perch!

Across the ice to a hunting perch!

Hunting

Takes flight for potential prey!

Two Snowy Owls in this image, doc shot.

Snowy Owls and more near the Horicon Marsh on January 14, 2015

By admin | January 14, 2015 - 7:19 pm |January 17, 2015 Bird Categories, Typical Owls

1 Comment

I decided to make a run up to Horicon Marsh this morning. I had not been up there yet this winter and it was time. I met Dave Frerik up there early am and we had an exciting morning with 2 Snowy Owls, at least 6 Rough-legged Hawks, Northern Harrier and a couple of American Kestrels being the highlights. Gloomy day with just a few snow flurries and cold temps, definitely felt like winter. Images were taken on January 14, 2015.

Snowy Owl, female

It captures a vole here, it is in the front!

Rough-legged Hawk

Snowy Owl at the Lake Express in Milwaukee on January 4, 2015

By admin | January 4, 2015 - 8:54 pm |January 5, 2015 Bird Categories, Typical Owls

1 Comment

I did some birding today along the lakefront in Milwaukee and there was a little excitement. The Snowy Owl was present at the Lake Express and gave nice views. After about 15 minutes it took flight to its normal hangout. Mike W showed up and we hit Jones Island as a place he suggested. Mike picked out a American Wigeon right away. Also present were 5 male Northern Pintails, 4 male American Black Ducks, a male and female Wood Ducks that stayed hung tight together. Other species present about 300 Mallard Ducks, some Common Goldeneyes, Lesser Scaups and Common Mergansers. I hit a few beaches and the normal common gulls. Lakeshore State Park had 3 Glaucous Gulls. All and all a fun day out birding other than the falling snow and winds. Some documentation shots. Images were taken on January 4, 2015.

Glaucous Gull 2nd cycle, Lakeshore State Park doc shot

Glaucous Gull (#1) 1st winter Lakeshore State Park – doc shot

Glaucous Gull (#2) 1st winter right, Glaucous Gull (#2) 2nd cycle left - doc shot Lakeshore State Park

Glaucous Gull 2nd cycle left, Glaucous Gull (#2) 1st winter Lakeshore State Park – doc shot

American Wigeon, rare sight on this date, doc shot

American Wigeon, rare sighting on this date, doc shot

Wisconsin birding, the year in review 2014. Includes vagrants, special visitors or just the beautiful birds that either nest here or migrate through the state of Wisconsin.

By admin | December 31, 2014 - 8:00 pm |January 8, 2016 Uncategorized

13 Comments

I have put together a collection of Wisconsin birding moments from the year 2014. Collection includes vagrants, special visitors or just the beautiful birds that nest here or migrate through the state of Wisconsin. All images were taken in 2014. It was a very exciting year with the birds and also birding with some old birding friends and meeting some new ones too. Thanks to everyone who helped make this happen.