Category Archives: Bird Categories

Snowy Owl in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on January 30, 2026

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This morning one of my birding stops was going to see if the Snowy Owl was still present in Milwaukee County. It was and it has been hanging around at this location since at least January 11. Driving though I noticed a couple cars pulled over. I pulled over too and not too far off the road was the Snowy Owl. It appeared it had something on the ground by its talons. After a couple of minutes it flew into another area close by. It was in the process of eating a large vole it looked like. I never got out of my vehicle for any of these photos, just sitting in the drivers seat. It flew off and perched on a few light posts and it was a great show to watch. It was another cold morning with temps around 5 degrees with a light breeze with mixed clouds and sun. Images were taken on January 30, 2026.

Here is the morning snack… a vole…

Eastern Screech Owl, red morph in Waukesha County Wisconsin on January 29, 2026

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It was a beautiful day for Eastern Screech Owls to be sitting out in the sun. Driving some of the roads in Waukesha County and looking up produced a stunning red morph perched pretty. It was up in a pine trees catching some of those sun rays for warmth on this bitter cold day with temps of 10 degrees. Image was taken on January 29, 2026.

Eastern Screech Owl, red morph in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on January 29, 2026

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It was a bright sunny morning to be out birding in Milwaukee County. I felt it was the perfect day for Eastern Screech Owls to be sitting out in the sun. Driving the roads in the county I came across a beautiful red morph perched in a pine tree. I took a photo of it as it sat perched in the sun. It was a very cold day with bright sun, low winds with temps around 10 degrees. Image was taken on January 29, 2026.

Eastern Screech Owl in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on January 27, 2026

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It was a nice surprise to see an Eastern Screech Owl sitting in a spruce tree today while out birding. It was a very cold morning with temps around 5 degrees with mostly cloudy skies and some good wind too. Image was taken on January 27, 2026.

Just trying to catch a little sun for warmth on this cold January morning…

Snowy Owl in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on January 20, 2026

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The Snowy Owl has continued at the Milwaukee County location giving nice views. I have not been there for a few days and thought with some fresh snow on the ground I would check things out. It moved around a couple of times but ended up where it started from. All and all, fun to watch this owl but it was a very morning starting out at zero degrees with good winds out of the southwest warming up to about 15 degrees, and about 1″ of snow on the ground. Images were taken on January 20, 2026.

The beautiful Snowy Owl…

I think it was on to a vole or something as it was alert looking west but came up empty…

Cleaning the talons I would assume…

Snowy Owl in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on January 13, 2026

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A beautiful Snowy Owl gave stunning views today in Milwaukee County. This young female sat and took it easy most of the time I was present other than a few times it took to the sky and went to a new location. It was a chilly day with a lot of wind at times, seemed a lot colder than the mid 40’s with sunny skies. Images were taken on January 13, 2026.

In flight at times…

Resting peacefully…

Doing some cleaning…

A very nice interview with article on Fox6 Milwaukee 1/15/2026

Eastern Screech Owl in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on January 4, 2026

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One of my birding stops today produced nice looks of a Eastern Screech Owl in a natural nest cavity in Milwaukee County. It is that time of the year where owls are seen sitting in the hole of a natural cavity enjoying some sun on a cold day. It was a cold day with temps around 18 degrees, some sun at times. Images were taken on January 4, 2026

The Eastern Screech Owl soaking up some sun…

Purple Sandpiper at Wind Point in Racine County Wisconsin on January 2, 2026

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A Purple Sandpiper was currently being seen at Wind Point in Racine so I thought I would try for it. The Purple Sandpiper, considered a rare bird in Wisconsin as it’s normal range is the east coast of the US, but are seen here in Wisconsin just once in awhile late fall Nov-Dec. The bird was present and gave nice looks. It was not very active, it appeared to be finding things to eat when I arrive where the water meets the ice. After awhile the bird was less active and noticed it was carrying a piece of ice on it’s bottom. Hopefully that ice will come off and this bird can do what it has to in the days ahead. Thanks to the finder of this bird and getting the word out for others to see. It was a bright sunny morning with temps around 15 degrees, once a while the wind kicked in. Images were taken on January 2, 2026.

The Purple Sandpiper with nice looks…

At waters edge when I arrived…

Resting at times…

Just another look…

Wisconsin birding, the year in review 2025. Includes vagrants, special visitors or just the beautiful birds that either nest here or migrate through the state of Wisconsin.

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I have put together a collection of some of the Wisconsin birding moments from the year 2025. The 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 2025. It was a very exciting year with the birds and also birding with some old birding friends and meeting some new ones, too. One of the highlights of the year for me came early with finding 6 different Northern Saw-whet Owls on my own at different locations. I found them using no calls or technology of any sort, just looking in areas that fit their habitat. Finishing up this year with adding 4 more birds to my Wisconsin life list now standing at 388. New for 2025,  Wood Stork, Black-billed Magpie, Short-billed Gull and the Kelp Gull. There are a lot of owl photos to start but that was just the way it was. Thanks to everyone who helped make this happen. When putting this post together, once again, it amazes me what birds were seen this year here in Wisconsin!

The Long-eared Owl in Wisconsin 1-3-2025

Northern Saw-whet Owl #1 for the day in SE Wisconsin 1-6-2025

Northern Saw-whet Owl #2 for the day in SE Wisconsin 1-6-2025

Eastern Screech Owl in Milwaukee Co 1-9-2025

The Long-eared Owl with snow in Wisconsin 1-10-2025

Northern Saw-whet Owl in SE Wisconsin 1-20-2025

The Eastern Screech Owl perched in the pine in Milwaukee Co 1-24-2025

Eastern Screech Owl in Milwaukee Co 1-26-2025

Eastern Screech Owl, red morph in Milwaukee Co 2-11-2025

Horned Lark Paradise Valley WA in Waukesha Co 2-14-2025

Horned Lark Paradise Valley WA in Waukesha Co 2-14-2025

Northern Saw-whet Owl in SE Wisconsin 2-18-2025

Great Horned Owl sitting on eggs in Waukesha Co 2-11-2025

Great Horned Owl in the nest in Milwaukee Co 3-6-2025

Great Blue Herons in SE Wisconsin 3-7-2025

Sandhill Cranes heading north in Waukesha Co 3-9-2025

Northern Saw-whet Owl #1 for the day in SE Wisconsin 3-11-2025

Northern Saw-whet Owl #2 for the day in SE Wisconsin 3-11-2025

Sandhill Crane in Waukesha Co with some painting on the feathers 3-12-2025

Sandhill Crane in Waukesha Co 3-12-2025

Eastern Bluebird, male in SE Wisconsin 3-12-2025

Eastern Bluebird, female in SE Wisconsin 3-12-2025

Eastern Bluebird, male making a soft landing in SE Wisconsin 3-12-2025

Great Horned Owl owlets (2) on the nest in SE Wisconsin 3-18-2025

Great Horned Owl owlets (2) on the nest in Milwaukee Co Wisconsin 3-29-2025

Killdeer in Milwaukee Co 4-3-2025

Killdeer preening in Milwaukee Co 4-3-2025

Great Horned Owl owlets in Milwaukee Co 4-4-2025

Common Grackle, FOY in Waukesha Co 4-6-2025

Eared Grebe at Lake Park on the Milwaukee Lakefront 4-11-2025

Killdeer on the nest in Waukesha Co 4-14-2025

Wilson’s Snipe at Pennsylvania Avenue at Oak Creek in Milwaukee Co 4-16-2025

Willets (3) at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Co 4-27-2025

Willet at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Co 4-27-2025

Great Horned Owl, owlet in Milwaukee Co 4-28-2025

Canada Goose gosling at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Co 4-29-2025

White-eyed Vireo at Scout Lake in Greendale Wisconsin 5-2-2025

White-eyed Vireo at Scout Lake in Greendale Wisconsin 5-2-2025

Townsend’s Solitaire in Wauwatosa in Milwaukee Co 5-3-2025

Blue-gray Gnatcatchers building a nest in Waukesha Co 5-6-2025

The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher with lichen in the bill working it into the started nest 5-6-2025

American Avocet at Bradford Beach in Milwaukee Co 5-7-2025

American Avocets 5 of them at Bradford Beach in Milwaukee Co 5-7-2025

Killdeer chick just out of the nest in Waukesha Co 5-7-202

Yellow-rumped Warbler, male in Milwaukee Co 5-13th-15th-2025

Black-and-white Warbler, male in Milwaukee Co 5-13th-15th-2025

Black-throated Blue Warbler, male in Milwaukee Co 5-13th-15th-2025

Blackburnian Warbler, male in Milwaukee Co 5-13th-15th-2025

Northern Parula, male in Milwaukee Co 5-13th-15th-2025

Palm Warbler in Milwaukee Co 5-13th-15th-2025

Cape May Warbler, male in Milwaukee Co 5-13th-15th-2025

Blackpoll Warbler, male in Milwaukee Co 5-13th-15th-2025

Bay-breasted Warbler, male in Milwaukee Co 5-13th-15th-2025

Magnolia Warbler, male in Milwaukee Co 5-13th-15th-2025

Golden-winged Warbler, male in Milwaukee Co 5-13th-15th-2025

Tennessee Warbler, male in Milwaukee Co 5-13th-15th-2025

Prothonotary Warbler, male in Milwaukee Co 5-13th-15th-2025

Philadelphia Vireo at Lake Park in Milwaukee Co 5-14-2025

Rose-breasted Grosbeak, male at Lake Park in Milwaukee Co 5-13-2025

Rose-breasted Grosbeak, female at Lake Park in Milwaukee Co 5-13-2025

Baltimore Oriole, female at Lake Park in Milwaukee Co 5-14-2025

Franklin’s Gull at Bradford Beach in Milwaukee Co 5-17-2025

Scarlet Tanager at Lake Park in Milwaukee County 5-17-2025

Eastern Kingbird at Lake Park in Milwaukee County 5-17-2025

Eastern Kingbird at Lake Park in Milwaukee County 5-17-2025

Wild Turkey eggs in the nest in Marquette Co Wisconsin 5-19-2025

Wild Turkey eggs in the nest in Marquette Co Wisconsin 5-19-2025

Yellow-billed Cuckoo at the Milwaukee County Grounds in Milwaukee Co 5-22-2025

Snow Goose at Veterans Park in Milwaukee Co 5-22-2025

Ruddy Turnstone at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Co 5-23-2025

Ruddy Turnstone at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Co 5-23-2025

Black-billed Cuckoo at the Milwaukee County Grounds in Milwaukee Co 5-26-2025

Barred Owl in Marquette County Wisconsin 5-27-2025

The Great Horned Owl in Waukesha Co 5-29-2025

Northern Flicker at a natural nest cavity in Waukesha Co 6-1-2025

Bobolink, male at Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha Co 6-5- 2025

Bobolink, female at Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha Co 6-5- 2025

The 3 Red-shouldered Hawk chicks in Waukesha Co 6-6-2025

This is one of the two Red-shouldered Hawk adults flying up high over the area near the nest calling in Waukesha Co 6-6-2025

Both the Kelp and American Herring Gull producing a hybrid chick on the nest…the chick is looking at us in Milwaukee Co 6-14-2025

Kelp Gull flying near the nest on Jones Island in Milwaukee Co 6-14-2025

Great Blue Herons at a rookery with many nests in southeast Wisconsin 6-10-2025

Common Loons, an adult showing the chicks how to crawl up onto the bog in Sawyer Co 6-27-2025

Great Egret at Horicon Marsh in Dodge Co 7-1-2025

Black Tern at Horicon Marsh in Dodge Co 7-1-2025

Black Tern at Horicon Marsh in Dodge Co 7-1-2025

Black-necked Stilt, adult at Horicon Marsh in Dodge Co 7-1-2025

Black-necked Stilt chicks at Horicon Marsh in Dodge Co 7-1-2025

Black-necked Stilt chick at Horicon Marsh in Dodge Co 7-1-2025

Black-necked Stilt chick adult in flight at Horicon Marsh in Dodge Co 7-1-2025

Yellow-headed Blackbird, female at Horicon Marsh in Dodge Co 7-1-2025

Least Bittern at Horicon Marsh in Dodge Co 7-1-2025

Ruddy Duck, male at Greenfield Park Milwaukee Co 7-3-2025

Northern Flickers feeding nestlings in a natural nest cavity in Waukesha Co 7-5-2025

Northern Flickers feeding nestlings in a natural nest cavity in Waukesha Co 7-5-2025

Black-crowned Night-Herons at Humboldt Park Milwaukee Co 7-13-2025

Great Egret at Echo Park in Burlington in Racine Co 7-20-2025

Great Egret at Echo Park in Burlington in Racine Co 7-20-2025

Sandhill Cranes near Muskego in Waukesha Co 7-20-2025

Common Grackle with the crayfish at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Co 7-22-2025

Common Grackle with the crayfish part feeding young at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Co 7-22-2025

Piping Plover at Lake Michigan on the Milwaukee lakefront 7-28-2025

Piping Plover at Lake Michigan on the Milwaukee lakefront 7-28-2025

Short-billed Gull at Whitefish Dunes State Park in Door Co Wisconsin 7-30-2025

Short-billed Gull stretching at Whitefish Dunes State Park in Door Co Wisconsin 7-30-2025

Laughing Gull at Whitefish Dunes State Park in Door Co Wisconsin 7-30-2025

American White Pelican at the pebble beach at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Co 7-31-2025

American White Pelican on the lagoon at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Co 7-31-2025

Green Heron at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Co 8-5-2025

Great Egrets at Wilson Park in Milwaukee Co 8-7-2025

Wood Stork at Mud Lake State Wildlife Area in Dodge Co Wisconsin 8-11-2025

Wood Stork at Mud Lake State Wildlife Area in Dodge Co Wisconsin 8-11-2025

Wood Stork preening at Mud Lake State Wildlife Area in Dodge Co Wisconsin 8-11-2025

Eastern Kingbird in Waukesha Co 8-20-2025

Great Blue Heron catching a frog at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Co 8-21-2025

Ruddy Turnstone at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Co 8-29-2025

Semipalmated Sandpiper at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Co 8-29-2025

Semipalmated Plover at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Co 8-29-2025

Ruddy Turnstone flipping over a piece of something looking for things to eat at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Co 8-29-2025

Red-necked Phalarope at McKinley Marina in Milwaukee Co 9-1-2025

American Golden-Plover at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Co 9- 2-2025

Green Heron at Greenfield Park in Milwaukee Co 9-2-2025

8 Sanderlings Sanderlings at Bradford Beach in Milwaukee Co 9-9-2025

Sanderling, something in the bill at Bradford Beach in Milwaukee Co 9-9-2025

Black-crowned Night-Heron, juvenile at Humboldt Park Milwaukee Co

Black-billed Magpie at the Superior Landfill in Douglas County Wisconsin 9-12-2025

Yellow-rumped Warblers eating Cedar Berries in the South Kettle Moraine in Waukesha Co 10-5-2025

Yellow-rumped Warblers eating Cedar Berries in the South Kettle Moraine in Waukesha Co 10-5-2025

Wood Duck, male in Milwaukee Co 10-8-2025

Wood Duck, young male in Milwaukee Co 10-8-2025

American Bittern at Humboldt Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin 10-20-2025

American Bittern at Humboldt Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin 10-20-2025

Snow Bunting at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Co 10-29-2025

Snow Bunting with a seed in the bill at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Co on 10-29-2025

Blue Jay in Marquette Co 11-4-2025

Eastern Screech Owl in Milwaukee Co on 12-4-2025

Sandhill Cranes, an adult left, colt right Delafield in Waukesha Co on 12-7-2025

Sandhill Crane in Delafield in Waukesha Co on 12-7-2025

Long-eared Owl in Wisconsin on 12-8-2025

Dark-eyed Junco, Oregon type at Grant Park in Milwaukee Co on 12-11-2025

Dark-eyed Junco, Oregon type at Grant Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on December 11, 2025

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One of my birding stops today along the Milwaukee lakefront provided nice views of a male Dark-eyed Junco, Oregon type at Grant Park. The most common variety in the western North America is called the “Oregon” Junco. In the midwest we typically see the Common Dark-eyed Junco. This location was near a bird feeder at the park and it was stopping and getting things to eat there. It was a mostly sunny day with cold temps around 20 degrees with light winds out of the northeast. Images were taken on December 11, 2025.

Sandhill Cranes in Delafield in Waukesha County Wisconsin on December 7, 2025

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One of my birding stops today gave nice views of 15 Sandhill Cranes present along the Bark River in Delafield Waukesha County. Two Sandhill Crane colts were in the flock. With the cold temperatures like today at 19 degrees they don’t do much other than get a few things to eat on occasion in the river, some preening and just standing around conserving energy. A Great Blue Heron was also present. The heron did not move at all when I was there, thinking it was just taking it easy like the cranes. The Sandhill Cranes hangout at this location into winter as the river does not freeze till later if it does at all. Today was sunny skies, a little wind and temps around 19 degrees. Images were taken on December 7, 2025.

Sandhill Cranes, and adult left, colt right…

A colt finding something to eat maybe…

Sandhill Cranes…

Colt with something in the bill…

Looking for something to eat I would assume…

4 of the 15 Sandhill Cranes present, adults…

Colt…

Missed something here…

Just got a drink…

Snow Buntings at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on October 29, 2025

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A stop today at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee along the lakefront gave nice views of 4 Snow Buntings. They have been reported there. The Snow Buntings continually found seeds to eat. Typical places they always find seeds here at the park are in the short grass areas,  along sidewalk edges, on the rocks and cracks in the walks. Seeds blow around this time of year and end up at those locations. I’ve seen them jump up to low grasses and plants to get seeds but did not see that today in the mowed areas. It was very windy at the lakefront with northwest winds, the sun made it doable today to enjoy the show that these beautiful birds put on. Images were taken on October 29, 2025.

The Snow Bunting on the rocks with the wind blowing…

Finding seeds along the walk…

Here there were seeds too in the grass area…

Here the Snow Bunting with a seed in the bill…

Here the Snow Bunting was getting seeds to eat in the cracks on the sidewalk…

Such a beautiful bird!

American Bittern at Humboldt Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on October 20, 2025

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There had been reports of an American Bittern at Humboldt Park in Milwaukee County. This morning I thought I would try for it. As I walked halfway around the pond at the park, there it was out in the open 20 feet off shore. It pretty much did nothing as I watched it for about 20 minutes with no one around other than a few walkers. After the wait time it then flew across the pond to the other side. I walked around the pond to watch it and there it was hunting, walking very slowly through the dead knocked down cattails etc. After a few minutes it latched onto a large frog. It worked very hard to kill and the frog put up a good fight to stay alive, but the American Bittern won. It then swallowed it! The American Bittern moved its neck back and forth for a while to get the frog down some out of its neck-throat area. After that the bird just walked into some taller grass and took a break. Interesting, is that a gentleman who was a regular at the park came over to watch the event just before it happened and talking to him said the American Bittern was there on April 27th of the year. It was a gorgeous morning with temps around 45 degrees and full sun, but there was a good breeze making it cool at times. Images were taken on October 20, 2025.

The American Bittern…

A little bit of hunting here but came up empty, flies to the other side of the pond then…

Catches a nice frog here!

Everyone has to eat…

Thinking about putting it down the throat, and it does…

A normal position for this species, they are often missed as they don’t move much and look like a stump…

The setting…cell photo…

Yellow-rumped Warblers eating Cedar Berries in the South Kettle Moraine in Waukesha County on October 5, 2025

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One of my birding stops today in the South Kettle Moraine in Waukesha County I found an Eastern Red Cedar tree with Yellow-rumped Warblers eating cedar berries. The Yellow-rumped Warblers put on a great show while I stood there and watched. They came and went along with a couple of House Finches eating berries too. It is common to see them pick berries and test them if they are ready, soft enough to eat or ripe.  If they are not ready they just drop them to the ground. It was a beautiful October day with full sun and a nice breeze out of the south. Temps around 80 degrees. Images were taken on October 5, 2025.

The Yellow-rumped Warbler with a cedar berry…

A House Finch, male stops in for a berry too…

Black-billed Magpie at the Superior Landfill in Douglas County Wisconsin on September 12, 2025

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After seeing 3 days of a reported rare bird for Wisconsin, the Black-billed Magpie at the Superior Landfill I thought I would take the chance and try for it. The Black-billed Magpie’s normal range is the Dakota’s, Nebraska and Kansas and west then up into Alaska. The reports on ebird were only 1 or 2 each for those 3 days so would the bird still be there? Deb joined me and we made the 5 1/2 hour ride to Superior leaving Waukesha at 3:00 AM. When we arrived at the landfill I spent almost 4 hours walking the road by the landfill watching many Bald Eagles, Common Ravens, Turkey Vultures, Ring-billed and American Herring Gulls flying back and forth from inside the landfill and north to Lake Superior I would assume, but no sign of the Magpie. The sky was really dark and a few raindrops were starting to fall. My thought was I guess this rare bird is not going to show for us. At that time Deb steps out of our vehicle and points. Jim, “the Black-billed Magpie just landed on the post in front of the vehicle”. I could hardly believe those words from her but there it was, perched so pretty about 50 feet in front of the vehicle. It was on the landfills property inside the fence so I just took a couple of photos and then off it went. It was a fun day getting Wisconsin life bird #388. A big thank you to the finder of this rare bird and getting the word out for others to try for it. The early morning had a little fog, mostly cloudy skies with temps around 70, light winds. Images were taken on September 12, 2025

The Black-billed Magpie on the ground just after jumping off the post nearby…

The Black-billed Magpie on the post in front of the vehicle when Deb spotted it from inside the vehicle when reading…

Here with a piece of garbage, must have been dropped by a gull coming from the landfill, there was a lot of that going on…