Bobolinks at Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha County Wisconsin on May 22, 2023

It is that time of the year and I thought I would check to see if the Bobolinks are back at Retzer Nature Center. There were about 9 of them, they were giving nice views from a distance. Males were chasing around some females. These are interesting birds to follow as they move to different spots, the males calling to the females. There is no sense in trying to figure out where they will land next. I stood at one location and they once in a while landed near me for a couple of photos. Always fun to watch these birds. It was a sunny day with mild temps around  70 degrees. Images were taken on May 22, 2023.

Bobolink, male calling to a female…

Bobolink, male in flight…

Bobolink, female…

Bobolink, female calling to a male…

A little of something here…birds displaying…

Bobolink, male perched on the old wildflower cane from last year…

Bobolink, female at takeoff…

Bobolink, female perched and looking for a male…

Another in flight…

And another in flight, this male…

Calling and waiting for a female…

Bobolinks at Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha County Wisconsin on May 31, 2022

It was that time of the year and I thought I would check to see if the Bobolinks are back at Retzer Nature Center. They were giving nice views from a distance. Males were chasing around some females. These are interesting birds to follow as they move to different spots, the males calling to the females. There is no sense in trying to figure out where they will land next. I stood at one location and they once in a while landed near me for a couple of photos. I think I saw 5 of them, 3 males and 2 females. Always fun to watch these birds. It was a cloudy day with some good breezes at times, making it seem tough for these birds to hang on to lanky old flower stalks from last year’s wildflowers, but I’m sure they are used to it. Temps around 70 degrees. Images were taken on May 31, 2022.

The male Bobolink calling to the female a ways away…

In between calling…

The female Bobolink perched in some old Yellow Coneflower stalks from last years wildflowers looking at the male…

The female perched a distance from a male…

From a distance the male hangs on tight calling…

The female…

The male hanging on with a good wind…

A look back for a female…

Flying by…

Female just trying to hang on…

Male calling…

Bobolinks at Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha County Wisconsin on June 7, 2021

A stop at Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha provided nice views of male Bobolinks. I only saw females a couple of times going to nests on the ground I would think. I stayed at a distance not to disturb the areas where they are possibly nesting. It did not appear they were feeding young as of yet. It was a warm muggy morning to start with temps in the 70’s. Images were taken on June 7, 2021.

Bobolink, male calling…

In some of the habitat they are found in…

Coming in to land on an old wildflower stalk…

In some of its habitat these birds hang out in of old wildflowers and grass canes, hanging on with the wind blowing…

Just perched pretty…

What they do…

Red-winged Blackbird in Waukesha County Wisconsin on February 27, 2021

While looking out the kitchen window this afternoon a pair of male Red-winged Blackbirds were present at the feeder. They looked very tired and eat on and off for a couple of hours and then left. On a spring like day came some spring like birds. It was a gorgeous day with plenty of sunshine, temps around 50 degrees.

Bullock’s Oriole at Sturgeon Bay in Door County Wisconsin on December 15, 2020

I saw a report of a Bullock’s Oriole in Sturgeon Bay, it had only been seen once yesterday, Sunday.  The Bullock’s Oriole is a western bird that typically does not come this far east. It was so exciting to hear of this bird in the state, it’s a beautiful young male. I needed this for a life bird for the state, so I really had to try for this bird, I made the decision to go. The homeowner did not even know what species the bird was and posted it in a Wisconsin bird group to try to find out. Jack C worked with the homeowner to get it recorded, a location and the homeowner agreed to let birders come to see it too. Leaving the house at 4:00 am, I arrived about 7:00 am, just getting some light. One birder arrived before me. Slowly there were 7 of us waiting for the bird. Almost 4 hours had passed and we were all getting a little, like, the bird was not going to show. I was in my car on the phone and spotted the bird in the bushes behind the feeder. I jumped out of my car, the other birders were just standing around talking bird talk, I said, there is the bird! At that point we all got great looks of the bird. First on the heated bird bath, then on the feeder chowing down, I’d say close to five minutes it ate. After that it took to a few trees around the yard area, gave more great views and then took off across a field. What an exciting moment it was for all of us today! A big thank you goes out to the homeowners who were very kind to let us in and share their great bird with the birding community. It was cold, 15 degrees, but we all could see the feeder from our cars so that was not too bad. Getting out was to socialize for a few minutes and stretch. Life Bird #357 for the state of Wisconsin. Another beautiful bird that made a showing at their feeder today was a Pileated Woodpecker, homeowner said a pair visit daily. Images were taken on December 15, 2020.

The Bullock’s Oriole, a young male

Leaving a branch…

The Bullock’s Oriole perched in a close by pine tree for about a minute…

Another nice pose by the Bullock’s Oriole!

The Bullock’s Oriole flies out of the bushes and to the heated bird bath…

Bullock’s Oriole spent much time chowing down seeds, could have been for 5 minutes…here with a Pine Siskin…

Bobolinks at Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha County Wisconsin on June 16, 2020

Birding Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha County this morning I came across some Bobolinks, 5 of them, males and females. They are nesting at this location so I did not hang around for more than a minute or two as I did not want to disturb the feeding of the young. Amazing grassland birds they are. I noticed what appeared to be one of the males eating Yellow Coneflower seeds still on an old seed head from last year. They are seed eaters. A beautiful morning out, no other birds to note other than common species. Sunny skies with a light breeze blowing, keeping the Bobolinks working steady to stay on the old plant canes from last year as perches. Images were taken on June 16, 2020.

Bobolink, male

The Bobolink, male calling…

Bobolink, female with food in the bill, looks like a Daddy Long Legs…and something else…on it’s way to the nest…

Bobolink, female…with food for the young…

Flying about their habitat, the grassland..

Bobolink, female with the wind blowing, trying to hang on…

Bobolink, male, with the wind blowing trying to hang on, they must be very use to this…

Interesting how they grab a clump of old canes from last years Yellow Coneflower to make one stronger perch…

Eating seeds from last years Yellow Coneflower plant, a strong Wisconsin native.

Just looking at the seed head here…

Bobolink with food in the bill on its way to the nest…

Hanging on in the wind…

Just perched and calling like what a Bobolink does…

A balancing act, perched on the old cane with the wind blowing…

Just looking…

Red-winged Blackbird Eating Big Blustem Seeds at Lakeshore State Park on September 27, 2018

On a birding walk through Lakeshore State Park one of the highlights was watching a Red-winged Blackbird eating seeds from the native grass Big Bluestem. This female bird did not seem to mind me watching the show. Nothing goes to waste, as it knocked some seeds on a rock below it went down and ate them. It was a beautiful morning, quite chilly to start, with plenty of sun and light winds. Images were taken on September 27, 2018.

Red-winged Blackbird sitting on some stalks of the native grass Big Bluestem…

Gathering the seeds off the seed head…

Nibbling on some seeds of the Big Bluestem…

A stem of seeds, it moves it through its bill…

Nibbling on seeds…

More eating of the seeds…

Closeup of the seed in the bill…

Fallen Big Bluestem seeds on the rock below where the bird ate…

Eating the fallen seeds on the rock…

The stalks of the native grass Big Bluestem blowing in the wind…

 

Bobolinks at Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha County Wisconsin on June 7, 2018

I made the annual early June stop at Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha to see if any Bobolinks were around. There were at least 10 males and some females present, I really did not do a count. They flew to many field locations and gave nice views flying and perching near me at times. Nice to see them there. No sign of Dickcissels which I had hoped to see there too. It was a warm sunny morning with little winds, I was hot standing out on a trail there. Images were taken on June 7, 2018.

Bobolink, male

Bobolink

Binomial name: Dolichonyx oryzivorus

Category: Blackbirds

Size: 7” long, 11.5” wing span

Weight: 1.50 oz

Notes: A male Bobolink may have more than one mate. A well known birder in Wisconsin had called this bird a “skunk blackbird” because of the whitish stripe down the back of the head.

Bobolink, female

Bobolinks, male left, female right…

In flight and calling…

Bobolink, female perched with Golden Alexanders

Bobolink, male

In flight and calling…

Bobolink, female at takeoff…

Bobolink, female

Bobolink, female, just hanging on…

Bobolinks, female left, male right…

Bobolink, female

Bobolink, female looking…

Bobolink, male in the stalks which they typically perch in…

In coming…

Eastern Meadowlark at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin on October 27, 2017

One of the birding highlights along the lakefront in Milwaukee this morning was seeing this Eastern Meadowlark at McKinley Beach. I was hoping for Western, but I just can’t see it here. It came in off the rock shore and landed in a grass area. It did some feeding, looked around some and away it went heading south. One of the other highlights was accidentally flushing a Short-eared Owl at Lakeshore State Park. The owl flew east over the harbor where 4 gulls appeared to harass it. I lost sight of it at that point. A very windy morning with cold temps, still nice to be out birding. Images were taken on October 27, 2017.

Looking for something to eat here…

Doing some feeding…

Getting something…

Bobolinks in Waukesha County Wisconsin on June 19, 2017

Out birding this morning in Waukesha County I came across some Bobolinks. There were 2 males and 2 females in an area where I assumed they were nesting. I took a few shots to share and left the area. It was a sunny morning with cool temps with some clouds moving in. Images were taken on June 19, 2017.

Bobolink, male calling

Bobolink

Binomial name: Dolichonyx oryzivorus

Category: Blackbirds

Size: 7” long, 11.5” wing span

Weight: 1.50 oz

Notes: A male Bobolink may have more than one mate. A well known birder in Wisconsin had called this bird a “skunk blackbird” because of the whitish stripe down the back of the head.

Bobolink, male preening

Bobolink, female keeping an eye on the nesting area

Bobolink, female keeping the balance…

Bobolink, male in the grass as we see them…

Bobolink, male just sitting pretty

Female watching the nest from a distance…

Bobolink, the female in flight…

Both sexes here…

Calling….displaying…

Distant shot of caterpillars in the bill…

The balancing act

On the lookout

Over looking the nesting area…

 

Baltimore Oriole eating caterpillars on a blooming tree at Lake Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin May 16, 2017

On a walk through Lake Park this morning in Milwaukee I was greeted with a male Baltimore Oriole eating caterpillars on a beautiful blooming tree. I observed this for about a minute with calling in between the feeding. Moments later a female Baltimore Oriole flew by the tree and off they went. This took place near the lighthouse. What a treat! Images were taken on May 16, 2017.

The call…

Sneaking around on the tree looking for caterpillars…

Sneaking around on the tree looking for caterpillars…

With a caterpillar in the beak…

The call…

Looking around…

With a caterpillar…

The call…

Looking…

Rusty Blackbird at Echo Park in Burlington Wisconsin on October 2, 2016

While watching the Great Egrets at Echo Park in Burlington Wisconsin this morning we were side tracked by a bird at the edge of a grassy small island. Janet S spotted the bird, thank you! When it came out into the open more I immediately knew it was a Rusty Blackbird by those cool colors.  A really great find, as this bird is just not seen often enough. The bird moved towards the dam, behind some grass and they flew east into a tall tree on the bigger island and that was the last we saw of it. On such a dreary, misty and rainy day, this was the highlight and a nice one! Images were taken on  October 2, 2016.

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Rusty Blackbird

Binomial name: Euphagus carolinus

Category: Blackbirds

Size: 9” long, 14” wing span

Weight: 2.1 oz

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Looking for small bugs on the leaf I would think

Looking for small bugs on the leaf I would think

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Takeoff!

Going to another rock!

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Western Meadowlark at Bender Park in Oak Creek Wisconsin on April 18, 2016

I made the trip to Bender Park early this morning to see if the Western Meadowlark was still present from yesterdays report. It was and gave nice views, singing and finding food too. What a beautiful bird! The call was right, the dotted and not streaks along the sides matched too along with the yellow malar. I was happy to see this bird this morning and get it on my state life list as I have tried numerous times before and came up empty. A big thank you to Steve L for finding this bird and Rita and David for getting the word out about it being present for others to see it. Images were taken on April 18, 2016.

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Calling in the early morning sun

Western Meadowlark

Binomial name: Sturnella neglecta

Category: Blackbirds

Size: 9.5” long, 14.5” wing span

Weight: 3.4 oz

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Calling

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Finding something to eat

Finding something to eat

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Calling

In flight!

In flight!

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Hunting for food

Hunting for food

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Red-winged Blackbird

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 the ground foraging for food. The birds were displaying on and off and acting as if they were taking territory. I did not see any females. By early afternoon the Red-winged Blackbirds had disappeared along the river as this flock may have moved on. Photographs were taken on March 18, 2014.

Red-winged Blackbird - M - displaying

Red-winged Blackbird – M – displaying

Red-winged Blackbird

Binomial name: Agelaius phoeniceus

Category: Blackbirds

Size: 8.75” long, 13” wing span

Weight: 1.8 oz.

Habitat:  The cattail marsh is the most commonly used, but other habitats used are wet and dry meadows, swamps, marshes, wooded or bushy swamps, hayfields, salt marshes, canals used for irrigation and roadside ditches.

Diet: Insects and seeds forging on the ground, sometimes trees.

Nesting:  The nest is bowl shaped 4”-7” across. It is constructed of woven plant material on close upright stems in marsh vegetation or a bush. It includes the base platform of wet decaying wood, leaves, and vegetation.  The inside is lined with mud and later fine grass. The male helps in choosing the nest location. Typically the female incubates 3-7 eggs pale blue-green to gray in color.

Facts: Although sometimes Red-winged Blackbirds are considered pests, they eat harmful insects in agricultural fields from which farmers benefit. This species is considered by some the most abundant native bird in North America. Red-winged Blackbirds on occasion swoop at people’s heads, they are merely protecting their territory and nest during breeding season.

Red-winged Blackbird - M

Red-winged Blackbird – M

Red-winged Blackbird - M - displaying

Red-winged Blackbird – M – displaying

Red-winged Blackbird - M - displaying

Red-winged Blackbird – M – displaying

Red-winged Blackbird - M - displaying

Red-winged Blackbird – M – displaying

Red-winged Blackbird - M - displaying

Red-winged Blackbird – M – displaying

Red-winged Blackbird - M

Red-winged Blackbird – M

Red-winged Blackbird - M - displaying

Red-winged Blackbird – M – displaying

Red-winged Blackbird - M

Red-winged Blackbird – M

Red-winged Blackbird - M

Red-winged Blackbird – M – displaying

Red-winged Blackbird - M - displaying

Red-winged Blackbird – M – displaying

Red-winged Blackbird - M

Red-winged Blackbird – M – displaying

Horicon Marsh and Hustisford August 20, 2013

Photographs taken at Horicon Marsh and Hustisford on August 20, 2013.

Marsh Wren

Marsh Wren

Least Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper

Blue-winged Teal Family

Blue-winged Teal Family

Stilt Sandpipers

Stilt Sandpipers

Lesser Yellowlegs, Hustisford

Lesser Yellowlegs, Hustisford

Pectoral Sandpiper, Hustisford

Pectoral Sandpiper, Hustisford

Least Sandpipers, Hustisford

Least Sandpipers, Hustisford

Least Sandpiper, Hustisford

Least Sandpiper, Hustisford

Yellow Headed Blackbird

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Pectoral Sandpipers, Hustisford

Pectoral Sandpipers, Hustisford

To view the full gallery of images, please click here.