Lark Bunting at the Lake Express in Milwaukee Wisconsin on May 23, 2022

Birding some of the lakefront in Milwaukee this morning a stop at the Lake Express was well worth it. A Lark Bunting, male had just been seen by Jym M. but was not currently being seen. What a great bird and find! I thought I would hang around to see if it returned and after about 30 minutes I decided to check out other places along the lake. After checking some beaches I returned to the Lake Express and once again, I had just missed the Lark Bunting. This time I was going to stick around for a while. A short time had passed and I spotted the bunting in a nearby small tree. It moved around some and gave nice views for just a couple of minutes and then was out of sight. It also fed with some House Sparrows on the lawn near the building area in the shade. A Wisconsin life bird for me, #367. I will say, it has been a great year so far for state life birds, I hope this continues. It was a sunny day, with a cool breeze and temps around 50 degrees. Images were taken on May 23, 2022.

The Lark Bunting, male…

Another view…

Spotted Towhee at Greenfield Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on January 13, 2021

One of my birding stops today was at Greenfield Park to see if the Spotted Towhee was still present and it was. I hung around for about 20 minutes before it came out of the bushes just west of the waterfall. It gave nice views at that time. This was my second try, seeing it twice now, this rare bird visiting the area. It was an overcast morning with a slight breeze but great temperatures getting near 40. Images were taken on January 13, 2021.

The Spotted Towhee at takeoff…

Look at that tail!!

Hoping from one place to another…

 

 

Spotted Towhee at Greenfield Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on January 8, 2021

As I thought my birding day was winding down I got a message from Jacob C. that a Spotted Towhee, a hatch year bird was found by an unidentified birder at Greenfield Park. I made the quick run over and the bird was present near the small waterfall. We both got nice views but for the most part the bird perched in trees. It was almost dark out but I managed a couple of quick photos while it fed on the ground as I was leaving. A cloudy day with temps around 30, not bad for the start of the new year. Images were taken on January 8, 2021

Spotted Towhee

Another look…

Harris’s Sparrow at Lake Park in Milwaukee County on October 2, 2020

One of my birding stops this morning along the lake was Lake Park. There were a few birds there, but it was spotty. Looking at the feeder on the south end of the park my eye caught a sparrow near the feeder that just looked different. I only got a couple of photos and it headed into the Yews that it was feeding by. I hung around for about 10 minutes and it never came back out. I thought Harris’s Sparrow on the spot but with the glare on my camera, I really did not want to call it. I saw some white on the throat there was a chance it was a White-throated as there were very many in the area. A lady birder that was close by just said, that would be a surprise, she did not see the bird. With having a busy day I did not look at my images till evening. At that time I could really tell, a juvenile Harris’s Sparrow. A beautiful day out, but cold on the lake, sunny skies and a brisk wind. Image was taken on October 2, 2020.

The beautiful Harris’s Sparrow…

Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrows at Veteran’s Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on September 23, 2020

One of my birding stops this morning was Veteran’s Park in Milwaukee. The flooded area on the east end of the lagoon, provided excellent views of 3 Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrows. They fed in the flooded area of the grass coming in and out of the cattails. It was nice to see these migrants. Also present were 4 Sora’s, that gave nice looks some of the time I was there. Other birders also enjoyed the nice views of these stunning sparrows, the sparrows were present when I left the area at 9:00 am. Not a life bird as I had this species at the Magic Hedge and Lake Barney in the past. It was a beautiful morning out with pleasant temps, low winds and sunny skies. Images were taken on  September 23, 2020.

Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow, with food in the bill, 1 of 3 present…

Looking for something to eat…

2 of them…

With a worm to eat…

Back view…

In search of food…

With something to eat…

Sora, 1 of 4 seen at this location…

Eastern Towhees in Marquette County Wisconsin on May 5, 2020

A pair of Eastern Towhees, the male and female where making an appearance in Marquette County. They are probably nesting nearby where I photographed them. On a couple of photos I captured their distinct posture. It was a beautiful day, low winds, mostly sunny with temps around 55 degree. Images were taken on May 5, 2020.

Eastern Towhee, the male…

Eastern Towhee, the female…

The Eastern Towhee looking beautiful…

 

Eastern Towhee at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on April 12, 2019

One of my birding stops today was the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center. The highlight was a FOY Eastern  Towhee. Update: The female Eastern Towhee was photographed at the same location on April 15, 2109. This male put on a nice show eating seeds as I watched from a distance. Another highlight was at least 25 Northern Flickers that were feeding in a field. As I walked a path on the property they flushed from distance in a field. They flushed twice as I did not know they were there till they started taking off. They appeared to just fly to another area there. A Great Horned Owl made an appearance along with a Belted Kingfisher, Song Sparrows, Fox Sparrows, Chipping Sparrows, a flock of 12 Wild Turkeys, with males displaying and Yellow-rumped Warblers to name a few. Stops along the lakefront earlier were very quiet bird-wise with nothing special to report other than a couple of Horned Grebes. I made my first stop of the spring at the Magic Hedge, it was bird-less. Weather was nice early in the morning but then before noon, it got overcast, windy and a north wind made it chilly. Still a nice day to be out birding. Images were taken on April 12, 2019.

Eastern Towhee, female

Eastern Towhee, female

Eastern Towhee, female

The Eastern Towhee near a feeder looking for seeds…

Getting a seed probably…

Looking for seeds…

Near a puddle the Eastern Towhee looks for seeds…

Tail up…

Pretty bird!

Getting a seed in the water maybe…

Eurasian Tree Sparrows in Lafayette County Wisconsin on February 25, 2019

A species I have always wanted to get on my life list was the Eurasian Tree Sparrow. It finally happened after following up an ebird report from Quentin Y on 2/23/19, thank you Quentin! With the winter like weather we have been having, it took till today, the 25th to get out there. The location is about 14841 East State Line Road in South Wayne Lafayette County. Illinois is on one side of the road, Wisconsin on the other if I am correct. I arrived about 7:00 am. I drove up and down the road very slow coming across flocks of 20 or so birds, mostly Dark-eyed Juncos, with a few American Tree Sparrows mixed in. With the flocks being so large and ice breaking on the road as I rolled along, it was difficult to get near them as they would flush from a distance and with a few cars going by too. After about 45 minutes, I spotted a Eurasian Tree Sparrow in one of the flocks on the side of the road. Of course, it was on the Illinois side of the road! I parked for the most part and waited and waited, finally a group formed in front of me down the road and I noticed a Eurasian Tree Sparrow was in that flock.  From the vehicle I took a few distant shots staying back a ways with out flushing them. Things quieted down and I looked up and a American Kestrel was perched up in a tree above me. Surprisingly Dark-eyed Juncos flew in the same tree as the Kestrel being only 8-10 feet way. They must know there safety zone from the Kestrel with branches in the way I guess.  The Kestrel stayed perched there for 20 minutes, maybe waiting for a Dark-eyed Junco forget that he was there and be in the open. I left the area at that point. To say the least, it was exciting to see this bird and finally get it on my state life list. Other birds seen in the area, 200~ Horned Larks and 5 Lapland Longspurs. It was a cloudy day, very cold with temps about 11 degrees, very little wind, but I was in the car the whole time so not to bad out there. Images were taken on February 25, 2019.

Eurasian Tree Sparrow, in the middle with a American Tree Sparrow behind, with Dark-eyed Juncos, sorry for the watermark…

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Binomial name: Passer montanus

Category: Old World Sparrows

Size: 6” long, 8.75” wing span

Weight: .77 oz

Cool facts: The Eurasian Tree Sparrow from Europe was released in St. Louis, Missouri area in 1870. It became established there. Unlike its close relative, the House Sparrow, it never spread very far from the original point of being released. It is said now that this species is very slowly moving up the Mississippi River northward and breeding.

Eurasian Tree Sparrow in the middle with a American Tree Sparrow on the right and Dark-eyed Juncos…

Eurasian Tree Sparrow in the middle with Dark-eyed Juncos…

Distant shot of the Eurasian Tree Sparrow eating weed seeds with Dark-eyed Junco’s along the shoulder of the road…

Lapland Longspur

Horned Lark in the middle and Lapland Longspurs on each side…

Dark-eyed Junco eating Staghorn Sumac seeds at Lake Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on January 26, 2019

One of my birding stops this morning was Lake Park in Milwaukee, about the only place that there were birds seen and that was slim. The highlight if you can believe it was a Dark-eyed Junco, but it was doing something I had never witnessed before. It was eating Staghorn Sumac seeds off a plant there. Could be common thing, I just have never seen it. It was brief but I did get a couple of shots of the event to share. Other birds near the feeder by the statue that was full of seed were White-breasted Nuthatches, Black-capped Chickadees, more Dark-eyed Juncos and Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers. Along the lakefront things were pretty much froze up except for an area just off North Point. There were a few Common Goldeneye, Greater Scaup and Bufflehead. I saw ONE Gull along the lakefront flying far off in a distance. My short birding run along the lake was Lake Park south to South Shore Yacht Club where 20 Canada Geese were loafing on the ice. Note: It amazes me how many bird species use the native Staghorn Sumac plant for either berries-fruit or seed. It was a bitter cold morning as when I got on the road it was -10 F. Winds were calm so it was not to bad out there. Images were taken on January 26, 2019.

Dark-eyed Junco eating a Staghorn Sumac seed.

Dark-eyed Junco picking a Staghorn Sumac seed off the plant.

Just being a Dark-eyed Junco

Grasshopper Sparrow at the Magic Hedge in Milwaukee Wisconsin on May 3, 2017

I hit the lakefront in Milwaukee early this morning and the bird of the day I guess was this one. It actually had 4 different names today, coming from the “Magic Hedge”, who knows I guess, but it is a Grasshopper Sparrow. It gave very brief views for about 10 seconds and that was it. Other birders were right next to me but just did not see it. Images were taken on May 3, 2017.

Back view…

Eastern Towhee at Lake Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on April 13, 2017

Birding along the lakefront in Milwaukee this morning one of the highlights was a FOY Eastern Towhee, male at Lake Park. It was a pretty gloomy day and cool. Other birds to note, a lot of Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets and still a few Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. Images were taken on April 13, 2017.

___rIMG_4981_cr

Eastern Towhee

Binomial name: Pipilo erythrophthalmus

Category: emberizids

Size: 8.5” long, 10.5” wing span

Weight: 1.4 oz

___rIMG_4994_cr

__r_rIMG_4985_cr

___rIMG_5043_cr

___rIMG_5028_cr

___rIMG_5013_cr

White-throated Sparrow at Lake Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on April 10, 2017

Doing some birding at Lake Park in Milwaukee this morning I came across a stunning White-throated Sparrow. The first of the year for me. I never saw this bright of a yellow on a White-throated Sparrow before. It hung around scratching for food while I was there. Images were taken on April 10, 2017

________rIMG_3199_cr

White-throated Sparrow

Binomial name: Zonotrichia albicollis

Category: Emberizids

Size: 6.75” long, 9” wing span

Weight: 0.91 Oz.

Note: Sexes are unknown by colors

________rIMG_3080_cr

Scratching for food

Scratching for food, something they do…

_________rIMG_3080_cr

Head on

Head on

________rIMG_3124_cr

________rIMG_3072_cr

________rIMG_3100_cr

Dark-eyed Junco, Oregon Junco at Grant Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on February 8, 2017

Making a stop today at Grant Park in Milwaukee County a Dark-eyed Junco, Oregon Junco made a brief appearance at the feeder there. The junco was present for about 30 seconds and then it left. I hung around for about 20 minutes and it did not reappear. The feeder was empty but there were birds around finding things to eat. I photographed a Dark-eyed Junco, Oregon Junco at the same location on December 15, 2016. This image was taken on February 8, 2017.

Dark-eyed Junco, Oregon Junco

Dark-eyed Junco, Oregon Junco

December 15, 2016 image below

Dark-eyed Junco, Oregon

Dark-eyed Junco, Oregon Junco photographed on December 15, 2016

Dark-eyed Junco, Oregon

Binomial name: Junco hyemalis

Category: Emberizids

Size: 6.25” long, 9.25” wing span

Weight:  .67 oz

Dark-eyed Junco, Oregon Junco at Grant Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on December 15, 2016

On a routine bird run along the lakefront in Milwaukee this morning the highlight was the Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon Junco) at Grant Park in Milwaukee County. It was mixed in with about a dozen Common Dark-eyed Juncos. The Oregon is a subspecies of the Dark-eyed Junco who’s normal range is from central Iowa to the west coast. It was cool to see this bird as I have never seen one before. Not considered a countable bird as it is a subspecies. Images were taken on December 15, 2016.

Dark-eyed Junco, Oregon

Dark-eyed Junco, Oregon

Dark-eyed Junco, Oregon

Binomial name: Junco hyemalis

Category: Emberizids

Size: 6.25” long, 9.25” wing span

Weight:  .67 oz

____rrrcimg_5074_cr

Dark-eyed Junco, Oregon, on a rock

____rccimg_4971_cr

__________________rccimg_4987_cr

____rccccccimg_4866_cr

Birding at the Milwaukee Community Garden on November 23, 2015

One of my birding stops today was the Milwaukee Community Garden off of Rawson Ave in Milwaukee County. I hung out there for a while and enjoyed all the different species of birds picking and eating weed seeds off the dead stalks. The roads were open and I made a few passes though there. No sign of the Northern Shrike but a few Red-tailed Hawks were in the area. All these birds work way to hard! Images were taken on November 23, 2015.

Northern Cardinal, male

Northern Cardinal, male

Northern Cardinal, female

Northern Cardinal, female

White-crowned Sparrow, male

White-crowned Sparrow, male eating weed seeds

 

White-crowned Sparrow, male

White-crowned Sparrow, adult eating weed seeds

White-crowned Sparrow, male getting that seed!

White-crowned Sparrow, adult getting that seed!

White-crowned Sparrow, male eating weed seeds

White-crowned Sparrow, adult eating weed seeds

White-crowned Sparrow, female

White-crowned Sparrow, juvenile eating weed seeds

White-crowned Sparrow, female eating weed seeds

White-crowned Sparrow, juvenile

White-crowned Sparrow, female

White-crowned Sparrow, juvenile

American Tree Sparrow picking and eating weed seeds

American Tree Sparrow picking and eating weed seeds

American Tree Sparrow picking and eating weed seeds

American Tree Sparrow picking and eating weed seeds

American Tree Sparrow

American Tree Sparrow

House Finch, male

House Finch, male

American Goldfinch picking and eating seeds

American Goldfinch picking and eating seeds

American Goldfinch picking and eating seeds

American Goldfinch picking and eating seeds

American Goldfinch picking and eating seeds

American Goldfinch picking and eating seeds

American Goldfinch picking and eating seeds

American Goldfinch picking and eating seeds

American Goldfinch picking and eating seeds

American Goldfinch picking and eating seeds

American Goldfinch at takeoff

American Goldfinch at takeoff

American Tree Sparrow

American Tree Sparrow eating weed seeds

American Tree Sparrow eating weed seeds

American Tree Sparrow eating weed seeds

Savannah Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow on alert!

White-crowned Sparrow adult on alert!

Fox Sparrow in Marquette County Wisconsin on November 21, 2015

I spent a short time at a local birding spot in Marquette County Wisconsin and it was very slow. One occasion a Fox Sparrow showed and gave nice views. Red-headed Woodpeckers are still hanging around but I did not pursue them. 5 American Bald Eagles have been hanging around too in the area seeing them regularly. Lots of Blue Jays, they are still grabbing acorns of the oak trees and storing them. At least 2 adults and 4 juveniles, it will be interesting if they will be here in spring. A light snow last night, winter is here. Images were taken on November 21, 2015.

Fox Sparrow made a stop. Typically I bird I usually see on the ground feeding.

Fox Sparrow, typically a bird I usually see on the ground feeding.

Fox Sparrow

Binomial name: Passerella iliaca

Category: Emberizids

Size: 7” long, 10.5” wing span

Weight: 1.1 oz

Note: I have heard it so many times, “Fox Sparrow is my favorite sparrow”

Fox Sparrow, back view

Fox Sparrow, back view

Fox Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Junco

Blue Jay

Blue Jay

Blue Jay looking back

Blue Jay looking back

Blue Jay

Blue Jay

Blue Jay

Blue Jay in the late afternoon sun

White-crowned Sparrows on the Milwaukee Lakefront on September 30, 2015

Birding on the Milwaukee lakefront this morning was quiet. The only birds to note were some White-crowned Sparrows, adults and 1st winter birds and I also saw a few small flocks of Dark-eyed Juncos. The White-crowned Sparrows were feeding near a tall grass area and jumped out once in awhile for some weed seeds. I came across a few other birders and results were the same, a slow morning. With the strong northeast winds bringing in the colder temps I thought there might have been a couple of surprise birds this morning. Images of the White-crowned Sparrows were taken on September 30, 2015.

_rrsIMG_4292

White-crowned Sparrow, adult eating weed seeds

White-crowned Sparrow

Binomial name: Zonotrichia leucophrys

Category: Emberizids

Size: 7” long, 9.5” wing span

Weight: 1 oz

White-crowned Sparrow, 1st winter

White-crowned Sparrow, 1st winter

White-crowned Sparrow, adult eating weed seeds

White-crowned Sparrow, adult eating weed seeds

White-crowned Sparrow, 1st winter

White-crowned Sparrow, 1st winter

White-crowned Sparrow, 1st winter, being alert and standing tall something alarmed it

White-crowned Sparrow, 1st winter eating weed seeds but
became being alert after it heard something

White-crowned Sparrow, adult eating weed seeds

White-crowned Sparrow, adult eating weed seeds

White-crowned Sparrow, 1st winter, eating weed seeds

White-crowned Sparrow, 1st winter eating weed seeds

White-crowned Sparrow, adult eating weed seeds

White-crowned Sparrow, adult eating weed seeds

White-crowned Sparrow, 1st winter, eating weed seeds

White-crowned Sparrow, 1st winter, eating weed seeds

White-crowned Sparrow, adult

White-crowned Sparrow, adult

White-throated Sparrow

I recently did some birding at the Fox River Parkway South in Waukesha Wisconsin. There where numerous White-throated Sparrows present with nice views. A flock of approximately 6-12 birds at different times moved around the woods while I was there. The sparrows scratched the ground finding seeds to eat that have worked their way under leaves and surface ground cover over the winter. Photographs taken on April 29, 2014.

White-throated Sparrow - adult white and black striped variation

White-throated Sparrow – adult white and black striped variation.

White-throated Sparrow

Binomial name: Zonotrichia albicollis

Category: Sparrows

Size: 6.75” long, 9” wing span

Weight: 0.91 Oz.

Habitat: Woods, forest edges, pond edges and tree lines in brushy under growth. Breeding range is the far northern areas of the Midwest states in the US and the lower two-thirds of Canada. The winter range for this species is Southern US from New Mexico through northern IN to the east coast of the US.

Diet: Mainly seeds from grasses and weeds, sometimes fruits seeds.

Nesting: The nest is constructed by the female usually and on the ground, it is cup shaped. The location is usually under a bush, shrub or dead vegetation but concealed by leaves. Materials used are mosses, sticks, pine needles, and grasses. 1-6 eggs pale green and spotted are laid and incubated from 10-14 days, 1-2 broods.

Cool Facts: There are two forms of this sparrow. One is the white and black striped head, the other tan and black striped head regardless of sex. Young birds and females are just duller in color. They both variations have the white colored throat. A frequent visitor to the backyard feeder in migration to some parts of the US.

White-throated Sparrow - adult white and black striped variation.

White-throated Sparrow – adult white and black striped variation with seed in mouth.

White-throated Sparrow - adult tan and black striped variation.

White-throated Sparrow – adult tan and black striped variation.

White-throated Sparrow - adult white and black striped variation - back view.

White-throated Sparrow – adult white and black striped variation – back view.

White-throated Sparrow - adult white and black striped variation.

White-throated Sparrow – adult white and black striped variation with seed in mouth.

White-throated Sparrow - adult tan and black striped variation.

White-throated Sparrow – adult tan and black striped variation.

White-throated Sparrow - adult white and black striped variation, scratching for seeds.

White-throated Sparrow – adult white and black striped variation, scratching for seeds.

White-throated Sparrow - adult white and black striped variation.

White-throated Sparrow – adult white and black striped variation.

Birdwatching in Marquette County

While birdwatching in Marquette County, I was able to photograph Eastern Bluebirds, a Red-headed Woodpecker, and others on October 26, 2013. Images were taken near a small water source where birds were coming and going, bathing, preening and drinking.

_01rIMG_9420_cr

Eastern Bluebird

 

_02rIMG_9523_cr

Eastern Bluebird

_03rIMG_9357_cr

Red-headed Woodpecker, Juvenile transitioning to the red head

_04rIMG_9276_cr

Blue Jay

_05rIMG_9303_cr

Blue Jay

_06rIMG_9390_cr

Dark-eyed Junco

_07rIMG_9453_cr

Blue Jay

_08rIMG_9329_cr

Black-capped Chickadee

_09rIMG_9491_cr

Eastern Bluebird

_010rIMG_9474_cr

Eastern Bluebird

To see the gallery of images, please click here.

Harris’s Sparrow

Harris’s Sparrow photographed at Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha, WI on September 25th and 26th, 2013.

Harris's Sparrow

Harris’s Sparrow

Binomial name: Zonotrichia querula

Category: Emberizids

Description: Brown face and back, both overlaid with black markings especially crown, face, and throat.  White on wings and underparts.  Pink bills and legs.

Size: 6.7″ – 7.9″ long, 11” wingspan

Weight: 0.92 oz. – 1.7 oz.

Habitat: Coniferous forests and tundras adjacent to bogs

Diet: Seeds, especially grass seeds, fruits, pine needles, and flower parts.  Scratches the ground to forage for food.

Nesting: Nests are built on the ground under the protection of a coniferous bush or in a bed of grasses.  Both parents construct the nest in mid-June using materials such as sticks, grasses, moss, and lichens.   The female will lay 3-5 eggs at a time, laying eggs at the end of June to the middle of July.  The young remain in the nest for about 3 weeks before becoming completely independent of their parents.

Notes: “Harris’s Sparrow” is named after ornithologist Edward Harris.  This bird will live nearly 12 years in the wild if not caught by a predator.  And, Harris’s Sparrow only breeds in Canada, the only bird to do so.

Harris's Sparrow

Harris's Sparrow

Please click here to see the gallery of images.