Birding Lake Park this morning in Milwaukee the highlight was a Black-capped Chickadee eating Staghorn Sumac seeds at a group of plants. An American Robin also made a brief appearance for some seeds but did not hang around. What a great native plant as this species provides food for so many bird species in the spring of the year. It was a bright sunny day but the northeast steady wind off the lake made for a cold almost spring day. Images were taken on March 19, 2018.
Doing a little birding at Greenfield Park around noon I came across an American Robin working on a worm. It pulled it out of the ground just before I arrived but then I watch it stab the worm numerous times killing it. The story ends as it ate the worm whole. A cool spring like day with plenty of sunshine with temps in the lower 30’s. Images were taken on March 12, 2018.
Tossing the worm around checking if it was still alive
Looks like another stab to the worm…
Looking the worm over….
Getting the worm straightened for eating….
Getting a grip on the worm…
The start of eating the worm. Bumps in the worm are the places the bird stabbed the worm killing it…
Going down pretty good it looks like…
And down the worm goes…
Nice to see this Eastern Screech Owl in Milwaukee County. The owl came up from in the hole and gave nice views but never opened its eyes while I was there. Just looking cozy up in a natural cavity. It was a beautiful morning out with plenty of sunshine and mild temps. Images were taken on March 10, 2018.
A little birding along the lakefront in Milwaukee this morning provided nice views of a Snow Goose juvenile at Lakeshore State Park. The Snow Goose hung out with about 20-25 Canada Geese. They all grazed on the short turf grass while I was there. Eventually the flock thinned out as groups of 3-4 left the area for one reason or another, that is what they do. A flock of about 8 with the Snow Goose in it were the last ones to leave and that was it. There was very little interaction with all the geese, they just grazed. That was it for birds to note around that area. Not much action in the images, but that is just how it was. It was a nice sunny day but the north wind kept it feeling like winter. Images were taken on March 9, 2018.
The Snow Goose, juvenile with ice in the bill…
Getting some ice…
Grazing…
More grazing…
Getting some ice…
Snow Goose grazing with a Canada Goose…
Taking a look around with grass in the bill…
Closeup
The walk…
On alert!
Grazing away…
Grazing…
Doing some birding along the lakefront in Milwaukee this morning I came across my FOY Killdeer. Always nice to see these as it seems like winter is behind us. Usually I hear the distinct call from this species before I seeing it, today I saw the bird first. This bird stayed in one small area and did some calling which is typical. A beautiful morning out with temps starting at about 32F, mostly sunny skies with low winds. Images were taken on March 4, 2018.
Binomial name: Charadrius vociferus
Category: Lapwings and Plovers
Size: 10.5” long, 24” wing span
Weight: 3.3 oz
Calling
The closeup…
I made a run up to Port Washington in Ozaukee County early this morning in hopes to see the Laughing Gull that was reported yesterday. Upon arriving at 7:00 am, I could see the adult Laughing Gull after making about 10 steps away from the car. Wow, what a stunning gull! This gull is rare here as it is a East Coast bird that. The gull was located at the rough beach-sandy shore on the north end of the marina. The bird pretty much ate most of the time I observed it, on and off during a 3 hour stay, I traveled to Coal Dock Park for awhile and then returned. Ring-billed Gulls gave it a hard time on and off with a little chasing. The harbor was full of gulls everywhere you looked. Hopefully more rare birds will be found at this location as it has been really great most of the winter. Birders I have not seen for awhile showed for this gull, Daryl T, Tom W, Ted K and John M. We all had a fun time enjoying the great show the gull put on and talking bird stories too. A big thank you to Barry Baumann for finding this bird yesterday and getting the word out for others to see it. This was not a life bird as I saw one at Coal Dock Park back in June of 2014. It was a beautiful morning with mild temps, low winds, and mostly sunny skies. Images were taken on February 28, 2018.
Laughing Gull, wet head just after some bathing…
Binomial name: Larus Atricilla
Category: Gulls,Terns, and Skimmers
Size: 16.5” long, 40” wing span
Weight: 11 Oz
Cool Fact: Normal range for this gull is the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast of the United States.
Laughing Gull, incoming to the beach area…
Laughing Gull, incoming to the beach area…
Laughing Gull, incoming to the beach area…
Laughing Gull, incoming to the beach area…
Laughing Gull, incoming to the beach area…
Laughing Gull, incoming to the beach area…
Laughing Gull, went from fish to fish eating inside parts of the fish…
Laughing Gull, went from fish to fish eating inside parts of the fish…
Laughing Gull, went from fish to fish eating inside parts of the fish…
Laughing Gull, went from fish to fish eating inside parts of the fish…
Laughing Gull, went from fish to fish eating inside parts of the fish…
Laughing Gull, wet head, series of the gull bathing…
Bathing…
Bathing…
Bathing…
Bathing…
Bathing…
Preening…
Typically setting today for the Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gulls everywhere!
Ring-billed Gull charging the Laughing Gull some, this happened frequently…
More feeding…this was on going…
Feeding…
Ring-billed Gull with a fish…
Ring-billed Gull with a fish…
Ring-billed Gull with a fish…..it was all fish eaters there today!
Birding along the Fox River in downtown Waukesha today produced a pair of adult Hooded Mergansers, males. They briefly gave nice views when hanging out with Mallards, but then at times moved short distances up and down the river by themselves. There were still ~50 Common Goldeneye on the river along with some Lesser Scaup, pair of Bufflehead and 100+ Mallards. A short birding run along the lakefront in Milwaukee from Bayview to Bradford Beach produced fewer birds than previous days, nothing to note other than previously reported birds. It seemed like the many large rafts of winter ducks had moved north. I saw many large flocks of ducks flying north over the water yesterday. It was a beautiful spring like day with temps well into the 40’s, sunny skies, low winds. Images were taken on February 27, 2018.
Hooded Merganser, male with crest up…
The pair of male Hooded Mergansers…
Hooded Merganser…
Hooded Merganser some displaying…
Hooded Merganser more displaying…
Hooded Merganser, male with crest down…
Hooded Merganser just floating along…
Hooded Merganser with the wind blowing from behind…
Cruising along…
Hooded Merganser with the crest partially down…
Hooded Merganser male, such a beautiful duck!
A stop at Bender Park in Milwaukee County this morning gave nice views of a adult female Long-tailed Duck. Considered a diving duck, this duck dove for food most of the time while I was present. I think a cool looking duck anytime of the year. Other stops I made along the lake were very quiet except I did see large flocks of winter ducks moving north far out in the water. Another note, later in the day in Waukesha County I saw very many large flocks of Sandhill Cranes flying north. It was a mild day with temps in the 40’s, low winds and plenty of sunshine. Images were taken on February 26, 2018.
The Long-tailed Duck just up from a dive…
Binomial name: Clangula hyemalis
Category: Ducks, Geese, and Swans
Size: 16.5” long, 28” wing span
Weight: 1.6 lb
Cool Fact: This duck was once known as Oldsquaw, the female Long-tailed Duck does not get the long tail, just the adult male.
Just up from a dive, a weed still hanging on its bill…
While birding some of the Milwaukee lakefront this morning I came across 6 White-winged Scoters near the South Shore Yacht Club. Males and females we present. They were diving and feeding on mussels along with other ducks. No other ducks to note other than a Hooded Merganser and Redhead, both males that were out a ways seen with my bins. It was very windy with temps about 32 which made for a chilly morning, the sun showed but did not seem to help with the high winds. Images were taken on February 25, 2018.
White-winged Scoter, male, with orange on bill tip…
White-winged Scoter, male Stretching
White-winged Scoter, male stretching
White-winged Scoter, female with a mussel
White-winged Scoter, female
White-winged Scoter, male
Common Goldeneye, male was in the area…
Greater Scaup, male
Greater Scaup, female
My first birding stop of the year at Greenfield Park provided nice views of a flock of about 20 American Robins. They were spread out in a short grass area eating fallen berries. I would assume these are migrants and the first of the year for me of birds moving northward. Other than that a pretty quiet day birding for Milwaukee County at places I stopped at. Images were taken on February 22, 2018.
American Robin getting a grip on the berry before eating…
Getting the berry off the ground…
Berry going down…
Berry in the bill…
Looking for the next berry…
The berry before eating…
Gulp!
More food…
Just looking around…
While birding today in Milwaukee County I discovered a Barred Owl resting on a limb. Nice to see them just relaxing in their space and blending in with the surroundings. I took a few shots and left the area. A beautiful February day with full sun and mild temps in the 30’s with low winds. Images were taken on February 18, 2018.
A very rare visitor to the state, the Clark’s Nutcracker has been visiting a feeder in Oneida County. The normal range for the Clark’s Nutcracker is central MT, CO, WY, NM and west. To my understanding it has been around for well over 6-7 weeks now. The bird has been feeding off of fat on a deer carcass at a residence. Arriving at about 10:00 am, the bird made its first appearance about 10:35. That appearance was near the top of a deciduous tree about 30 feet up. After a couple minutes it dropped down to the carcass and continually feed on suet from in and about the carcass. Feeding was for about 2-3 minutes. After that it left the area. To my knowledge, the last know time this species was reported in the state of Wisconsin was about 45 years ago. A very big thank you goes out to homeowners for allowing visitors in to see this bird, and they were such wonderful hosts. Another big thank you goes to those who made this all happen with the communication with the homeowners to let visitors in the see the bird. It was a very exciting day getting this life bird on my Wisconsin life list. A great time it was! Images were taken on February 17, 2018.
Binomial name: Nucifraga columbiana
Category: Jays and Crows
Size: 12” long, 24” wing span
Weight: 4.6 oz
Cool facts: A bird that usually lives in places remote from human contact, near treeline on windy peaks. Surprisingly when around people they seem fearless. Their main diet is pine seeds, some fresh or otherwise stored. They also enjoy nuts, berries, insects, snails, voles, ground squirrels, chipmunks, toads, eggs and young of other birds, carrion.
Clark’s Nutcracker
Doing some birding today in Milwaukee County I came across a Eastern Screech Owl, gray phase. It was resting in a natural captivity. After a couple minutes I looked again, and it was gone, probably went back in the hole. Almost felt like spring with plenty of sunshine and the warm temps around 40, next to no wind, very pleasant. Images were taken on February 14, 2018.
This Red Phase Eastern Screech Owl was sleeping away in Milwaukee County this morning when found. In the pines, it blended right in. Images were taken on February 12, 2018
Eastern Screech Owl, red phase
A shot from a little farther back while it slept…
While birding a remote area in Waukesha County I came across a Belted Kingfisher. The bird flew up and down the river with my presence there fishing at a few locations. Another species present I have not seen for awhile was a Great Blue Heron. It was fishing from a log across a creek and out of my lens reach for a decent image. A cold day out but a few birds were seen so it was a good day birding. Images were taken on February 8, 2018.
Belted Kingfisher fishing…
I came upon a Long-eared Owl today while birding in Milwaukee County. It gave nice views from a distance. It appeared the owl had just eaten something as there was blood on the bottom of its face. I viewed the owl for a minute or so and then left the area. Image was taken on February 6, 2018.
Long-eared Owl
I decided to make a run up to the UW Arboretum in Madison Wisconsin. My target bird was the Townsend’s Solitaire. It was present shortly after I arrived, but only gave brief views before disappearing. A couple hours later it was back and doing some feeding in conifers and once feeding on the ground. I was told the Townsend’s Solitaire was first seen there back on December 12, 2017. Wow, with all the food there I can see why it has not moved on. Usually there are a couple of Townsend’s Solitaires found at Devil’s Lake State Park every year. I think it has been awhile since one has been reported here. Another bird to note for the day but was not present, was a Northern Saw-whet Owl that was seen yesterday. Numerous birders showed up for that prize bird while I was there but it could not be found in the time I was there. It was a nice day out birding with some sun, mild temps and low winds. It was nice too to see some birders I have not seen for some time and exchange some birding notes with them. Images were taken on January 31, 2018
Townsend’s Solitaire perched pretty…
Binomial name: Myadestes townsendi
Category: Thrushes
Size: 8.5” long, 14.5” wingspan
Weight: 1.2 Oz.
Townsend’s Soliataire on the ground going for some conifer berries that fell…
Looking around …
Berry in the bill…
Berry going down…
Berry gone!
The last few weeks I looked extensively for the elusive Northern Saw-whet Owl. Recently while out birding, I was checking out some more trees. I was excited to find a fresh pellet on the ground, then a short distance away, a cute Northern Saw-whet Owl was staring at me. I have never seen a Northern Saw-whet Owl before, captive or wild so this was a real treat and a life bird too. Not moving much, I put my camera up, took a few shots of this beautiful owl. I would tell anyone who asks, how do you find a Northern Saw-whet Owl? Look in the pine trees around you. You just might be surprised to find one like I was and be rewarded too with a photo. A mostly cloudy day, temps in the mid 40’s, with steady winds.
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Binomial name: Aegolius acadicus
Category: Typical Owls
Size: 8” long, 17” wing span
Weight: 2.8 oz
Cool facts: Smallest owl in North America with a cat like face that is highly nocturnal and seldom seen.
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
The found pellet…
I was birding along the lakefront this morning and I came across some Red Crossbills feeding on some cone seeds on some spruce trees. I saw 2 males and 2 females. I only saw 4 of these birds and they moved around to a couple of different clumps of spruce trees while I was there. It started to drizzle so I left, and the Red Crossbills were still present. That was the birding highlight for the day. A cloudy day with fog and very light drizzle. The temps were mild, that felt great for a change. Images were taken on January 21, 2018.
Red Crossbill, male eating cone seeds on a spruce tree…
Binomial name: Loxia curvirostra
Category: Fringilline and Cardueline Finches and Allies
Size: 6.25” long, 11” wing span
Weight: 1.3 oz
Red Crossbill, male eating cone seeds on a spruce tree…
Red Crossbill, male eating cone seeds on a spruce tree…
Red Crossbill, male, seed in the bill! Eating cone seeds on a spruce tree…
Red Crossbill, male, seed in the bill, perched…
Red Crossbills, male (red), 2 females (yellow-green)
Red Crossbill, female
Red Crossbill, female on the ground
Red Crossbill, female
Red Crossbill, female
I went out to Johnson Creek, just north of the Kohl’s store out lots to check out a few gulls. Lots of gulls present, could have been ~300. Two gulls I could ID were the Glaucous Gull and a Lesser Black-blacked Gull. The Glaucous Gull, what I think is a 1st cycle, I only saw for a short time. It had a piece of what looked like meat from the landfill across the highway. A couple other Herring Gulls were close by wanting a piece of that meat. After some interaction, the Glaucous Gull took to the sky with the meat and that was the last I saw of it. The Lesser Black-backed Gull just sat or stood at a distance, stayed by it self. It was a bright sunny day with temps getting near 30 degrees, it felt good to see a warm up coming. Fun to watch a little gull action for a change. Images were taken on January 18, 2018.
Glaucous Gull, 1st cycle with a piece of meat in the snow in front of it with Herring Gulls around…
Glaucous Gull checking out the meat…
Glaucous Gull taking a look around…
Glaucous Gull, going to get out of here with this prize…
Glaucous Gull
Glaucous Gull
Glaucous Gull
Glaucous Gull
Glaucous Gull
Glaucous Gull
Glaucous Gull
Glaucous Gull, going to the sky, the last I saw of this bird …
Lesser Black-backed Gull, adult
Lesser Black-backed Gull, adult
Lesser Black-backed Gull, adult
Lesser Black-backed Gull, adult
