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…
A quick stop this morning on Milwaukee’s lakefront to see if the Piping Plovers were present proved worth it. The Piping Plovers were present and gave nice views for the few minutes I was there. They were at the location where they were found yesterday. The 2 of them moved around on the beach picking up insects, etc to eat. While I was there a gust of wind came up and the birds just toughed it out facing the strong wind with sand in their faces! Exciting birds on a overcast, windy, and cold day! Images were taken on May 2, 2017.
Getting the insect…
With an insect…
Getting the insect…
Then there were two..
Toughing it out in the blowing sand!
With an insect…
With an insect in the blowing sand…
I hit the Lakefront in Milwaukee early this morning to see it the Piping Plovers were still present at Bradford Beach. While photographing them I received a text from Mark K that he had just found a Le Conte’s Sparrow at the Magic Hedge. I was only a couple blocks away and away I went. I found the beautiful Le Conte’s Sparrow after about 10 minutes on the ground sifting through low ground cover getting gnats. The bird remained in about a 50′ section of the hedge while I was there. The bird briefly perched twice giving pretty nice views. The rest of the time it worked the ground cover and leaves for gnats and was hard to see at times. At times the bird would be still and not move for up to 5 minutes. This bird I have struggled with to get on my life list for the last 8 years. Crazy enough, Mark and I were just talking about this bird yesterday as one I needed for my life list! What a stunning bird. It was another overcast day, chilly, and winds from the SE but a very exciting one at that. About all I can say is the images show pretty much of what took place at the Magic Hedge today. Images were taken on May 2, 2017.
Binomial name: Ammodramus leconteii
Category: Emberizids
Size: 5” long, 6.5” wing span
Weight: .46 oz
Going for a gnat…
With a gnat in the beak…
Always looking for gnats…
With a gnat in the beak…
With a gnat in the beak…
I hit Grant Park this morning with hopes to see some shorebirds. There were no shorebirds present but the Bonaparte’s Gull numbers were very impressive way out on the water. Only one time did one land on the beach when I was there. For the most part they were either moving north, sometimes south, and sometimes they would land for resting and feeding. Literally 1,000’s and 1,000’s of them what a treat to see! It would have been nice to have a different lens for this type of photography to get a better picture of the mass of gulls there were as it went as far as I could see north and south on the lake. It was a pleasant morning for a few hours but rain is on it’s way again. Images were taken on May 1, 2017.
One on the beach was it…
Some gulls were flying, some feeding and some resting…
Note the line of gulls on the horizon went on for as far as you could see in both directions
2-Bonaparte’s Gulls, adult in breeding plumage, 1 – 1st winter, correct me if I’m wrong.
On a gloomy morning I decided to head into Milwaukee to check out some of the beaches. My first stop was Lakeshore State Park. Jym M must have had the same idea as we pulled in together. We enjoyed some nice views of 4 American Avocets and 10 Willets. I left and check some other beaches in the area with nothing happening. I headed back to Lakeshore State Park and 2 Marbled Godwits, a Black-bellied Plover had joined in and Willets were up to 20. These birds put on a great show! They moved around being flushed by walkers and joggers but stayed on the island. With the horrible weather of 41 degrees and light rain, some wind, a few birders along with myself enjoyed the great show these birds put on. Images were taken on April 30, 2017.
Marbled Godwit
Binomial name: Limosa fedoa
Category: Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies
Size: 18” long, 30” wing span
Weight: 13 oz
Marbled Godwit
Marbled Godwits
American Avocets, Willets and a Marbled Godwit
Willets incoming with a Marbled Godwit
Willets incoming with a Marbled Godwit
Marbled Godwits along with 3 Willets
Marbled Godwit with a Willet
Marbled Godwit with a Willet
2 Marbled Godwits, 4 American Avocets and 5 Willets…
3 Willets along with a Marbled Godwit
Black-bellied Plover
Marbled Godwit looking for food
Marbled Godwits along with 3 Willets
Marbled Godwit preening
A call…
Across the water they go…
Walk don’t run…
The Willets
Incoming Willet!
After a short flight…
It is just how we all come in…
American Avocets
With a worm…
Birding along the lakefront in Milwaukee this morning the prize birds were the 2 stunning American Avocets. A male and a female were present at the beach area. I was near the park when the report came in that they were there. The birds appeared to be skittish when I arrived with dog walkers and joggers but gave some nice views anyways. They mostly rested while I was present. Been waiting for these to show up and thought we had missed them as they have been reported all over in the last couple of weeks. I did not hang around too long with the cold winds off the lake made it feel like winter. Thanks to John M for finding this bird and Mike W for helping get the word out. Light sun started they morning but gave way to clouds with temps at a cold 41 degrees with winds to 15 mph. I saw continued reports that the birds were still being seen at 1:30 pm. Images were taken on April 29, 2017.
Binomial name: Recurvirostra americana
Category: Stilts and Avocets
Size: 18” long, 31” wing span
Weight: 11 oz
Note: From what birders say, these birds are called one-day-wonders as they usually only hang around for one day when seen in migration.
Note: Both sexes are here. You can distinguish the sex of the American Avocet by the curve on the bill. Greater the curve of these two birds is the female.
Male
Male
Female
Swimming offshore
Something to eat…
Looking for something to eat
Some preening
Open wide…
When I arrived, female on right, male on left. Notice bill curve is greater on right bird making it a female.
One side of the beach to the other with some walkers coming around…
Coming in for a landing…female bird in front
Female, greater curve on bill
Male
Preening
More preening
Close up..
Still shot…
One feeding
Keeping a watch…
As an American Bittern was reported between Oakwood Road and Ryan Road on Pennsylvania Ave. yesterday in Oak Creek. I thought I would give it a try later this morning. The bird was present in a ditch off the road. Even though this bird was a different color than the surroundings it was in, sometimes I saw it, sometimes I did not. It was an amazing situation as it just blended in, did not look like a bird sometimes with the angle I was at. It stood motionless when I saw it in the couple of passes I made, but gave nice looks for a couple photos. There was a lot of traffic on Pennsylvania Ave. and my stop times were very short. After a few minutes a few cars stopped to see what I was up to, and the bird walked into the brush on the side of the road, but it was still visible. I have struggled to get images of this bird over the years as I have not seen them. I did get a flight shot last year of one at Horicon Marsh but that was it. Thanks to Dave M for finding this bird and getting the word out yesterday. It was a cold day with mostly cloudy skies and winds off the lake, it did not feel at all like spring. Images were taken on April 20, 2017.
Binomial name: Botaurus lentiginosus
Category: Bitterns, Herons, and Allies
Size: 28” long, 42” wing span
Weight: 1.5 lb
Cool Fact: Bitterns are stealthy in a way that they typically stand motionless as they wait for prey to approach or stalk prey with barely perceptible motions.
In the brush…
One of my last birding stops of the day was at Greenfield Park in Milwaukee. Not a whole lot going on there but a Pied-billed Grebe gave some nice views. There were a few others present but they stayed farther out in the lagoon. The Pied-billed Grebe was fishing and getting something to eat too on a very gloomy day with temps in the low 50’s. Images were taken on April 19, 2017.
Binomial name: Podilymbus podiceps
Category: Grebes
Size: 13” long, 16” wing span
Weight: 1 lb
Brown Thrasher Sheridan Park
Great Egret, one of 6 on Pennsylvania Ave out in a flooded field
Doing some birding along the lakefront in Milwaukee today, Bruce and I stopped to check out if the Black-crowned Night-Herons were still by the lagoon, as they were yesterday. They were, but only 3 as 4 were seen yesterday. I’m sure the other one is around. One did a little preening but that was about it for action. Beautiful birds always sitting high in the trees. It will be interesting to see how long the hang around. A little nice day than yesterday to get a couple shots off. Images were taken on April 14, 2017.
Binomial name: Nycticorax nycticorax
Category: Bitterns, Herons, and Allies
Size: 25” long, 44” wing span
Weight: 1.9 lb
In flight
Doing a little preening
While birding Lake Park in Milwaukee I came across a couple of Hermit Thrushes eating Sumac seeds off a tree. I photographed the same species eating seeds at the exact location a couple of years ago, interesting. It was a gloomy day with a cold breeze off the lake. Images were taken on April 13, 2017.
Binomial name: Catharus guttatus
Category: Hawks, Kites, Eagles, and Allies
Size: 6.75” long, 11.5” wing span
Weight: 1.1 oz
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.
Binomial name: Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Category: emberizids
Size: 8.5” long, 10.5” wing span
Weight: 1.4 oz
Lake Park in Milwaukee had some Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers today. I probably saw a good half-dozen at the north end of the park. Like usual, if they have some good trees with sap running they return to those trees on and off. Sap looked great today with the warm weather, it was just oozing out. I don’t recall seeing any males, these were females. Last year there were nice numbers too at Lake Park, on April 8th, only two days off from last year. Images were taken on April 10, 2017.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker along with the sap running out of the tree
Binomial name: Sphyrapicus varius
Category: Woodpeckers and Allies
Size: 8.5” long, 16” wing span
Weight: 1.8 oz
Getting that running sap…
Look at all that sap and holes in the tree, the sap is just oozing out…
Working a hole for some sap or future sap
Getting that sap
Getting that sap…
The tongue…
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
Binomial name: Zonotrichia albicollis
Category: Emberizids
Size: 6.75” long, 9” wing span
Weight: 0.91 Oz.
Note: Sexes are unknown by colors
Scratching for food, something they do…
Head on
After doing some birding along the lakefront in Milwaukee I decided to head inland. Few birds were seen along the lake, probably because of the high winds that had started occurring and higher winds were expected for the rest of the day. A first stop at Whitnall Park proved almost bird-less. Greenfield Park held the bird of the day, a stunning male Canvasback. It appeared very tired and rested while I was there except for one short swim in the pond. Images were taken on April 6, 2017.
Reflections of a Canvasback Duck…
Binomial name: Aythya valisineria
Category: Ducks, Geese, and Swans
Size: 21” long, 29” wing span
Weight: 2.7 lb.
Across the pond…
Looks like one tired duck, I didn’t hang around long…
I arrived at Goose Pond in Dane County 6:35 am as daylight was becoming real. As I pulled up behind Aaron H on the shoulder, he was waving his arm to show the Brant was taking flight off the west pond. He had nice views moments earlier. The bird flew over us and landed on the east end of the east pond. It was windy, light mist and gloomy but after a few minutes Aaron relocated the bird and Kyle showed up and we all had distant views. I managed a doc shot below. After about 15 minutes, we could not relocate the bird. I was there yesterday and tried for this bird but failed. It was in the area fields some where for most of the day, but birders reported it came back late yesterday. With that said, I felt be there at sun up today for best luck and it worked. Thanks to Tom E who found this rare bird on Arlene’s photo the other day. Nice to get this life bird on my list!
Binomial name: Branta bernicla
Category: Ducks, Geese, and Swans
Size: 25” long, 42” wing span
Weight: 3.1 lb
Note: Normal ranges for this bird are the east and west coast of the US
Doing some birding on a rainy day I found a Leucistic American Robin in Waukesha. This is not the same bird that was found the other day in Waukesha on March 22. This bird has a lot more white. I found the bird just south of the baseball field at Frame Park in the city of Waukesha. The exact location was a empty city lot just south of the baseball field on Whiterock Ave. It feed for a couple of minutes as I observed it from the street. Amazing to see two Leucistic American Robins in Waukesha over a 4 day period. Another species seen today, FOY was a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at Frame Park during the rain. Images were taken on March 25, 2017.
What is Leucism? Leucism is an uncommon condition in birds. This condition is caused by a genetic mutation which prevents pigments, particularly melanin, from being deposited evenly in the bird’s feathers. Leucistic birds have melanin elsewhere in their bodies which is why they may have dark eyes, legs, and bills. However, their true color will be missing or greatly reduced due to the lack of proper pigmentation.
What is Albinism? Leucism is similar to albinism as in both cases the birds may be completely white. However, albinism is defined as a complete absence of melanin in an animal. Truly albino species will have pink eyes as the only color seen will be caused by blood vessels behind their eyes. They will also have pink bills, legs, and feet. Albinism is extremely rare in birds.
Notes: Leucistic birds are extremely uncommon for a number of reasons. They are not thought to live very long because their white feathers make it difficult for them to hide from predators. If they do stay alive, it is difficult for them to find a mate and successfully pass on their genetic mutation. Additionally, the melanin found in regular birds adds strength to the feathers. Leucistic birds lacking melanin have weaker feathers and thus have a more difficult time flying in severe weather. Last, the reflective properties of white feathers may be problematic for birds who rely on solar energy for heat.
That is not a worm!
That is not a worm!
It was nice to see this spring bird, a Leucistic American Robin in Waukesha today. It was on the south side of Waukesha near soccer fields. There were about 20 American Robins present in the area and all were actively feeding. Interestingly they would hold their head still near the ground and listen for worms, etc moving. Once they heard the sound of food they would poke the ground and usually come up with something. I was out birding and around noon in Waukesha area and I got a text from Dan W that he had the bird currently within views with Janet S. Just as I arrived the bird flew out of the area and we could not relocate the bird. After about 20 minutes I relocated the bird near a building lawn. The bird was first found by Jason S yesterday at the same location. A big thank you to both of them for getting the word out and the text today. I saw the report late yesterday afternoon and thought, I doubt an American Robin would spend the night here and be seen the next day, I was wrong. Images were taken on March 22, 2017.
What is Leucism? Leucism is an uncommon condition in birds. This condition is caused by a genetic mutation which prevents pigments, particularly melanin, from being deposited evenly in the bird’s feathers. Leucistic birds have melanin elsewhere in their bodies which is why they may have dark eyes, legs, and bills. However, their true color will be missing or greatly reduced due to the lack of proper pigmentation.
What is Albinism? Leucism is similar to albinism as in both cases the birds may be completely white. However, albinism is defined as a complete absence of melanin in an animal. Truly albino species will have pink eyes as the only color seen will be caused by blood vessels behind their eyes. They will also have pink bills, legs, and feet. Albinism is extremely rare in birds.
Notes: Leucistic birds are extremely uncommon for a number of reasons. They are not thought to live very long because their white feathers make it difficult for them to hide from predators. If they do stay alive, it is difficult for them to find a mate and successfully pass on their genetic mutation. Additionally, the melanin found in regular birds adds strength to the feathers. Leucistic birds lacking melanin have weaker feathers and thus have a more difficult time flying in severe weather. Last, the reflective properties of white feathers may be problematic for birds who rely on solar energy for heat.
Listening for movement, a possible worm
The catch, a worm!
Listening for movement, a possible worm
Looks like maybe a miss?
Another view…
Backview…
Listening for movement, a possible worm
Listening for movement, a possible worm…
One of my last stops birding along the lakefront in Milwaukee today I spotted at Horned Grebe. This adult bird in non-breeding plumage did more resting than diving for food early afternoon while I was there. The rest of the lakefront was pretty quiet. Lakeshore State Park had about 100 winter ducks still hanging around. Images were taken on March 21, 2017.
Binomial name: Podiceps auritus
Category: Grebes
Size: 14” long, 18” wing span
Weight: 1 lb.
Preening…
Resting but always watching…
On the move…
While out birding, I captured a Great Horned Owl with an owlet at a distance. The owlet is pretty good size sitting along side an adult. Image taken in southeastern Wisconsin on March 19, 2017.
A quick walk through Lakeshore State Park provided a couple nice views of the few ducks present there. They were Red-breasted Mergansers. Most ducks have moved north with spring around the corner but there are always a few that linger. A full sun day with temps finally above freezing, low winds made for a nice morning for a stroll through the park. Images were taken on March 16, 2017.
Red-breasted Merganser, female just after preening on the shore
Binomial name: Mergus serrator
Category: Ducks, Geese, and Swans
Size: 23” long, 30” wing span
Weight: 2.3 lb
Red-breasted Merganser, male just cruising on by…
