Bird Categories Archives - Page 24 of 41 - Window to Wildlife

Barrow’s Goldeneye at North Point Park in Sheboygan Wisconsin on March 15, 2017

I made the run up to North Point Park in Sheboygan this morning with hopes to see the male Barrow’s Goldeneye. I was not disappointed. The Barrow’s Goldeneye rode the large waves coming in like the other ducks present. It dove often for food and sometimes it was hard to relocate with the large waves. This is not a life bird as I photographed one at the exact location back on January 7, 2011. As I have searched high and low through rafts of Common Goldeneye on the Milwaukee lakefront year after year, to see one again is a special treat. From Sheboygan I stopped at Port Washington for a couple of minutes and got a distant shot of 4- Red-throated Loons just east of the harbor entrance feeding on occasion. Thanks to Dan B for finding this uncommon bird for the area and for getting the word out for others to see it. It was about 20 degrees with full sun when I arrived at 9:00 am with steady winds off the lake. It was a bitter cold viewing period. Images were taken on March 15, 2017.

Common Goldeneye, males on both sides with the Barrow’s Goldeneye, male in the middle, also the brown duck being a Common Goldeneye, female

Barrow’s Goldeneye

Binomial name: Bucephala islanddica

Category: Duck, Geese, and Swans

Size: 18” long, 28” wing span

Weight: 2.1 lb.

Range: The normal winter range for this duck species is the east and west coasts of the US and Canada. The breeding range in general, is inland along with west coast of Canada well into Alaska south into Wyoming.

Barrow’s Goldeneye, male on the right

Barrow’s Goldeneye, male on the right

Barrow’s Goldeneye, male on the right, Bufflehead male to the left

Barrow’s Goldeneye, male in the middle with a Common Goldeneye, female on the right, Bufflehead males behind, Bufflehead female way back

Barrow’s Goldeneye with some displaying action

Barrow’s Goldeneye, male on the right with a Common Goldeneye, female following, Bufflehead female on the left

Barrow’s Goldeneye, male in the middle with a Bufflehead, male in front

Barrow’s Goldeneye in the middle

Barrow’s Goldeneye on the right with many Common Goldeneye, females around on the left

Barrow’s Goldeneye, male, just being there on the right

3- Red-throated Loons, non breeding plumage

4- Red-throated Loons, nonbreeding plumage, distant shot at Port Washington

Barred and Long-eared Owls in the falling snow in Wisconsin on March 13, 2017

By admin | March 14, 2017 - 3:50 pm |July 29, 2017 Bird Categories, Typical Owls

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With a day of falling snow, it was be a great day to check out a few owls. I checked out a few spots with a little luck. The Barred Owl was hunkered down when found, it never moved. The Long-eared Owls sat tight as well. With the snow falling on and off during the day, it made for a winter wonderland atmosphere out in the woods. Images were taken on March 13, 2017

The Barred Owl blends right in, how exciting!

Barred Owl nest hole…

Long-eard Owl with snow…

The Long-eared Owl is hidden pretty well….

Killdeer in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on March 10, 2017

By admin | March 10, 2017 - 6:31 pm |March 10, 2017 Bird Categories, Lapwings and Plovers

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I came across some Killdeer today drinking water out of a half frozen puddle in Milwaukee County. Temperatures remained below freezing all day but the Killdeer still found some open water. Watching them in a short grass field they also appeared to find food today, a good thing! A cold and windy day today with some sun, the high for the day was 26 degrees. Images were taken on March 10, 2017.

White-winged Scoter at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on March 10, 2017

By admin | March 10, 2017 - 3:05 pm |March 10, 2017 Bird Categories, Ducks, Geese, and Swans

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A brief birding stop this morning at Lakeshore State Park provided nice views of a White-winged Scoter. The female duck was hanging out with Greater Scaup and feeding on mussels in the lagoon. I took a few shots from a distance. As usual with hundreds of duck eyes watching you, they tend to stay away from the shore when you are around. It was a nice way to start the day out birding. Very cold out this morning with full sun but the wind made it feel like January. Images were taken on March 10, 2017.

White-winged Scoter, female with a mussel in the mouth

White-winged Scoter

Binomial name: Melanitta fusca

Category: Ducks, Geese, and Swans

Size: 21” long, 34” wing span

Weight: 3.7 lb

A stretch!

With a mussel

Just cruising along

Red-shouldered Hawk in Marquette County Wisconsin on March 5, 2017

By admin | March 5, 2017 - 5:54 pm |March 5, 2017 Bird Categories, Hawks, Kites, Eagles, and Allies

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While driving on a back road in Marquette County with my son this morning we spotted a stunning Red-shouldered Hawk sitting on a branch in a wooded parcel about 50 feet off the road. I pulled over and took a couple shots. After about 30 seconds it flew about 50 feet down the road but remained in the woods. The colors on this bird when the wings went up and it flew were incredible! It landed in a heavily branched tree and we left the area. By far the closest I have ever been to this species, my lucky day! Images were taken on March 5, 2017.

Red-shouldered Hawk

Binomial name: Buteo lineatus

Category: Hawks, Kites, Eagles, and Allies

Size: 17” long, 40” wing span

Weight: 1.4 lb

Cool facts: These hawks of the forests hunt prey from mice to frogs and snakes often near rivers and swamps. Considered a secretive bird for this area.

Red-shouldered Hawk

Greater White-fronted Goose at Veterans Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on February 27, 2017

By admin | February 27, 2017 - 6:47 pm |February 27, 2017 Bird Categories, Ducks, Geese, and Swans

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Birding along the lakefront in Milwaukee this morning I came across the Greater White-fronted Goose that was reported yesterday in with a flock of Canada Geese. It would be nice to photograph this beautiful goose in the water but you have to take what you can get. It seemed very comfortable grazing with about 30 Canada Geese near the lagoon. It did a small amount of resting and preening while I watched. It was a clear sky this morning with temps around 30, the wind off the lake made it feel like January. Images were taken on February 27, 2017.

Greater White-fronted Goose

Binomial name: Anser albifrons

Category: Ducks, Geese, and Swans

Size: 28” long, 53” wing span

Weight: 4.8 lb

Range: We typically see more of these geese west of Lake Michigan as their migration route north is mainly more west of Wisconsin, Texas through the dakota’s to northern Canada and Alaska. Always a treat to see one on the lakefront in Milwaukee.

With a Canada Goose

Grazing

Preening

Taking a break

Grazing with some Canada Geese

The foot

Sandhill Cranes in the snow in the South Kettle Moraine in Waukesha County Wisconsin on February 25, 2017

By admin | February 26, 2017 - 3:38 pm |February 28, 2017 Bird Categories, Cranes

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While birding in the South Kettle Moraine in Waukesha County the highlight was a pair of Sandhill Cranes in the snow. They looked cold as temperatures were around 20 degrees. I noticed too a good part of the time I observed them they stood on 1 leg. Maybe they don’t particularly care for standing in the snow. Some preening was done but very little. Before I left the area one stuck it’s head under the wing and rested, but left an eye open. A cloudy day with a few flurries on and off with a steady breeze from the northwest bringing in that cold air. Images were taken on February 25, 2017.

The pair…the painted ones…

One resting with the eye open…

A few snowflakes…

Cleaning the snow out of the toes..

Preening

Barred Owls in Wisconsin on February 23, 2017

By admin | February 23, 2017 - 5:59 pm |February 28, 2017 Bird Categories, Typical Owls

Barred Owl

Binomial name: Strix varia

Category: Typical Owls

Size: 21” long, 42” wing span

Weight: 1.6 lb

Sandhill Cranes painting themselves in the South Kettle Moraine in Waukesha County Wisconsin on February 22, 2017

By admin | February 22, 2017 - 7:20 pm |February 24, 2017 Bird Categories, Cranes

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I saw a first today in the Southern Kettle Moraine in Waukesha County. Sandhill Cranes painting themselves by preening mud into their feathers. They are known to do this to change their colors to blend in more with their surroundings. It was said by a friend of mine that iron oxide in the mud is a form of dye, they also said they turn gray again after they molt before migrating in the fall, makes perfect sense. Totally amazing to watch so I had to share some of this excitement with others. Images were taken on February 22, 2017.

The pair, preening and painting themselves with mud to change their colors

Getting the mud……look at the paint

Painting and preening

Getting the mud

Painting and preening

Painting and preening….when doing their backs and even in other places, their large bill is rolling back and forth, in and out…at a pretty good speed

Painting and preening

Painting and preening away…

Painting and preening

Getting more mud…

The pair

Look at the paint!

Painting and preening away…

Look at that paint job!

Killdeer in the South Kettle Moraine in Waukesha County Wisconsin on February 22, 2017

By admin | February 22, 2017 - 5:14 pm |February 22, 2017 Bird Categories, Lapwings and Plovers

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Doing some birding in Waukesha County today I came across 3 Killdeer. They appeared to be finding something to eat in the short grasses. They also did some calling and that is what got my attention to start with. Their visit was short lived after one spent a couple minutes at some water, they left the area and I did not see them around after that. Must be just be moving on through. Images were taken on February 22, 2017.

On the move!

Killdeer

Binomial name: Charadrius vociferus

Category: Lapwings and Plovers

Size: 10.5” long, 24” wing span

Weight: 3.3 oz

Sandhill Cranes in the South Kettle Moraine in Waukesha County on February 19, 2017

By admin | February 19, 2017 - 9:01 pm |February 19, 2017 Bird Categories, Cranes

Sandhill Crane

Binomial name: Grus canadensid

Category: Cranes

Size: 46” long, 77” wing span

Weight: 10.6 lb

Slaty-backed Gull at Northridge Lakes in Milwaukee Wisconsin on February 13, 2017

By admin | February 13, 2017 - 3:24 pm |February 14, 2017 Bird Categories, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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I had been birding the lakefront in Milwaukee when I got a call from Mike W, thanks Mike. He stated Tom W had found a Slaty-backed Gull at Northridge Lakes. With a quick ride over there, and some birders having it in their scopes it put a spike in what looked like might be a quiet day birding. The bird stayed in one spot the whole time I was there of about 30 minutes. It stood and rested while I was there along with the preening. It raised its wings once and I capture a couple of shots of what is known as the ‘string of pearls’, spots on the outer primaries. Other birds to note, it was said that there were 2 Glaucous Gulls, 1-adult, 1-immature and 4 Kumlien’s, 3-adults, 1-juvenile, I did not see all of them. A big thank you to Tom W for finding this nice bird and getting the word out for others to see. A mild day with temps around 40 with full sun, light breeze made for a pleasant morning out. Images were taken on February 13, 2017.

Slaty-backed Gull, with the wing up you can see the ‘string of pearls’ on the primaries

Slaty-backed Gull

Binomial name: Larus schistisagus

Category: Gulls, Tern. and Skimmers

Size: 25” long, 58” wing span

Weight: 3.0 lb

Note: An Asian gull that is considered a rare breeder on the west coast of Alaska and is a very rare visitor to North America.

Standing in the middle

The way it was…

Going down to rest

Resting

Doing a stretch

Just another shot

Red-breasted Merganser at South Shore Yacht Club in Milwaukee Wisconsin on February 12, 2017

By admin | February 12, 2017 - 3:56 pm |February 12, 2017 Bird Categories, Ducks, Geese, and Swans

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It was quiet on the lakefront in Milwaukee this morning. Only thing I could come up with for a few shots was a female Red-breasted Merganser at South Shore Yacht Club. It did extensive preening and then went on to relax. It hung out with about 50 Mallards that were also just taking a break with the high winds. Other birds to note, the Ross’s Goose was still hanging around Veteran’s Park and Hooded Merganser, male was off in a distance at the yacht club. Temps were low 40’s with sun but had wind gusts from 35-40 mph so it was just not a pleasant day out there. A warm up is on the way, maybe some new birds will be found along with that change. Images were taken on February 12, 2017.

Red-breasted Merganser, female

Red-breasted Merganser

Binomial name: Mergus serrator

Category: Ducks, Geese, and Swans

Size: 23” long, 30” wing span

Weight: 2.3 lb

Preening

Shaking off!

Into the water…

Preening

Resting

They are always watching what is going on around them, weather it is another duck or just you!

Usually on the lookout

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

By admin | February 8, 2017 - 4:42 pm |February 8, 2017 Bird Categories, Emberizids

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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

December 15, 2016 image below

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

Glaucous Gulls at Johnson Creek in Jefferson County Wisconsin on February 3, 2017

By admin | February 3, 2017 - 6:44 pm |February 3, 2017 Bird Categories, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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I have not been out to Johnson Creek in Jefferson County lately so I gave it a try mid morning. There were a lot of gulls over the dump but only a couple hundred loafed at the Kohl’s outlot south of I94. It was nice to see 2 Glaucous Gulls in the small group there. There was 1- 1st cycle and 1- adult present. They took flight a few times as there must have been something in the area that spooked them. A very cold day with some wind but the sun made it feel not too bad. Images were taken on February 3, 2017.

Glaucous Gull, adult

Glaucous Gull

Binomial name: Larus hyperboreus

Category: Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Size: 27” long, 60” wing span

Weight: 3.1 lb

Habitat: This large gulls breeding grounds are in the northern arctic. It spends its winters farther north than most gulls on coasts, lakes, urban areas, dumps and agricultural fields. Mostly breeds along shorelines of the seacoast, rivers and lakes, also refuse dumps. These gulls are usually not found inland.

Diet: It captures prey such as plovers, small ducks, ptarmigans, auks, birds, small mammals and invertebrates. It also scavenges dead fish, carrion, garbage and dead animal matter.

Nesting: The nest is a shallow bowl constructed of twigs, grasses, sedges, moss and sometimes feathers. The nest is located on cliff edges, grass slopes above cliffs, islands or ponds on the tundra. 3 eggs are usually laid brown in color with dark brown spots.

Glaucous Gull, 1st cycle

Glaucous Gull, 1st cycle in the middle, it just landed

Glaucous Gull, 1st cycle loafing

Glaucous Gull, adult

Glaucous Gull, adult loafing

Glaucous Gull, adult

Glaucous Gull, 1st cycle

Ross’s Goose at Bay View Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on January 29, 2017

By admin | January 29, 2017 - 3:43 pm |February 3, 2017 Bird Categories, Ducks, Geese, and Swans

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I spent some time today trying to catch up with the Ross’s Goose that made a quick stop yesterday as reported at South Shore Yacht Club in Milwaukee. I found it early afternoon hanging out with some Canada Geese at Bay View Park on the lakefront. This is a grass area and it would have been nice to get it in the water, but you have to take what you can get I guess. It was a cloudy day with a good breeze from the west, cold temps around 25 degrees with an occasional light snow flurry. Images were taken on January 29th and on the 31st, 2017.

Ross’s Goose

Binomial name: Chen rossii

Category: Ducks, Geese, and Swans

Size: 23” long, 45” wing span

Weight: 2.7 lb

Range: An exciting visitor that is usually spotted a couple times a year in the state. The breeding range for this species is northern Canada, and migrates to parts of southwest US and Mexico.

Grazing

Grazing with the Canada Geese

Grazing with the Canada Geese

With a Canada Goose in the background

Ross’s Goose with a few flurries

Preening

A quick rest

Grazing

A scratch

Ross’s Goose with a Canada Goose

Just looking

Grazing together

A little fluffed up

At you

One foot up

The back view

Harlequin Duck at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on January 24, 2017

By admin | January 24, 2017 - 3:43 pm |January 29, 2017 Bird Categories, Ducks, Geese, and Swans

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The last few days I have hit the lakefront in Milwaukee with hopes to see the Harlequin Duck that was reported a few days ago. Today and getting into the afternoon finishing up a lap at Lakeshore State Park I spotted the 1st year male Harlequin Duck east of the island out a ways. It was with about 6 Common Goldeneyes. In a few seconds the group of ducks flushed for some reason and they flew north out of sight. I walked to the point at the Sailing Center and came up empty. On the walk back to the Summerfest grounds I relocated the duck out from Discovery World. It was again with a small group of Common Goldeneyes and once again they all flew for some reason but this time to the south. The lake was very calm and I wonder if any movement on shore made them more skittish? I was lucky to get a few shots off before it left. I looked south at all the ducks to the lighthouse and no Harlequin, from there it was ice to the south for awhile. Thanks to Jym M for finding this duck near the Sailing Center a few days ago and getting the word out. A cloudy day with mild temps, a breeze from the northwest made for not a bad day out birding. Images were taken on January 24, 2017.

Harlequin Duck

Binomial name: Histrionicus histrionicus

Category: Ducks, Geese, and Swans

Size: 16.5” long, 26” wing span

Weight: 1.3 lb

Normal Range: Normal range for this species is about Yellowstone Park WY, west of there to the coast, north of Yellowstone far up into Canada and then west to the Pacific coast. Some of their range is also the eastern Canadian coast of the Atlantic Ocean.

1st sighting of the Harlequin Duck east of the island at Lakeshore State Park today

Hooded Merganser at the Fox River in Waukesha Wisconsin on January 22, 2017

By admin | January 22, 2017 - 6:51 pm |February 7, 2017 Bird Categories, Ducks, Geese, and Swans

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A stop at the Fox River in Waukesha late morning today gave nice views of a Hooded Merganser, male. It hung around with a large flock of Mallards at times. Once it came up on the shore as someone had tossed out some corn, it appeared to eat a piece. It stood there as the Mallards ate the corn, like it did not know what it was suppose to do there. One time on the water I saw it eat a crayfish. For the most part it felt right at home with the Mallards. Not much else was on the river where I was other than a few Canada Geese. What a beautiful duck! It was a very gloomy day, with the mild temps it did not feel too bad for January. Images were taken from January 22, – February 6, 2017

Hooded Merganser, male

Hooded Merganser

Binomial name: Lophodytes cucullatus

Category: Duck, Geese, and Swans

Size: 18” long, 24” wing span

Weight: 1.4 lb

Hood up

Hood up

Hood down

With corn

Hood down before a dive

The dive

Preening

Hood up

Hood down

At you

Crayfish snack!

Preening

Hood is up!

On the ice

Best friends! The Hooded Merganser follows the Mallard, female all day. The little Hooded is always at her side..:)

Best friends! The Hooded Merganser follows the Mallard, female around all day, he is always at her side..:)

Hood is down!

Hood is up, just a walk on shore following around the female Mallard

Stretching

Hood is down!

A quick drink!

Sandhill Cranes in Waukesha County Wisconsin on January 19, 2017

By admin | January 19, 2017 - 4:21 pm |January 19, 2017 Bird Categories, Cranes

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On my way home from doing some birding in Milwaukee County it was a big surprise to see 2 Sandhill Cranes. They were foraging on a hilltop far off the roadway in old hay field on the south end of Waukesha, I stopped for a couple of distant shots. There were a pair of them. Considered rare birds for this time of year at this location. It was a day of fog, never did see the sun, on a few occasions it got brighter. The mild temps of near 40 felt great as we are only in January. The mild temps Images were taken on January 19, 2017.