Category Archives: Bird Categories

Long-eared Owls in Wisconsin on January 31, 2022

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I was in search of Red or White-winged Crossbills this morning and it was a nice surprise to come across a pair of Long-eared Owls. This location is not where other Long-eared Owls have been photographed, reported, or roosting recently in the state. One of the owls was more in the open for photos so a took a couple. The other owl was in some thick pine branches not up for a photo. With the bright sunny day in the dark pines, it was not easy to capture the amazing moment with the Long-eared Owls. These owls were watching me as I quietly left the area. It was a bright sunny day and finally a little warmer temps, high near 32 degrees with light winds. Images were taken on January 31, 2022.

The Long-eared Owl…

Taking a closer look at a distance after finding the owl…

White wash from an owl…

When my eyes first spotted this bird in the tree at about 30 feet…too small for a Great Horned Owl, too big for a Saw-whet Owl…has to be a Long-eared Owl…

This owl totally ignored my presence, and I just ignored it too after a few of shots and left the area…

White-winged Crossbills at Stute Springs in the South Kettle Moraine in Waukesha County January 25, 2022

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I took a ride in the South Kettle Moraine in the afternoon and found some White-winged Crossbills at Stute Springs. There were roughly 20-25 birds very high up feeding on cone seeds and moving around plenty from tree to tree. After a few minutes they circled the area a few times and headed west. The photos are a little fuzzy as the birds were high up and far away. I have stopped here other times this winter and never saw a crossbill, pretty much hit and miss with this species at this location. It was a cold day with a pretty good breeze out of the north and a high temperature of 6 degrees for the day. Sunny skies did give some relief out of the wind. Images were taken on January 25, 2022.

White-winged Crossbill, male

White-winged Crossbill, female

White-winged Crossbill, male

Purple Sandpipers at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on January 17, 2022

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The rare species for the area, the Purple Sandpiper found on January 1, 2022 is still hanging around on the Milwaukee lakefront. Another Purple Sandpiper has also joined it so there are two now for the last week or so. I have not been down to the lakefront for some time and decided to check them out. They both were present at the beach area and gave nice views. The first one I found was feeding along the icy shore and the second I found bathing underneath a  rocky area. It was a cloudy morning but temps has eased some from the last week, today was 23 degrees, low winds, it was pleasant. Images were taken on January 17, 2022.

The Purple Sandpiper, bird #1 finding things to eat along the shore…

The Purple Sandpiper, bird #2 found under some large rocks bathing…

Flew around under the rocks, maybe stretching those wings?

Green-winged Teal on the Fox River in Waukesha Wisconsin on January 9, 2022

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One of my birding stops today gave nice views of a beautiful Green-winged Teal on the Fox River in Waukesha. This male hung around with Mallards and Canada Geese as if it was one of them. I check this place often in winter months as you never know what will show up.  It was a cold day with temps at 14 degrees with plenty of sunshine and a good breeze, we are in January, no surprise. Images were taken on January 9, 2022.

Green-winged Teal, male

A stretch!

Green-winged Teal with a Mallard, female, a big difference in size!

Another stretch…

At takeoff…

Just being a duck…

Common Redpolls at the Fox River in Waukesha Wisconsin on January 3, 2022

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Stopping at the Fox River in Waukesha to check out the ducks I got a nice little surprise. In the Alder Trees that line the river there at a few locations, one tree in particular was loaded with the Common Redpolls. They looked very hungry and ate like it was their last meal eating seeds from the Alder Tree tiny cones. They flew a few times to other trees in the area and even some very large mature trees other than Alders. I have seem them here before back in 2016 so not a total surprise. I looked some for Hoary Redpolls but I did not see them. It was a very cold day with temps around 8 degrees with a little breeze, the sun hardly helped warm the air. Images were taken on January 3, 2022.

Common Redpoll, male, just perched on a stump, was eating some fallen cone seeds…

Common Redpoll eating Alder cone seeds…

A bill with a cone seed…

Getting all those seeds or trying to…

Yummy!

Male…

Purple Sandpiper at McKinley Marina in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on January 1, 2022

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It was a nice surprise to hear of a Purple Sandpiper at McKinley Beach this morning on New Year’s Day. When I arrived at the Milwaukee lakefront it was still present feeding along a little sand area just south of the beach. This bird was found by Jessica H, nice find and thank you for getting the word out for others to see. A cold and cloudy morning with good winds off the lake at about 20 degrees. Image were taken on January 1, 2022.

The Purple Sandpiper finding things to eat…

Long-eared Owl in Wisconsin on December 23, 2021

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One of my birding stops today produced a surprise Long-eared Owl perched 5 feet off the ground. It remained still for about 5 minutes, was not even looking at me, I was very quiet, it must have been eyeing up some food. After about 5 minutes passed, it turned its head and looked at me and I took a few shots. It was a cloudy day with some wind, cold temps around 30 degrees. Images were taken on December 23, 2021.

When I found the Long-eared Owl…it remained looking in that direction for about 5 minutes…

Another shot of when I came upon this owl…

Snowy Owls at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on November 24, 2021

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I made a trip to the Milwaukee Lakefront early in the morning in search of Snowy Owls. Present was a hatch year male Snowy Owl at Lakeshore State Park. Another owl was on a pier dock at Discovery World close to Lakeshore SP. The owl at Lakeshore State Park was flushed when a couple of fishermen unknowingly scared it off coming into the area the owl was. It was a cloudy and windy morning with temps around 38 degrees. It was a cloudy and windy morning with temps around 38 degrees. Images were taken on November 24, 2021.

A hatch year male sits on a rock at Lakeshore State Park…

It takes to the sky when fisherman unknowingly walk into the area…

At the pier…a female

Hooded Merganser in Waukesha County Wisconsin on November 7, 2021

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One of my birding stops today provided excellent views of a male Hooded Merganser in Waukesha County. It swam around with some Mallards, ate and did some preening too. A beautiful bird with partly cloudy skies, light winds and mild temperatures. Images were taken on November 7, 2021.

The Hooded Merganser, male…

Closeup…

The hood up…

 

The hood with a breeze…

Talking to another duck…

Preening…

Alert!

Just up from a dive…

Just a good looking duck!

Red-headed Woodpecker Juvenile in Marquette County Wisconsin on November 6, 2021

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I enjoyed nice looks at this beautiful juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker in Marquette County. Some red is coming in on the head. A gorgeous day with some sun and mild temperatures for this time of year. Images were taken on November 6, 2021.

The juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker with some red starting to come in on the head…

I think opening a seed here…

Opening a seed here too, unless it is trying to stick in into the branch for future food…

Snow Buntings at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on November 3, 2021

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A stop at McKinley Beach this morning gave nice views of Snow Buntings. There were about 15 present and were resting on some of the rocks along the lake or on grassy areas eating seeds. It was a cold morning with temps starting out around 25 degrees but with no wind and sunny skies it was pleasant. Images were taken on November 3, 2021.

The Snow Bunting…

Snow Bunting

Binomial name: Plectrophenax nivalis

Category: Longspurs and Snow Buntings

Size: 6.75” long, 14” wing span

Weight:  1.5 oz

Note: An arctic breeder that winters in the northern US and western Canada

Getting seeds to eat…seed in bill…they really blend in well in their surroundings…

More seeds to eat…

What they eat…

On the rocks….

Beautiful bird…

Black-crowned Night-Herons at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on September 19, 2021

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I got a tip this morning on Black-crowned Night-Herons at Lakeshore State Park and I went to check them out. There were 3 juvenile birds present and they hung out on the rock shores catching food on one occasion that I saw. A few other attempts for food were made but they were missed. It was a beautiful day that warmed up to hot by noon, sunny skies and low winds. Images were taken on September 19, 2021.

The Black-crowned Night-Heron juvenile hunting…

Such a beautiful bird…

Hunting…

Preening…

Waiting for something to come swimming by…

Here’s a catch, a fish…

Moving around on some rocks…

Standing at the shore this one waits for something to come by to eat…

Standing in the water and waiting for something to eat…

Just waiting for something to come by to eat…

 

 

Wood Ducks in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on September 17, 2021

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I had the opportunity to photograph some Wood Ducks, juveniles and did not pass it up. These beautiful ducks gave nice views on a gorgeous sunny day with mild temps. Images were taken on September 17, 2021.

Wood Duck, juvenile male…

Wood Duck, juvenile female…

Wood Duck, juvenile male…

Wood Duck, juvenile male…

Wood Duck, juvenile male…

Wood Duck, juvenile males…

Wood Duck, juvenile male…

Wood Duck, juvenile males…

Black-bellied Plover at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on September 6, 2021

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Walking Lakeshore State Park I observed a Black-bellied Plover at the beach area. This juvenile bird gave nice views. It walked back and forth along the beach area getting things to eat. It was a gorgeous morning with sunny skies and pleasant temperatures. Images were taken on September 6, 2021.

The Black-bellied Plover, juvenile…

Something in the bill to eat…

Down it went…

Close up…

The bird was finding plenty to eat…

More things to eat…

Some preening…

Just another shot…

A stretch…

A back view…

And more to eat…

Another nice treat…

Great Blue Heron hunting and finding things to eat at Greenfield Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on August 24, 2021

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As I walked Greenfield Park this morning I came across a juvenile Great Blue Heron. The heron was walking through a weedy area out about 25 feet from shore. It moved slowly through the weeds catching a few fish and missing a few too. It was a warm morning and only going to get hotter with mostly sunny skies and little wind. Images were taken on August 24, 2021.

Hunting in the weeds listening and waiting for the next chance to catch a fish…

A try and a miss…

A nice catch here…

On its feet, so silent moving through the weeds listening and watching for something to catch and eat….

Such a beautiful bird…

Getting low in the water, it must see something ahead…

Just a nice pose…

Attack mode…

Another nice catch!

Moving into some deeper water here as there must be something ahead…

And another…

Snowy Plover at South Metro in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on July 22, 2021

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I saw the report of a Snowy Plover at South Metro and decided to take a chance to get this life bird on my Wisconsin life list. Jessica H found this bird and got the word out. It was 7:15 PM and they lock the gate at 8:00 pm. I took off, got there and after going down the 121 steps, the security guard told me, turn around sir! He was kicking out a couple of young kids fishing and then me. A girl in the parking lot there told me there was a path along a fence line. I found it and went down the bluff walking through acres of poison ivy, not me friend. After finally getting to the beach I found the bird. #360. I hope the bird hangs around for others to see it. New image taken on July 23, 2021

The Snowy Plover

 

The Snowy Plover walking on the algae near the water…

The Snowy Plover resting. It did this 95% of the time I was there…

Great Blue Heron in Sawyer County Wisconsin on July 2, 2021

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While out birding on some back roads in Sawyer County I came across a Great Blue Heron. It was standing on a log preening when I went by. A beautiful morning out with temps in the upper 50’s to start and sunny skies. Images were taken on July 2, 2021

Great Blue Heron perched on a log…

Those beautiful feathers…

Dagger type bill…