Cassin’s Kingbird in Marathon County Wisconsin on June 6, 2022

The Cassin’s Kingbird, so very rare to the state of Wisconsin, in fact the 1st state record seen on June 6. This birds normal range is southwestern US. At 2:15 AM, Greg and I made the run up to Marathon County with hopes to see the bird on the second day. The bird was seen in the area northeast of the intersection of Huckleberry Road and Chestnut Hill Ln. just east of Colby, WI. After arriving about 5:30 AM, and 2 hours of searching and rain, I spotted the Cassin’s at the same location it was seen yesterday. It must have been perched out of site until found this morning or off somewhere. It gave nice but distant views for well over an hour and we never really lost sight of it as it moved back and forth over the road, telephone wires, high trees etc. Dan B originally found this bird yesterday looking for Dickcissel’s.  A big thank you to him for the find and getting the word out for others to see. Wisconsin life bird #368 for me. A day of rain the whole time we were present and a breeze too. Images were taken on June 6, 2022.

The Cassin’s Kingbird in the rain…

The Cassin’s Kingbird way out in a field on a perch, it stayed here to quite a while…

The scene as it was, birders looking at the Cassin’s Kingbird near the edge of the grass in the field about 150 feet down the road…

Say’s Phoebe at Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on May 2, 2022

While out birding I heard of a report of the rare for this area, a Say’s Phoebe at Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee County. The normal range for this species is western Dakota’s and west. I was only a few minutes so I made the run over there mid morning. After about 15 minutes the bird was found in a small tree east of the pond. It went for a couple of gnats and then flew off. It had not been seen for a while but then it was relocated mid afternoon. A big thank you to Steve L for finding this bird and getting the word out to others. It was a cloudy day with mild temps finally. Images were taken on May 2, 2022.

The Say’s Phoebe perched in a tree in a small field at the cemetery…

Another look…

 

 

Ash-throated Flycatcher at Wind Point in Racine Wisconsin on April 27, 2022

There was a report of a Ash-throated Flycatcher at Wind Point in Racine and I needed this species for my Wisconsin life list. When I arrived at the lighthouse I found other birders and they said I just missed it! They then said it just flew down the hedge along the lake. After some looking I did find it, it was easy to spot as it was bigger than the swallows and warblers in the area. It liked hanging out inside the trees but there was a time when it made a brief appearance higher up in the open and I took a couple of photos. A Wisconsin life bird #365. It was a mostly cloudy day with a breeze and temps around 40 degrees. Images were taken on April 27, 2022.

The Ash-throated Flycatcher

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at Racine Wisconsin on April 27, 2022

It was a fun time photographing this rare bird, a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. Being in Racine, this male is far from its normal range, Nebraska and south. It has been visiting the area of Shoop Park Golf Course beach area there. This bird put on a great show and I found out watching it, appeared it was eating dead insects such as Milkweed Beetle, Lady Bugs, Hornets and Stink Bugs to name a few on the beach. It would typically perch for a awhile in nearby trees and then eat for awhile, then repeat. What a stunning bird!! It was a mostly cloudy day with a light breeze and temps around 40 degrees. Images were taken on April 27, 2022.

The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, male

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher with a possible stink bug…

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at takeoff…

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher perched in a tree resting…

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher taking off…

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher going for an insect…

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher with a Lady Bug…

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher perched pretty…

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher going for another insect…

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher coming in for a landing, spotting another insect…

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher resting…

(Series photo #1) Scissor-tailed Flycatcher coming in for an insect

(Photo#2) Scissor-tailed Flycatcher coming in for an insect

(Photo #3) Scissor-tailed Flycatcher coming in for an insect

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher coming in…

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher coming in…

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher on to another insect…

Alder Flycatcher in the South Kettle Moraine in Waukesha County Wisconsin on June 3, 2020

After 10 years of birding, working on my state life list, I have never had a confirmed Alder Flycatcher. I assumed, like some birds, it would just appear in front me someday birding, that never happened. I chased a few ebird reports this spring locally with no luck. A hard bird for me to get as it is typically confirmed from it’s call, not by looks as other flycatchers look similar. My hearing is not the best for calls. I let Anne M. know of my needed bird as she has excellent hearing. She told me where I could find them, in the South Kettle Moraine near Eagle at the Low Prairie. I went out there and she just happened to be in the area of that location birding. We walked to the location and in a minute, 2 Alder Flycatchers were calling in front us at a distance. I could hear their calls on occasion today “free-beer, free-beer”. Other flycatchers have different calls. These birds can sit perched for 5 to 15 minutes at a time, guarding their territory. I hung around for awhile and took a few distant shots. A big thank you to Anne M. for helping me get this bird #354 on my Wisconsin state life list. It was a pleasant morning , with low winds, mild temps, with heat coming for the day, mostly cloudy to start. Images were taken on June 3, 2020.

Alder Flycatcher

Calling free-beer free-beer…

Great Crested Flycatchers Nest Building in a Screech Owl House in the Yard in Waukesha County Wisconsin on June 8, 2019

A pair of Great Crested Flycatchers have been seen in the yard over the last few days. They are currently working on nest building in a Screech Owl house I put up last fall. I have photographed them with nest building materials in their bills and going into the house. A House Wren is occupying a house 10′ from the Screech Owl house. I hope the excitement continues that they raise some young here in the yard. At this time there are Indigo Buntings, House Wrens, Eastern Bluebirds (2nd time this year), and Chipping Sparrows nesting here and most likely Gray Catbirds, Northern Cardinals and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. Images were taken on June 8, 2019.

Great Crested Flycatcher exciting the Screech Owl house…

Great Crested Flycatcher with nesting material on the Screech Owl house…

Entering the house with nesting material…

Leaving the house…

Bringing in nesting material…

Great Crested Flycatcher in a near by tree with nesting material…

Hammond’s Flycatcher in Iowa County Wisconsin on December 11, 2018

A report of a Hammond’s Flycatcher in Iowa County put me in the chase mode. The bird was reported on Sunday, but I put off the run until today, Tuesday with other things going. This bird is a very rare visitor to the state of Wisconsin being a western US-Canadian bird. Going in the Wisconsin record books as a 1st state record of this species. Mark K joined me for the trip out to Iowa County and we arrived at the reported location about 7:20 am with no other birders around. About 7:40 am the bird flew over us crossing the road and landed in a deciduous tree near the road. We both confirmed at that time that that was the bird we had been waiting for. After a few seconds the bird dropped down at a creek bed and we never really seen where it went. About 10:15 am, the bird reappeared and gave nice looks but far off the road perched in a tree for about 30 seconds, now about 18 other birders were present. It was a very exciting moment if you were there! The bird disappeared again and we left after about 20 minutes. Thanks to Edgar for finding this rare bird and getting the word out for others to try for it. A great time out with other birders and bird #341 on my Wisconsin state life list. It was a chilly morning with temps about 12 degrees, no wind, the sun showed after a couple of hours with all the valleys around. Image was taken on December 11, 2018.

Hammond’s Flycatcher

Binomial name: Empidonax hammondii

Category: Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

Size: 5.5” long,8.75” wing span

Weight: .35 Oz.

Note: A rare visitor to the state of Wisconsin as the normal range for this species is the western US and Canada.

Eastern Kingbirds fledging the nest at Greenfield Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on July 7, 2018

There is a Eastern Kingbird nest many birders have been watching for the last month at Greenfield Park. Today was the day and an amazing day watching the young leave the nest, I just happened to be there. Two adults have been feeding the young right along for the month plus at in the nest. All of the sudden, a fledgling on the top edge of the nest, then out it flew about 2 feet. A minute later up popped up another fledgling in the nest and up on the edge of the nest it went. That bird flew a little farther, about 4 feet from the nest. Adults came around and feed them a few times rotating between birds. At one time and adult bird  landed next to a fledgling and preened. A moment later the fledgling preened too, just like class! It was so fun to watch all this in a few minutes. It was a gorgeous day with perfect temps, 70, full sun, with a light breeze. Images were taken on July 7, 2018.

1st Eastern Kingbird fledgling ready to make the maiden flight from the nest.

Makes the landing a couple feet from the nest with a little struggle with balance at first…

Looking back at the nest where it just came from…

An adult lands at the nest and checks on the 2nd young bird…

1st bird is calling to the adult losing some balance…

The adult says to the young, it is time to leave the nest with the 1st bird behind it…

The 2nd fledgling lands about 4 feet from the nest and the adult quickly lands next to it…

1st fledgling calling for an adult…

The adult comes over and preens in front of the fledgling to show how it is done…

Seconds later, the fledgling preens just like the adult did…

The adult feeds the 1st bird…

Another feeding to the first fledgling…

 

Eastern Phoebe in the South Kettle Moraine in Waukesha County on March 25, 2018

Doing some birding in the South Kettle Moraine today the highlight was a FOY Eastern Phoebe. It was at Paradise Springs off in a distance actively feeding, eating some type of insects above the water, the few that were there. The short time I saw it, it was perched most of the time, I’m sure waiting for some insects to come around. Other bird species to note out that way, a pair of Sandhill Cranes off in a distance, and a couple of Turkey Vultures up high, pretty quiet overall. It was another cold day with steady east winds, the sunshine hardly felt warm. Images were taken on March 25, 2018.

Eastern Phoebe

Eastern Phoebe

Eastern Kingbird eating Sumac berries at Lake Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on May 16, 2017

I came across a pair of Eastern Kingbirds today eating sumac berries at Lake Park in Milwaukee. Some Gray Catbirds enjoyed the berries too along with some American Robins. These few Sumac plants at the park have been a food source for some many bird species this year it is amazing. It looked like to me these plants have plenty of food remaining on them too. Just part of a fun day out birding looking for warblers which there were some all over, but hard to get the list real big on the species you would expect to see this time of year. A cool start to the day but come noon it was hot out with good winds from the south. Mostly sunny skies, high was around 88 degrees. Images were taken on May 16, 2017.

Eastern Kingbird with a sumac berry…

Eastern Kingbird

Binomial name: Tyrannus tyrannus

Category: Tyrant Flycatchers

Size: 8.5” long, 15” wing span

Weight: 1.4 oz

Getting something good here…

Just posing…

Stabilizing after a gust of wind…

Gulp!

Maybe the most common pose we see the Eastern Kingbird in…

 

Great Crested Flycatcher bringing food to the nest hole in Walworth County Wisconsin on June 21, 2016

My day started out meeting up with Anne Moretti and birding at the Beulah Bog in Walworth County. We tried for the White-eyed Vireo and heard it well but just could not get looks at it. I had tried the day before too and heard it numerous times, sometimes very close by but just could not get looks at this bird. It was a great experience birding with Anne as she can just walk down the path and call out all the birds on both sides, it was a first for me experience at that. Her hearing is just incredible along with the knowledge of bird calls. It amazed me! I know other birders do this, and common in the birding world, it was just a great experience. From there I photographed a Great Crested Flycatcher bringing food to the nest hole. For the most part it captured dragonfly species and Mayflies. Once it captured a Admiral Butterfly and perched on a nearby tree limb as it is typical of what it does before it enters the nest hole. The butterfly struggled to get away, still alive, for fear it would lose the butterfly the flycatcher just ate butterfly, pretty cool to see. Some caterpillars were also brought in. The birds tail each time when feeding the young stuck out of the nest hole just a little bit so the young must pretty far down in the nest hole yet. Some Gray Catbirds gave the flycatchers some grief on occasion near the nest hole tree but nothing amounted to anything. Images were taken on June 21, 2016.

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Great Crested Flycatcher with a Prince Baskettail

Great Crested Flycatcher

Binomial name: Myiarchus crinitus

Category: Tyrant Flycatchers

Size: 8.75” long, 13” wing span

Weight: 1.2 oz

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Great Crested Flycatcher with a Prince Baskettail

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Great Crested Flycatcher nest hole

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Great Crested Flycatcher with insect

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An adult feeding young in the nest hole

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Great Crested Flycatcher with a Admiral Butterfly. It ate this butterfly before making it to the nest hole as it appeared it may slip away as it was still alive and it looked like it might get away.

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Great Crested Flycatcher with a Prince Baskettail

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Great Crested Flycatcher with a dragonfly species

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Great Crested Flycatcher going down the branch on the way to the nest hole

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Great Crested Flycatcher going down the branch closer to the nest hole

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Great Crested Flycatcher just before it leaves the nest hole after feeding, looks around, all points clear!

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Great Crested Flycatcher with a dragonfly

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Great Crested Flycatcher with something

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Leaving the nest hole after feeding the young

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Great Crested Flycatcher with something

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Great Crested Flycatcher with insects

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Great Crested Flycatcher with a Mayfly

Great Crested Flycatcher with a Twelve-spotted Skimmer

Great Crested Flycatcher with a Prince Baskettail

Great Crested Flycatcher with a dragonfly

Great Crested Flycatcher with a dragonfly

Great Crested Flycatcher with a drogonfly

Great Crested Flycatcher with a dragonfly

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Admiral Butterfly that does not get away series, not the sharpest images…

 

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Just after catching the Admiral Butterfly the Great Crested Flycatcher perches near the nest hole

The struggle continues as the butterfly tries to get away

The struggle continues as the butterfly tries to get away

And continues...

And continues…

And continues...

And continues…

And continues...

And continues…

And continues...

And continues…

And continues...

And continues…

One the way down...

One the way down…

And...

And…

And...

And…

Gone!!

Gone!!

Say’s Phoebe at Goose Lake Park in Dane County Wisconsin on March 29, 2016

I woke up and decided at that time to try for the Say’s Phoebe that was found yesterday at Goose Lake Park in Dane County. I figured a bird like this would be a one day wonder, but being so rare for Wisconsin, a bird from the western US,  and nothing else going on today, try for it. I was told it is a 5th Wisconsin state record today. Traffic was horrible around Madison but I finally arrived about 8:30 to about a dozen birders that already looked like it was going to be a long day! A few birders had split off and had been doing some looking around  in other areas. It was pretty cool out and I actually went back to my car for my big winter coat. When returning to an area where some birders were grouped up they all took off running, well most of them! I knew at that time things my be getting good, that might have been seen. Michael Gray had just located the bird straight south of the short grass area, along ways off, thanks Michael! After a good run, there the bird was feeding and resting, just like a flycatcher does. It is a very big area and moved around a lot and never really came close to anyone. What an exciting morning getting another life bird and seeing some birders I have not seen for awhile! Thanks to Jim Schwarz for finding this bird and getting the word out for others to see it. I hope it hangs around awhile for others to see. Images were taken on March 29, 2016.

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Say’s Phoebe

Binomial name: Sayornis saya

Category: Tyrant Flycatchers

Size: 7” long, 13” wing span

Weight: 0.74 oz

Cool fact: Western US bird found here in Wisconsin. Normal Range is western Dakota’s south to western Texas and west.

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Hunting!

Hunting!

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Western Kingbird at Warnimont Park in Cudahy Wisconsin on November 3, 2015

I headed to Warnimont Park early this morning in hopes to see the recently reported Western  Kingbird. The bird is a uncommon visitor to the state. I arrived just after sunrise and David F was doing some looking around for the bird. Judith and Rita arrived shortly there after. We all looked the bluff over well and parts of the golf course too. After about 30 minutes I spotted the Western Kingbird coming from the bluff off the east end of the parking lot. It landed on the top of a large deciduous tree just south of the parking lot. From there the bird continually forged on the bluff edge and the golf course. The bird appeared to find many insects to eat with the warm weather. It gave nice views to many birders that came and went in the couple hours I was present. At one point the bird regurgitated some berries which was interesting. The bird mostly hung around the area from the old gun club building to the parking lot on the north end of the golf course. This bird is said to be a different Western Kingbird than the one that most of us saw at the Milwaukee Community Garden in mid October. Thanks to Bill M for finding this uncommon bird for the area getting the word out for others to see. Thanks to Jen too for her great post and to other who gave updates on this bird yesterday. A fun morning out with some great birding friends. Images were taken on November 3, 2015.

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Western Kingbird

Binomial name: Tyrannus verticalis

Category: Tyrant Flycatchers

Size: 8.75” long, 15.5” wing span

Weight: 1.4 Oz

Natural range: The natural breeding range for this species is western Minnesota west almost to the Pacific Ocean, southern Texas north to lower Canada. Winters in Mexico and south.

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Blurry back shot

Blurry back shot

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at the Milwaukee Coast Guard Impoundment on October 25, 2015

I made a run early morning down to the Milwaukee Coast Guard Impoundment with hopes to see the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher that was reported yesterday. This uncommon bird for Wisconsin is a common bird in the state of Kansas and south to southern Texas in summer. A few other birders also showed up as the sun came up. We sort of split up after a couple minutes and moments later James F. had located the bird just north of the large wind turbine on a wire. From there the bird pretty much continually forged and ate insects for the few hours I was there in a loop of a freeway ramp. It mainly remained a distance off, but we all really enjoyed the show it put on every time it went for an insect. At the end, it took flight over some tracks and headed south to who knows. It was said today, this is a male bird by the length of the tail, it is very long. One dog walker asked what bird we were looking at, we showed her on the camera and her remark was, that bird was here last year same time. I could not ID it she said, but it had that big long tail! A fun morning out with some great birders and friends. Not a life bird for me as I got the one in Mequon a couple years back. Thanks to Karen M for finding this bird on a routine check in the area and reporting it for others to see. Images were taken on October 25, 2015.

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Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Binomial name: Tyrannus forficatus

Category: Tyrant Flycatchers

Size: 15” long, 14”-15.5″ wing span

Weight: 1.5 oz

Just after a try for an insect

Just after a try for an insect

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Perched high in a tree

Look at those tail feathers!

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Scissor-tail

Here it was a little agitated as some Dark-eyed Juncos had just enter the tree below the bird

Here it was a little agitated as some Dark-eyed Juncos had just enter the tree below the bird

Early morning sun high in the tree

Early morning sun high in a tree

Early morning sun high in the tree

Early morning sun high in a tree

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Early morning sun high in the tree

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Scissor-tailed Flycatcher still hanging around. Images below taken November 1, 2015 at the Lake Express Ferry in Milwaukee Wisconsin

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With grasshopper

With grasshopper

With grasshopper

With grasshopper

Western Kingbird at the Milwaukee Community Garden on October 14, 2015

Making another drive in Milwaukee with hopes of seeing the rare Western Kingbird today was rewarding. This was my 3rd try for this very rare and elusive vagrant for the state of Wisconsin. For some birders it was their 5th try! The bird first found by Tom W on October 9th has kept birders coming and going at this hot spot in Milwaukee County Wisconsin. As birders came and went this morning a few of us were fortunate to be there at the right time. As a hand full of us stood right after the sharp curve on the gravel road going north and I was standing next to Jym M, he says, there is our bird! It had just landed in a one of the taller deciduous leafless trees looking north. It only hung around for a minute or two, then flew southwest out of sight. What an exciting few minutes it was and a state life bird for me. Thanks to Tom W for the first sighting report and those who have kept updated reports on it few showings there. Bird showed at 10:56 am. Images were taken on October 14, 2015.

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Western Kingbird

Binomial name: Tyrannus verticalis

Category: Tyrant Flycatchers

Size: 8.75” long, 15.5” wing span

Weight: 1.4 Oz

Natural range: The natural breeding range for this species is western Minnesota west almost to the Pacific Ocean, southern Texas north to lower Canada. Winters in Mexico and south.

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