I have wanted for a long time to do some northwoods birding and today it happened. John D. Ryan S, Bill G and I headed for Vilas County in the north in the early morning hours. The highlight of the day were Pine Grosbeaks and Bohemian Waxwings near the downtown area off of 4th Street in Eagle River in a church parking lot. Both species feed in a berry tree at the same time. Both species also bathed in puddles in the parking lot. Both species put on a spectacular show for ~10-15 minutes before flying off. We worked hard for Gray Jays and Boreal Chickadees with no luck. The Pine Grosbeaks were the 300th Wisconsin state life bird for me, and what stunning birds they were! It was a cloudy gloomy day with temps in the higher 30’s most of the day. Light rain started late afternoon as we headed home. Images were taken on February 20, 2016.
Pine Grosbeak, male
Pine Grosbeak
Binomial name: Pinicola enucleator
Category: Fringilline and Cardueline Finches and Allies
Size: 9” long, 14.5” wing span
Weight: 2 oz
Pine Grosbeak, male
Pine Grosbeak, female
Pine Grosbeak, immature male
Pine Grosbeak, immature male
Pine Grosbeak, immature male (l), Pine Grosbeak, female adult (r)
Pine Grosbeak, male
Pine Grosbeak, male
Pine Grosbeak, male
Pine Grosbeak, male
Bohemian Waxwing
Bohemian Waxwings, bathing
Bohemian Waxwings
Bohemian Waxwings
Pine Grosbeak, female
Pine Grosbeak, female
Pine Grosbeak, male
Pine Grosbeak, male
Pine Grosbeak, male
Pine Grosbeak, male eating what I think are seeds from a pine cone that have blown down, snowed on, and as the snow melts the seeds are exposed and eaten by the birds
Pine Grosbeak, female eating a pine cone seed
Bohemian Waxwing
Bohemian Waxwing
Pine Grosbeak, female
