A Purple Sandpiper was currently being seen at Wind Point in Racine so I thought I would try for it. The Purple Sandpiper, considered a rare bird in Wisconsin as it’s normal range is the east coast of the US, but are seen here in Wisconsin just once in awhile … Continue reading
I have put together a collection of some of the Wisconsin birding moments from the year 2025. The collection includes vagrants, special visitors, or just the beautiful birds that nest here or migrate through the state of Wisconsin. All images were taken in 2025. It was a very exciting year … Continue reading
One of my birding stops today along the Milwaukee lakefront provided nice views of a male Dark-eyed Junco, Oregon type at Grant Park. The most common variety in the western North America is called the “Oregon” Junco. In the midwest we typically see the Common Dark-eyed Junco. This location was … Continue reading
One of my birding stops today gave nice views of a Long-eared Owl, in Wisconsin. It was a cold day with temps around 20 degrees, small amounts of sun at times. Image was taken on December 8, 2025.
One of my birding stops today gave nice views of 15 Sandhill Cranes present along the Bark River in Delafield Waukesha County. Two Sandhill Crane colts were in the flock. With the cold temperatures like today at 19 degrees they don’t do much other than get a few things to … Continue reading
While birding I came across an Eastern Screech Owl, red morph high in a tree cavity. It was cold day with sunny skies and a high of 16 degrees by noon, there was some wind up to 10 mph. Image was taken on December 4, 2025.
A stop today at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee along the lakefront gave nice views of 4 Snow Buntings. They have been reported there. The Snow Buntings continually found seeds to eat. Typical places they always find seeds here at the park are in the short grass areas, along sidewalk … Continue reading
There had been reports of an American Bittern at Humboldt Park in Milwaukee County. This morning I thought I would try for it. As I walked halfway around the pond at the park, there it was out in the open 20 feet off shore. It pretty much did nothing as … Continue reading
One of my birding stops today in the South Kettle Moraine in Waukesha County I found an Eastern Red Cedar tree with Yellow-rumped Warblers eating cedar berries. The Yellow-rumped Warblers put on a great show while I stood there and watched. They came and went along with a couple of … Continue reading
After seeing 3 days of a reported rare bird for Wisconsin, the Black-billed Magpie at the Superior Landfill I thought I would take the chance and try for it. The Black-billed Magpie’s normal range is the Dakota’s, Nebraska and Kansas and west then up into Alaska. The reports on ebird … Continue reading
One of my birding stops today along the Milwaukee lakefront at Bradford Beach on Lake Michigan gave nice views of 8 Sanderlings. They were feeding along the waves coming in and out along the beach shoreline. They move fast on the beach back and forth and pick very small things … Continue reading
A beautiful American Golden-Plover was giving great views this morning at Pebble Beach which is just north of McKinley Beach. The bird was feeding on the algae mats along the waters edge finding things to eat. They walk, stop, must listen, then make a quick poke in the algae getting … Continue reading
There was one report of a Red-necked Phalarope at McKinley Marina 2 days ago 8/30. Yesterday on a Lakefront birding run I thought I would check it out, I did not find the bird and thought it moved on. Mid-morning today 9/1 I heard the Phalarope was seen again by … Continue reading
Shorebirds have been migrating south and my stop this morning at McKinley Beach gave nice looks at 3 species of them. Ruddy Turnstones, Semipalmated Plovers and Semipalmated Sandpipers were present. I also saw a Sanderling but by the time I got over to it walkers unknowingly flushed it out over … Continue reading
One of my birding stops today was Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee. It is a great place to do a walk in search for birds, you never know what you will come across. The highlight today was a Great Blue Heron walking a big rock shore on the island. It … Continue reading
At 6:00 AM I received a text message that a juvenile Wood Stork was seen at Mud Lake State Wildlife Area in Dodge County yesterday. The normal range for this species is Florida, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. I pretty much jumped in the car and was in the area. … Continue reading
One of my stops on the Milwaukee lakefront was Lakeshore State Park. Nice views of an American White Pelican was the highlight. This bird is considered rare for this date and location, so that makes it even more special. Other times of the year it would be considered normal. It … Continue reading
I saw a report of a rare to the area, Short-billed Gull being seen at Whitefish Dunes State Park on Lake Michigan in Door County on July 23. I made 3 trips up to Door County over the last week to look for this gull and on the 3rd try … Continue reading
I heard a report of a Piping Plover, a molting adult bird in Milwaukee County yesterday. I checked out the location this morning and it was still present. This species is considered endangered in Wisconsin. At one time it was said there were 500 to 800 pairs of Piping Plovers … Continue reading
Today I decided to do some birding along the lakefront in Milwaukee and my first stop was Lakeshore State Park. While doing a walk around there on the island I found a Common Grackle feeding a young. The Common Grackle caught a crayfish, pulled off the claws and fed it … Continue reading
