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Window to Wildlife features the photography of Jim Edlhuber. A lifelong native of Wisconsin, Jim has been photographing wildlife for 20 years. He considers himself an avid photographer and is always trying to capture nature and wildlife through his lens. He is in several photography clubs and has won numerous awards for his work. In recent years, Jim has focused mostly on birding photography and finds it to be the most challenging.

American Woodcock at Greenfield Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on March 17, 2026

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While driving through Greenfield Park something caught my eye under a large willow type tree. Getting out the bins it was a treat to see an American Woodcock. It was probing the area around where it was, it appeared to be getting things to eat.  As I did some other birding in the park and returned it had moved more out into the sun where I took a couple of photos and left the area. After a bit I glanced back to where it was and it was gone. It was a cold day with temps around 22 degrees and the full sun and a breeze. Images were taken on March 17, 2026.

The American Woodcock…

The American Woodcock feeding at a distance…

Red-headed Woodpecker and more in Marquette County Wisconsin on March 14, 2026

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It was nice to see a Red-headed Woodpecker in Marquette County in the early morning sun. Other common birds were in the area giving nice looks. It was a day of some sun and clouds with temps in the mid 30’s with a winter storm coming in the forecast. Images were taken March 14, 2026.

Red-headed Woodpecker…

White-breasted Nuthatch

Hairy Woodpecker

Blue Jay

Red-headed Woodpecker

Dark-eyed Junco

Mourning Dove

Northern Saw-whet Owl in southern Wisconsin on March 10, 2026

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Stopping at many birding locations today, the bird of the day was a Northern Saw-whet Owl. What actually caught my eye at this location was a Black-capped Chickadee fluttering around on the outside area of a pine tree. That can be a tip of a Northern Saw-whet Owls presence. I walked over to the tree and looked up, I was dumbfounded, like always when you see one of these owls. The owl was just looking at me sitting still as if to avoid notice which is what they do. It was a narrow opening in the branches to see the owl. Not sure what it is when I find one of these that amazes me so much, is it the tiny size, the cute face, just the fact of finding one? I took a shot of this beautiful bird and left. These owls look cute with their catlike face, but they are fierce fighters getting food by night, highly nocturnal. Being March already, I was thinking I would not see one of these owls in winter 2026, I lucked out. It was a partly cloudy day with mild temps around 45 degrees.

Sandhill Cranes in Pewaukee in Waukesha County Wisconsin on February 22, 2026

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Birding this morning in Waukesha County I found a pair of Sandhill Cranes feeding in corn stubble along a county road. The pair of cranes appeared to be finding things to eat, flipping over, thrashing around in the old corn stalks and debris in the field. These are some early arrivals for spring, a few have been reported flying north and in fields recently. The rest are on their way yet moving north from the south. I just stayed at a distance and watched them in action. It was a cold morning with temps around 23 degrees and high wind gusts to 20-30 mph, the sun was out on and off. Images were taken on February 22, 2026.

A Sandhill Crane stretching a wing…

Finding things to eat thrashing around in the corn stubble…

Barred Owl in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on February 19, 2026

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Today’s highlight while out birding was coming across a Barred Owl perched in a tree in Milwaukee County. There was only one in the area as I looked around so a possibility is the female is in a nest hole nearby. It was a pleasant day with temps around 5o degrees with full sun and low winds. Image was taken on February 19, 2026.

The Barred Owl…

Canada Jays and Black-backed Woodpecker in Forest County Wisconsin on February 17, 2026

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Some rare species being seen in Forest County Wisconsin again gave me the idea to go and check things out up there. This location is along along Pine River Road. We arrived at sun up and 3 Canada Jays put on a great show giving great views. We only heard the Black-backed Woodpecker off in a distance and a recording was captured. Obviously I will have to try again for this awesome rare bird that has been seen only a few times in the last 5 years if that. Spence and Paul K came along for the ride and enjoyment of locating these species. It was a very cold morning starting at at 17 degrees but mid morning was warming up into the 40’s. Just a gorgeous day up there in the beautiful north woods. The Black-backed Woodpecker is Wisconsin life bird # 389. Images were taken on February 17, 2026.

The Canada Jay…

Arriving at Pine River Road early morning about 6:30 am…

Great Horned Owl on nest in Waukesha County Wisconsin on February 13, 2026

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Looking for owls this time of year I came across this Great Horned Owl on a nest. It is early in the season for nesting Great Horned Owls so we have a ways to go until we see owlets. I took a photo from far away and left the area. It was a warmer day with temps around 50 degrees around noon. Behind us a cold month with highs only in the mid 20’s for the most part. Image was taken on February 13, 2026.

Great Blue Heron at Wehr Nature Center in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on February 12, 2026

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A stop at Wehr Nature Center this cold morning of 24 degrees gave nice looks at a Great Blue Heron. The heron was sitting along the lake shore on ice catching some sun. This heron has been at Wehr most of the winter never migrating south like most of them do. Obviously finding things to eat along the creek there and other places too. The forecast is for warmer weather coming so that is a plus for this bird. It was a cold morning with temps around 20 degrees to start. Image was taken on February 12, 2026.

Rock Lake Icehenge in Lake Mills Wisconsin on February 6, 2026

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The “Icehenge” on Rock Lake has returned in 2026. This location in Lake Mills Wisconsin. The Icehenge, what an awesome piece of art and put together well by a group of local artists and strong craftsmen. This awesome piece of ICE art has been on and off over the last few years subject to weather conditions. The ice for the Icehenge was actually cut near the structure, dragged over to the site and the upper pieces muscled up on top. It was a pleasant day for trying to capture the beauty of this winter time monument. It was a fun photo op for a few minutes on a mild February day with temps starting at 20F going to a pleasant 34 degrees. Thanks Paula for the text. Images were taken on February 6, 2026.

Snowy Owl in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on January 30, 2026

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This morning one of my birding stops was going to see if the Snowy Owl was still present in Milwaukee County. It was and it has been hanging around at this location since at least January 11. Driving though I noticed a couple cars pulled over. I pulled over too and not too far off the road was the Snowy Owl. It appeared it had something on the ground by its talons. After a couple of minutes it flew into another area close by. It was in the process of eating a large vole it looked like. I never got out of my vehicle for any of these photos, just sitting in the drivers seat. It flew off and perched on a few light posts and it was a great show to watch. It was another cold morning with temps around 5 degrees with a light breeze with mixed clouds and sun. Images were taken on January 30, 2026.

Here is the morning snack… a vole…

Eastern Screech Owl, red morph in Waukesha County Wisconsin on January 29, 2026

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It was a beautiful day for Eastern Screech Owls to be sitting out in the sun. Driving some of the roads in Waukesha County and looking up produced a stunning red morph perched pretty. It was up in a pine trees catching some of those sun rays for warmth on this bitter cold day with temps of 10 degrees. Image was taken on January 29, 2026.

Eastern Screech Owl, red morph in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on January 29, 2026

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It was a bright sunny morning to be out birding in Milwaukee County. I felt it was the perfect day for Eastern Screech Owls to be sitting out in the sun. Driving the roads in the county I came across a beautiful red morph perched in a pine tree. I took a photo of it as it sat perched in the sun. It was a very cold day with bright sun, low winds with temps around 10 degrees. Image was taken on January 29, 2026.

Eastern Screech Owl in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on January 27, 2026

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It was a nice surprise to see an Eastern Screech Owl sitting in a spruce tree today while out birding. It was a very cold morning with temps around 5 degrees with mostly cloudy skies and some good wind too. Image was taken on January 27, 2026.

Just trying to catch a little sun for warmth on this cold January morning…

Snowy Owl in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on January 20, 2026

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The Snowy Owl has continued at the Milwaukee County location giving nice views. I have not been there for a few days and thought with some fresh snow on the ground I would check things out. It moved around a couple of times but ended up where it started from. All and all, fun to watch this owl but it was a very morning starting out at zero degrees with good winds out of the southwest warming up to about 15 degrees, and about 1″ of snow on the ground. Images were taken on January 20, 2026.

The beautiful Snowy Owl…

I think it was on to a vole or something as it was alert looking west but came up empty…

Cleaning the talons I would assume…

Snowy Owl in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on January 13, 2026

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A beautiful Snowy Owl gave stunning views today in Milwaukee County. This young female sat and took it easy most of the time I was present other than a few times it took to the sky and went to a new location. It was a chilly day with a lot of wind at times, seemed a lot colder than the mid 40’s with sunny skies. Images were taken on January 13, 2026.

In flight at times…

Resting peacefully…

Doing some cleaning…

A very nice interview with article on Fox6 Milwaukee 1/15/2026

Eastern Screech Owl in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on January 4, 2026

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One of my birding stops today produced nice looks of a Eastern Screech Owl in a natural nest cavity in Milwaukee County. It is that time of the year where owls are seen sitting in the hole of a natural cavity enjoying some sun on a cold day. It was a cold day with temps around 18 degrees, some sun at times. Images were taken on January 4, 2026

The Eastern Screech Owl soaking up some sun…

Purple Sandpiper at Wind Point in Racine County Wisconsin on January 2, 2026

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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 late fall Nov-Dec. The bird was present and gave nice looks. It was not very active, it appeared to be finding things to eat when I arrive where the water meets the ice. After awhile the bird was less active and noticed it was carrying a piece of ice on it’s bottom. Hopefully that ice will come off and this bird can do what it has to in the days ahead. Thanks to the finder of this bird and getting the word out for others to see. It was a bright sunny morning with temps around 15 degrees, once a while the wind kicked in. Images were taken on January 2, 2026.

The Purple Sandpiper with nice looks…

At waters edge when I arrived…

Resting at times…

Just another look…