A Snowy Owl gave nice looks hanging out in a deciduous tree this morning. I’ve seen them in trees before but it is not common. The first Snowy Owl of the year for me. It was a cold morning with temps around 24 degrees and good winds out of the north at times making it bitter. Images were taken in Milwaukee County on January 11, 2026.
While birding I came across an Eastern Screech Owl, red morph in a tree cavity. It was watching me at a distance. It was cold day with a few clouds and a high of 34 degrees by noon, there was some wind up to 10 mph. Image was taken on January 8, 2026.
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…
One of my birding stops today gave nice views of a Long-eared Owls, in Wisconsin. I grabbed a couple of photos of one as most were hidden in the trees. There where 6 present. It was a cold day with temps around 18 degrees, some sun at times. Images were taken on January 4, 2026
The Long-eared Owl…
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…
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 with the birds and also birding with some old birding friends and meeting some new ones, too. One of the highlights of the year for me came early with finding 6 different Northern Saw-whet Owls on my own at different locations. I found them using no calls or technology of any sort, just looking in areas that fit their habitat. Finishing up this year with adding 4 more birds to my Wisconsin life list now standing at 388. New for 2025, Wood Stork, Black-billed Magpie, Short-billed Gull and the Kelp Gull. There are a lot of owl photos to start but that was just the way it was. Thanks to everyone who helped make this happen. When putting this post together, once again, it amazes me what birds were seen this year here in Wisconsin!
The Long-eared Owl in Wisconsin 1-3-2025
Northern Saw-whet Owl #1 for the day in SE Wisconsin 1-6-2025
Northern Saw-whet Owl #2 for the day in SE Wisconsin 1-6-2025
Eastern Screech Owl in Milwaukee Co 1-9-2025
The Long-eared Owl with snow in Wisconsin 1-10-2025
Northern Saw-whet Owl in SE Wisconsin 1-20-2025
The Eastern Screech Owl perched in the pine in Milwaukee Co 1-24-2025
Eastern Screech Owl in Milwaukee Co 1-26-2025
Eastern Screech Owl, red morph in Milwaukee Co 2-11-2025
Horned Lark Paradise Valley WA in Waukesha Co 2-14-2025
Horned Lark Paradise Valley WA in Waukesha Co 2-14-2025
Northern Saw-whet Owl in SE Wisconsin 2-18-2025
Great Horned Owl sitting on eggs in Waukesha Co 2-11-2025
Great Horned Owl in the nest in Milwaukee Co 3-6-2025
Great Blue Herons in SE Wisconsin 3-7-2025
Sandhill Cranes heading north in Waukesha Co 3-9-2025
Northern Saw-whet Owl #1 for the day in SE Wisconsin 3-11-2025
Northern Saw-whet Owl #2 for the day in SE Wisconsin 3-11-2025
Sandhill Crane in Waukesha Co with some painting on the feathers 3-12-2025
Sandhill Crane in Waukesha Co 3-12-2025
Eastern Bluebird, male in SE Wisconsin 3-12-2025
Eastern Bluebird, female in SE Wisconsin 3-12-2025
Eastern Bluebird, male making a soft landing in SE Wisconsin 3-12-2025
Great Horned Owl owlets (2) on the nest in SE Wisconsin 3-18-2025
Great Horned Owl owlets (2) on the nest in Milwaukee Co Wisconsin 3-29-2025
Killdeer in Milwaukee Co 4-3-2025
Killdeer preening in Milwaukee Co 4-3-2025
Great Horned Owl owlets in Milwaukee Co 4-4-2025
Common Grackle, FOY in Waukesha Co 4-6-2025
Eared Grebe at Lake Park on the Milwaukee Lakefront 4-11-2025
Killdeer on the nest in Waukesha Co 4-14-2025
Wilson’s Snipe at Pennsylvania Avenue at Oak Creek in Milwaukee Co 4-16-2025
Willets (3) at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Co 4-27-2025
Willet at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Co 4-27-2025
Great Horned Owl, owlet in Milwaukee Co 4-28-2025
Canada Goose gosling at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Co 4-29-2025
White-eyed Vireo at Scout Lake in Greendale Wisconsin 5-2-2025
White-eyed Vireo at Scout Lake in Greendale Wisconsin 5-2-2025
Townsend’s Solitaire in Wauwatosa in Milwaukee Co 5-3-2025
Blue-gray Gnatcatchers building a nest in Waukesha Co 5-6-2025
The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher with lichen in the bill working it into the started nest 5-6-2025
American Avocet at Bradford Beach in Milwaukee Co 5-7-2025
American Avocets 5 of them at Bradford Beach in Milwaukee Co 5-7-2025
Killdeer chick just out of the nest in Waukesha Co 5-7-202
Yellow-rumped Warbler, male in Milwaukee Co 5-13th-15th-2025
Black-and-white Warbler, male in Milwaukee Co 5-13th-15th-2025
Black-throated Blue Warbler, male in Milwaukee Co 5-13th-15th-2025
Blackburnian Warbler, male in Milwaukee Co 5-13th-15th-2025
Northern Parula, male in Milwaukee Co 5-13th-15th-2025
Palm Warbler in Milwaukee Co 5-13th-15th-2025
Cape May Warbler, male in Milwaukee Co 5-13th-15th-2025
Blackpoll Warbler, male in Milwaukee Co 5-13th-15th-2025
Bay-breasted Warbler, male in Milwaukee Co 5-13th-15th-2025
Magnolia Warbler, male in Milwaukee Co 5-13th-15th-2025
Golden-winged Warbler, male in Milwaukee Co 5-13th-15th-2025
Tennessee Warbler, male in Milwaukee Co 5-13th-15th-2025
Prothonotary Warbler, male in Milwaukee Co 5-13th-15th-2025
Philadelphia Vireo at Lake Park in Milwaukee Co 5-14-2025
Rose-breasted Grosbeak, male at Lake Park in Milwaukee Co 5-13-2025
Rose-breasted Grosbeak, female at Lake Park in Milwaukee Co 5-13-2025
Baltimore Oriole, female at Lake Park in Milwaukee Co 5-14-2025
Franklin’s Gull at Bradford Beach in Milwaukee Co 5-17-2025
Scarlet Tanager at Lake Park in Milwaukee County 5-17-2025
Eastern Kingbird at Lake Park in Milwaukee County 5-17-2025
Eastern Kingbird at Lake Park in Milwaukee County 5-17-2025
Wild Turkey eggs in the nest in Marquette Co Wisconsin 5-19-2025
Wild Turkey eggs in the nest in Marquette Co Wisconsin 5-19-2025
Yellow-billed Cuckoo at the Milwaukee County Grounds in Milwaukee Co 5-22-2025
Snow Goose at Veterans Park in Milwaukee Co 5-22-2025
Ruddy Turnstone at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Co 5-23-2025
Ruddy Turnstone at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Co 5-23-2025
Black-billed Cuckoo at the Milwaukee County Grounds in Milwaukee Co 5-26-2025
Barred Owl in Marquette County Wisconsin 5-27-2025
The Great Horned Owl in Waukesha Co 5-29-2025
Northern Flicker at a natural nest cavity in Waukesha Co 6-1-2025
Bobolink, male at Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha Co 6-5- 2025
Bobolink, female at Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha Co 6-5- 2025
The 3 Red-shouldered Hawk chicks in Waukesha Co 6-6-2025
This is one of the two Red-shouldered Hawk adults flying up high over the area near the nest calling in Waukesha Co 6-6-2025
Both the Kelp and American Herring Gull producing a hybrid chick on the nest…the chick is looking at us in Milwaukee Co 6-14-2025
Kelp Gull flying near the nest on Jones Island in Milwaukee Co 6-14-2025
Great Blue Herons at a rookery with many nests in southeast Wisconsin 6-10-2025
Common Loons, an adult showing the chicks how to crawl up onto the bog in Sawyer Co 6-27-2025
Great Egret at Horicon Marsh in Dodge Co 7-1-2025
Black Tern at Horicon Marsh in Dodge Co 7-1-2025
Black Tern at Horicon Marsh in Dodge Co 7-1-2025
Black-necked Stilt, adult at Horicon Marsh in Dodge Co 7-1-2025
Black-necked Stilt chicks at Horicon Marsh in Dodge Co 7-1-2025
Black-necked Stilt chick at Horicon Marsh in Dodge Co 7-1-2025
Black-necked Stilt chick adult in flight at Horicon Marsh in Dodge Co 7-1-2025
Yellow-headed Blackbird, female at Horicon Marsh in Dodge Co 7-1-2025
Least Bittern at Horicon Marsh in Dodge Co 7-1-2025
Ruddy Duck, male at Greenfield Park Milwaukee Co 7-3-2025
Northern Flickers feeding nestlings in a natural nest cavity in Waukesha Co 7-5-2025
Northern Flickers feeding nestlings in a natural nest cavity in Waukesha Co 7-5-2025
Black-crowned Night-Herons at Humboldt Park Milwaukee Co 7-13-2025
Great Egret at Echo Park in Burlington in Racine Co 7-20-2025
Great Egret at Echo Park in Burlington in Racine Co 7-20-2025
Sandhill Cranes near Muskego in Waukesha Co 7-20-2025
Common Grackle with the crayfish at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Co 7-22-2025
Common Grackle with the crayfish part feeding young at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Co 7-22-2025
Piping Plover at Lake Michigan on the Milwaukee lakefront 7-28-2025
Piping Plover at Lake Michigan on the Milwaukee lakefront 7-28-2025
Short-billed Gull at Whitefish Dunes State Park in Door Co Wisconsin 7-30-2025
Short-billed Gull stretching at Whitefish Dunes State Park in Door Co Wisconsin 7-30-2025
Laughing Gull at Whitefish Dunes State Park in Door Co Wisconsin 7-30-2025
American White Pelican at the pebble beach at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Co 7-31-2025
American White Pelican on the lagoon at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Co 7-31-2025
Green Heron at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Co 8-5-2025
Great Egrets at Wilson Park in Milwaukee Co 8-7-2025
Wood Stork at Mud Lake State Wildlife Area in Dodge Co Wisconsin 8-11-2025
Wood Stork at Mud Lake State Wildlife Area in Dodge Co Wisconsin 8-11-2025
Wood Stork preening at Mud Lake State Wildlife Area in Dodge Co Wisconsin 8-11-2025
Eastern Kingbird in Waukesha Co 8-20-2025
Great Blue Heron catching a frog at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Co 8-21-2025
Ruddy Turnstone at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Co 8-29-2025
Semipalmated Sandpiper at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Co 8-29-2025
Semipalmated Plover at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Co 8-29-2025
Ruddy Turnstone flipping over a piece of something looking for things to eat at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Co 8-29-2025
Red-necked Phalarope at McKinley Marina in Milwaukee Co 9-1-2025
American Golden-Plover at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Co 9- 2-2025
Green Heron at Greenfield Park in Milwaukee Co 9-2-2025
8 Sanderlings Sanderlings at Bradford Beach in Milwaukee Co 9-9-2025
Sanderling, something in the bill at Bradford Beach in Milwaukee Co 9-9-2025
Black-crowned Night-Heron, juvenile at Humboldt Park Milwaukee Co
Black-billed Magpie at the Superior Landfill in Douglas County Wisconsin 9-12-2025
Yellow-rumped Warblers eating Cedar Berries in the South Kettle Moraine in Waukesha Co 10-5-2025
Yellow-rumped Warblers eating Cedar Berries in the South Kettle Moraine in Waukesha Co 10-5-2025
Wood Duck, male in Milwaukee Co 10-8-2025
Wood Duck, young male in Milwaukee Co 10-8-2025
American Bittern at Humboldt Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin 10-20-2025
American Bittern at Humboldt Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin 10-20-2025
Snow Bunting at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Co 10-29-2025
Snow Bunting with a seed in the bill at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Co on 10-29-2025
Blue Jay in Marquette Co 11-4-2025
Eastern Screech Owl in Milwaukee Co on 12-4-2025
Sandhill Cranes, an adult left, colt right Delafield in Waukesha Co on 12-7-2025
Sandhill Crane in Delafield in Waukesha Co on 12-7-2025
Long-eared Owl in Wisconsin on 12-8-2025
Dark-eyed Junco, Oregon type at Grant Park in Milwaukee Co on 12-11-2025
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 near a bird feeder at the park and it was stopping and getting things to eat there. It was a mostly sunny day with cold temps around 20 degrees with light winds out of the northeast. Images were taken on December 11, 2025.
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 eat on occasion in the river, some preening and just standing around conserving energy. A Great Blue Heron was also present. The heron did not move at all when I was there, thinking it was just taking it easy like the cranes. The Sandhill Cranes hangout at this location into winter as the river does not freeze till later if it does at all. Today was sunny skies, a little wind and temps around 19 degrees. Images were taken on December 7, 2025.
Sandhill Cranes, and adult left, colt right…
A colt finding something to eat maybe…
Sandhill Cranes…
Colt with something in the bill…
Looking for something to eat I would assume…
4 of the 15 Sandhill Cranes present, adults…
Colt…
Missed something here…
Just got a drink…
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 edges, on the rocks and cracks in the walks. Seeds blow around this time of year and end up at those locations. I’ve seen them jump up to low grasses and plants to get seeds but did not see that today in the mowed areas. It was very windy at the lakefront with northwest winds, the sun made it doable today to enjoy the show that these beautiful birds put on. Images were taken on October 29, 2025.
The Snow Bunting on the rocks with the wind blowing…
Finding seeds along the walk…
Here there were seeds too in the grass area…
Here the Snow Bunting with a seed in the bill…
Here the Snow Bunting was getting seeds to eat in the cracks on the sidewalk…
Such a beautiful bird!
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 I watched it for about 20 minutes with no one around other than a few walkers. After the wait time it then flew across the pond to the other side. I walked around the pond to watch it and there it was hunting, walking very slowly through the dead knocked down cattails etc. After a few minutes it latched onto a large frog. It worked very hard to kill and the frog put up a good fight to stay alive, but the American Bittern won. It then swallowed it! The American Bittern moved its neck back and forth for a while to get the frog down some out of its neck-throat area. After that the bird just walked into some taller grass and took a break. Interesting, is that a gentleman who was a regular at the park came over to watch the event just before it happened and talking to him said the American Bittern was there on April 27th of the year. It was a gorgeous morning with temps around 45 degrees and full sun, but there was a good breeze making it cool at times. Images were taken on October 20, 2025.
The American Bittern…
A little bit of hunting here but came up empty, flies to the other side of the pond then…
Catches a nice frog here!
Everyone has to eat…
Thinking about putting it down the throat, and it does…
A normal position for this species, they are often missed as they don’t move much and look like a stump…
The setting…cell photo…
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 House Finches eating berries too. It is common to see them pick berries and test them if they are ready, soft enough to eat or ripe. If they are not ready they just drop them to the ground. It was a beautiful October day with full sun and a nice breeze out of the south. Temps around 80 degrees. Images were taken on October 5, 2025.
The Yellow-rumped Warbler with a cedar berry…
A House Finch, male stops in for a berry too…
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 were only 1 or 2 each for those 3 days so would the bird still be there? Deb joined me and we made the 5 1/2 hour ride to Superior leaving Waukesha at 3:00 AM. When we arrived at the landfill I spent almost 4 hours walking the road by the landfill watching many Bald Eagles, Common Ravens, Turkey Vultures, Ring-billed and American Herring Gulls flying back and forth from inside the landfill and north to Lake Superior I would assume, but no sign of the Magpie. The sky was really dark and a few raindrops were starting to fall. My thought was I guess this rare bird is not going to show for us. At that time Deb steps out of our vehicle and points. Jim, “the Black-billed Magpie just landed on the post in front of the vehicle”. I could hardly believe those words from her but there it was, perched so pretty about 50 feet in front of the vehicle. It was on the landfills property inside the fence so I just took a couple of photos and then off it went. It was a fun day getting Wisconsin life bird #388. A big thank you to the finder of this rare bird and getting the word out for others to try for it. The early morning had a little fog, mostly cloudy skies with temps around 70, light winds. Images were taken on September 12, 2025
The Black-billed Magpie on the ground just after jumping off the post nearby…
The Black-billed Magpie on the post in front of the vehicle when Deb spotted it from inside the vehicle when reading…
Here with a piece of garbage, must have been dropped by a gull coming from the landfill, there was a lot of that going on…
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 to eat, crustaceans. It was a beautiful morning along the lake with a good breeze, mild temps around 70 degrees and sunny skies. Images were taken on September 9, 2025.
The 8 Sanderlings…
Something very small in the bill, they eat crustaceans…
As they move around on the beach shoreline finding things to eat…
Something in the bill…
Getting something to eat here…
Something in the bill…
Picking through the shells for something to eat…
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 something to eat. It happens very, very fast. Also present was a Sanderling. It was a beautiful morning out early with a small breeze, mostly sunny skies. Images were taken on September 2, 2025.
The American Golden-Plover…
Finding something to eat…
More distant, showing habitat they like for finding food…
More distant, showing habitat they like for finding food…
A Sanderling present…
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 other birders looking for it. I was in the area and checked it out. The bird was present on the north side of the government pier and close. It moved east and west along the pier. It was feeding continuously the whole time I was present and only stopped for a few seconds to preen once. Any phalarope is always an exciting bird when seen in Wisconsin as we don’t get them very often as their normal range is west of here. It was a pleasant day on the lake with a nice breeze and sun, but not hot. Images were taken on September 1, 2025.
The Red-necked Phalarope…
Getting something to eat here…it was constantly feeding or in search of food…
Something in the bill here…
Going after something…
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 the water. Along the beach shorebirds are typically moving fast, zigzagging up and down the beach area, back and forth along the water edge up to where the waves stop. It really all depends upon where they are finding things to eat. These birds also flip over small pieces of wood and other things with their bills finding things to eat. It was a beautiful mid morning on the lakefront with pleasant temps around 65 degrees, light winds and partly cloudy skies. Images were taken on August 29, 2025.
Ruddy Turnstone
Ruddy Turnstone
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Semipalmated Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Ruddy Turnstone flipping over a piece of something looking for things to eat.
Semipalmated Plover
Ruddy Turnstone with what looks like a mosquito but probably not…
Semipalmated Sandpiper
A Ruddy Turnstone walking right to me at this point…
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 grabbed a couple of small fish and then it grabbed a large frog out of the water and gave it a couple of good shakes. I guess it was a frog for lunch. It was a beautiful day with a light breeze off the lake, still kind of warm with some humidity a lot nice then what we have had. Image was taken on August 21, 2025.
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. Some of the information I got was general but I headed out figuring more information would come when I was on the road. It appeared I was the first one in the area and then a couple of great birders showed up too. As we hit different locations there and then got some more news on where it was seen, it did not appear to be present. We exhausted spots we thought had potential and then called it quits about 11:00 AM. I got home, took a rest from all that walking through 3-4 foot thick prairie and thick marsh grass looking for the bird. Around 4:00 PM, I get a text message, the bird was seen this afternoon! My wife Deb said just get on the road and try again, what are you waiting for! Arriving around 5:30 PM, this time I knew the best place to park and a location of where the bird was seen. As I was 150 feet from what I thought was the bird perched I got closer and took a couple of distant shots, just in case it flushes. I don’t think there are many Wisconsin state records for this bird, but there was one seen up north I think last year for 1 day in someone’s yard, maybe a couple of years ago. I got a little closer to the Wood Stork and got some shots to take with me. It did not seem to mind me being in the area. A big thank you goes out to Mike Bronner, original finder of this great bird found on a hike the day before, getting identification and word out to the birding community. I hope the bird hangs around for others to see it. It was a warm afternoon at 86 degrees, full sun, a slight breeze. Wisconsin Lifebird #383. Images were taken on August 11, 2025.
The Wood Stork…
Some preening…
Some scratching…
Just standing there for a while…
Preening…
That one feather…
“Actual Birding Moment” how it went down…It’s 86 degrees…it is very humid….I’m in an area of tall grasses….scattered live and dead trees….some up….some down…I think I’m in the general area ahead for the Wood Stork….but is it even here?…. I’ve just walked through a long field of very dense prairie 3′-4′ high…now going through some 3′-4′ marsh grass that is laying down, I see no sign of a bird….I look to my right…it’s already early evening…..I’m already thinking how much time I might have before I leave to not be here in the dark……I look ahead again…I see a white thing about 100 yards in front of me but there are so many trees…could that be the Wood Stork?….it looks like a possible perched bird….I look with my bins…..that looks like the bird….my heart is racing…I walk a few more feet…I’m so excited that I am having a hard time holding the camera with its long lens steady…..then there are so many trees and vegetation between the bird and I that I can’t focus….finally the camera focuses on the bird and I get that doc shot!! The photo on the right is now Wisconsin life bird #383 shot at roughly 100 yards…..I am breathing easier now…
