admin, Author at Window to Wildlife - Photography by Jim Edlhuber

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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.

Golden-crowned Kinglets, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Yellow-rumped Warblers and Winter Wrens at Milwaukee County Parks on April 14, 2016

By admin | April 14, 2016 - 6:55 pm |April 16, 2016 Bird Categories, Kinglets

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I did some birding at Greenfield Park, Whitnall Park, Grant Park and Lake Park in Milwaukee County midday today. Some of the birds seen were Golden-crowned Kinglets, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Yellow-rumped Warblers and Winter Wrens. The groups of birds came and went, it was a fun couple of hours while it lasted. It was nice to see some full sun for a change! Spring actually seems to be nearing and we still have 15-20 Dark-eyed Juncos in the yard this evening! Images were taken on April 14, 2016

Golden-crowned Kinglet, male

Winter Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet, adult

Ruby-crowned Kinglet, adult

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Eastern Screech-Owl in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on April 9, 2016

By admin | April 9, 2016 - 4:38 pm |April 10, 2016 Bird Categories, Typical Owls

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An Eastern Screech-Owl, a red morph giving great views this afternoon in Milwaukee County Wisconsin. What a beautiful owl! Always amazes me how they blend in with the habitat you see them in, but that is one reason they can survive. Images were taken on April 9, 2016.

Eastern Screech-Owl

Binomial name: Otus asio

Category: Typical Owls

Size: 8.5” long, 20” wing span

Weight: 6 oz

Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers at Lake Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on April 8, 2016

By admin | April 8, 2016 - 6:20 pm |April 9, 2016 Bird Categories, Woodpeckers and Allies

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I stopped at Lake Park late morning today to check things out. The highlight was numerous Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers licking sap from new and old holes in trees. Some would sit lower towards the base of the tree as there may be more sap at those locations. It was interesting to sit and watch as this continued while I was present. Snow fell for most of the time I was present, a gloomy day with some winds. Birds around where very active. A couple species to note where a Golden-crowned Kinglet and my first Yellow-rumped Warbler of the year. Images where taken on April 8, 2016.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, male

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Binomial name: Sphyrapicus varius

Category: Woodpeckers and Allies

Size: 8.5” long, 16” wing span

Weight: 1.8 oz

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, female getting sap

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, male getting sap

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, male

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, male

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, female getting sap

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, male with sap on bill

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, female

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, male

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, female

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, male getting sap

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, female

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, female getting sap

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, female

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, female getting sap

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, male working on getting sap

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, male

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Great Blue Herons at Greenfield Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on April 1, 2016

By admin | April 1, 2016 - 6:22 pm |April 2, 2016 Bird Categories, Bitterns, Herons, and Allies

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I took a run over to Greenfield Park mid-afternoon do a short birding run. Great Blue Herons have returned, one seemed to want to nap while another one, a heron in full breeding plumage went hunting for some food and did some moving around too. From what I had heard, they have been back a couple of days now, how exciting. Another species I saw were 2 Pied-billed Grebes near the island. Nothing else but recent reported species. Hopefully this year they will raise another nice family there. It was mostly cloudy but the sun did shine for a couple of minutes while I was there. Images were taken on April 1, 2016.

Great Blue Heron

Binomial name: Ardea herodias

Category: Bitterns, Herons, and Allies

Size: 46” long, 72” wing span

Weight: 5.3 lb

Hanging out at the island

The drink

Hunting

Looks like a 1st year bird, a bird born last year just resting off the beaten trail

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

By admin | March 29, 2016 - 1:40 pm |March 29, 2016 Bird Categories, Tyrant Flycatchers

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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.

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.

Hunting!

Eastern Screech Owl, Horned Grebes, Common Loon and Killdeer in the snow in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on March 25, 2016

By admin | March 25, 2016 - 4:57 pm |March 25, 2016 Bird Categories, Typical Owls

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I did a little birding this morning on the lakefront on Milwaukee’s south side. The Lake Express Ferry had ~6 Killdeer and they were for the most part hunkered down with the snow that fell yesterday waiting for things to warm up and melt. South Shore Yacht Club had up to 8 Horned Grebes going into breeding plumage. Dave G, thank you Dave, alerted me of 2 Common Loons near the Petroleum Pier when I was at the Express, by the time I got over there, there was still one present in breeding plumage. The loon pretty much stayed out away from shore but it is really nice to see the first loon of the year. After returning to SSYC I ran into a team of birder-photograhers, Todd, Caron, Keith, Valerie and Bruce too. Todd told me about a Eastern Screech Owl he had just found and I checked it out, thank you Todd. Cool to see a Eastern Screech Owl in a natural cavity. It was a fun morning out with some friends I have not seen for awhile and meeting some new ones too. Sunny morning with a bright blue sky cool temps, but winds made it still feel like winter. Images were taken on March 25, 2016.

Eastern Screech Owl

Binomial name: Otus asio

Category: Typical Owls

Size: 8.5” long, 20” wing span

Weight: 6 oz

Amazing how the owl blends in with the habitat

Horned Grebe

Horned Grebe preening

Horned Grebe

Horned Grebe

Common Loon, distant shot

Killdeer in the snow!

Killdeer

Killdeer calling

Killdeer resting

Killdeer

Great Horned Owl in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on March 15, 2016

By admin | March 16, 2016 - 11:55 am |March 16, 2016 Bird Categories, Typical Owls

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A couple shots of a Great Horned Owl in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on March 15, 2016. Seeing one of these is always a treat!

Great Horned Owls

Binomial name: Bubo virginianus

Category: Owls

Size: 22” long, 44” wing span

Weight: 3.1 lb

Snow Goose at Greenfield Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on March 12, 2016

By admin | March 12, 2016 - 2:47 pm |March 13, 2016 Bird Categories, Ducks, Geese, and Swans

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The beautiful Snow Goose that has been reported gave nice views early this morning at Greenfield Park in Milwaukee. This adult Snow Goose either foraged along the grass area or swam in the water on the south end of the pond. Eating seemed to be its highest priority this morning. This was my 3rd try for this goose that had been reported, as it is not always present. Thanks to Lee for updates on this goose and a very early phone call this morning from Bruce that it was present this morning, I made a quick run for it and finally saw this beauty! Images were taken on March 12, 2016.

Stretching

Snow Goose

Binomial name: Chen caerulescens

Category: Ducks, Geese, and Swans

Size: 28-31” long, 53-56” wing span

Weight: 5.3-7.4 lb

Taking a drink

Preening

Foraging

Foraging

Foraging

Foraging

Just poking along

On a mission

Snow Goose with Mallard, male

Taking a drink

Foraging

Taking a drink

Shaking it off!

The gulp

Long-tailed Duck at Bender Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on March 7, 2016

By admin | March 7, 2016 - 4:12 pm |March 10, 2016 Bird Categories, Ducks, Geese, and Swans

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I birded parts of the Milwaukee County lakefront today and the highlight of the day was my first stop at Bender Park. I saw the report from Dave G yesterday of the adult Long-tailed Duck at the park and the duck was still present today, thanks Dave! It gave nice views in the early morning sun, diving for food, preening and just relaxing while I was there. Shortly after arriving 3 fishing rigs came into the boat launch area and the duck moved towards the open water. Other areas I checked along the lake showed few ducks and gulls. Some areas had displaying Red-winged Blackbirds but that was about it. The ice in the lagoon at Lakeshore State Park was shrinking fast and they were ice fishing there yesterday! Images were taken on March 7, 2016.

Long-tailed Duck

Binomial name: Clangula hyemalis

Category: Ducks, Geese, and Swans

Size: 16.5” long, 28” wing span

Weight: 1.6 lb

Cool Fact: This duck was once known as Oldsquaw

The dive!

The tail!

Preening

Preening that long tail!

The drop!

The drip!

The long tail!

Just relaxing…

Red Fox in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on March 4, 2016

By admin | March 2, 2016 - 3:19 pm |March 7, 2016 Animals

2 Comments

Out birding today at a park in Milwaukee County I came across a stunning Red Fox. It gave nice views in the relax mode before it left the area. A very slow day birding with just common birds being seen. Images were taken on March 4, 2016.

Eating grass!

Red Fox

Scientific name: Vulpes vulpes

Type: Mammal

Habitat: Forests, grasslands, mountains, savanna, agricultural lands and deserts. Red Foxes can also adapt to farms, suburban areas and sometimes cities.

Average life span in the wild: 2 to 4 years

Size: Head and body, 18-33.75 inches

Weight: 6.5 to 24 lbs

Diet: Fruit, vegetables, fish, frogs, rabbits, birds and rodents in the wild. If living in a human environment they may include in the diet garbage and pet food.

Range: Northern hemisphere from the arctic circle to Central American. They can also be found in Northern Africa and central Asia.

The big yawn!

Sleepy!

The big yawn!

The big yawn!

Taking a break!

The stretch!

Red-tailed Hawk soaring in the sky at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on February 27, 2016

By admin | February 27, 2016 - 6:40 pm |February 27, 2016 Bird Categories, Hawks, Kites, Eagles, and Allies

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The highlight of the day birding was this juvenile Red-tailed Hawk soaring in the sky at Lakeshore State Park. Even though it was a beautiful day weather wise today, birding appeared to be slow, at least where I looked along the lakefront. A Great Black-backed Gull was the only other bird to note. Images were taken on February 27, 2016.

Red-tailed Hawk

Binomial name: Buteo jamaicensis

Category: Hawks, Kites, Eagles, and Allies

Size: 19” long, 49” wing span

Weight: 2.4 lb

Glaucous Gull Juvenile and other gulls on Milwaukee’s Lakefront in Milwaukee Wisconsin on February 24, 2016

By admin | February 24, 2016 - 2:58 pm |February 26, 2016 Bird Categories, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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I birded the Milwaukee Lakefront this morning and the highlight was gulls. 1 Gluacous Gull juvenile at Bradford Beach. Other gulls were a Glaucous Gull adult and 2 Great Black-blacked Gulls adults near the petroleum pier on broken ice or on the pier itself. It was a cloudy day with stiff winds making it feel like a cold January day. Images were taken on February 24, 2016.

Glaucous Gull juvenile at Bradford Beach

Glaucous Gull

Binomial name: Larus hyperboreus

Category: Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Size: 27” long, 60” wing span

Weight: 3.1 lb

Habitat: This large gulls breeding grounds are in the northern arctic. It spends its winters farther north than most gulls on coasts, lakes, urban areas, dumps and agricultural fields. Mostly breeds along shorelines of the seacoast, rivers and lakes, also refuse dumps. These gulls are usually not found inland.

Diet: It captures prey such as plovers, small ducks, ptarmigans, auks, birds, small mammals and invertebrates. It also scavenges dead fish, carrion, garbage and dead animal matter.

Nesting: The nest is a shallow bowl constructed of twigs, grasses, sedges, moss and sometimes feathers. The nest is located on cliff edges, grass slopes above cliffs, islands or ponds on the tundra. 3 eggs are usually laid brown in color with dark brown spots.

Glaucous Gull adult near the Petroleum Pier

Glaucous Gull juvenile, left and Herring Gull right

Glaucous Gull Juvenile with Herring Gull right

Trying to keep its balance with the high winds!

Trying to keep its balance with the high winds!

Glaucous Gull adult at Bradford Beach the next day 2/26/2016

Glaucous Gull adult at Bradford Beach 2/26/2016

Glaucous Gull adult at Bradford Beach on 2/26/2016

Pine Grosbeaks and Bohemian Waxwings in Vilas County Wisconsin on February 20, 2016

By admin | February 20, 2016 - 10:02 pm |February 23, 2016 Bird Categories, Fringilline and Cardueline Finches and Allies

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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, 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

Pine Grosbeak, female

Tufted Titmouse in the South Kettle Moraine in Waukesha County on February 13, 2016

By admin | February 13, 2016 - 5:37 pm |February 13, 2016 Chickadees and Titmice

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I checked numerous places as I usually do in the South Kettle Moraine today and the highlight of the day was a Tufted Titmouse. Always hoping for some Red or White-winged Crossbills but that is not happening this year and it looks like there are many untouched cones everywhere. Other birds seen in at distance were American Tree Sparrows, Purple Finches and your everyday common species on probably the coldest day so far in 2016. Images were taken on February 13, 2016.

Tufted Titmouse

Binomial name: Baeolophus bicolor

Category: Chickadees and Titmice

Size: 6.5” long, 9.75” wing span

Weight: .75 oz

Tufted Titmouse

Tufted Titmouse

White-breasted Nuthatch

Horned Larks at Johnson Creek in Jefferson County Wisconsin on February 11, 2016

By admin | February 11, 2016 - 8:56 pm |February 15, 2016 Bird Categories, Larks

Horned Lark

Binomial name: Eremophila alpestri

Category: Chickadees and Titmice

Size: 7.25” long, 12” wing span

Weight: 1.1 oz

European Goldfinches in Kenosha County Wisconsin on February 9, 2016

By admin | February 9, 2016 - 3:36 pm |February 10, 2016 Exotic Finches

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A bird I always wanted to see with it’s stunning colors, the European Goldfinch! Today I found 8 in Kenosha. A life bird for me, but considered a introduced species. Some have been recorded nesting in Wisconsin in recent years. Wow what colors! Images were taken on February 9, 2016.

European Goldfinch

Binomial name: Carduelis carduelis

Category: Exotic Finches

Size: 5.5” long, 10” wing span

Weight: .56 oz

Long-eared Owls in Wisconsin on January 28, 2016

By admin | January 28, 2016 - 2:03 pm |March 24, 2016 Bird Categories, Typical Owls

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I have looked high and low for this species over the years and today I stumbled across them, the Long-eared Owls. It was a thrill to see them and to finally get this life bird for the state. There were numerous birds present at this site which I cannot disclose. Such beautiful birds they are, smaller in size then I had thought. Images were taken on January 28, 2016.

Long-eared Owl

Binomial name: Asio otus

Category: Typical Owls

Size: 15” long, 36” wing span

Weight: 9 oz

Rock Lake Icehenge in Lake Mills Wisconsin on January 27, 2016

By admin | January 27, 2016 - 4:07 pm |February 2, 2016 Uncategorized

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I got the report from a friend that the “Icehenge” on Rock Lake has returned in 2016. This location is on Rock Lake in Lake Mills Wisconsin. What an awesome piece of art and put together well by a group of local artists and craftsmen. It was similar to the Icehenge the group put up last year in 2015. The ice was actually cut near the structure, dragged over to the site and the upper pieces muscled up on top. One person I ran into there today that helped in this construction of this event told me there was a small structure that is put up near Icehenge a couple hundred feet away called an “altar” if I heard it correct. Images of the altar are below. When standing in the middle of the Icehenge as the sun sets on Friday the 29th, the sun should set on the top of the altar and light should point to the middle of the Icehenge location. He said the math was done on this, and if that actually happens is yet to be seen. It was a fun photo op for a few minutes on a cold and windy day out on the lake. Thanks Paula! Images were taken on January 27, 2016.

Altar

In the moonlight!

Great Black-backed Gull 2nd Cycle at Bradford Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin on January 16, 2016

By admin | January 17, 2016 - 6:28 pm |January 17, 2016 Bird Categories, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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The highlight this morning while birding some of Milwaukee’s lakefront was a Great Black-backed Gull 2nd cycle. A Great Black-backed adult was also in the area but remained far off shore just hanging out by itself. Images were taken on January 16, 2016 on a very cold, sunny morning with a steady breeze.

Hanging out with a Herring Gull left

Landing gear coming down!

Herring Gull right

Ring-billed Gulls

Common Redpolls at Frame Park in Waukesha Wisconsin on January 16, 2016

By admin | January 16, 2016 - 5:11 pm |January 16, 2016 Fringilline and Cardueline Finches and Allies, Uncategorized

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I birded some of Milwaukee’s lakefront this morning to see what was around. Highlight at the lakefront was a immature Great Black-backed Gull and an adult that spent the time out in the water. The fun was just starting as I started heading home a received a text from Ryan S that Common Redpolls were near Frame Park in Waukesha. When I arrived, Ryan was just going to try to relocate them as they had flown off. After a 1/4 mile walk we relocated them along the river feeding on the cones on some Alder trees. What a show they put on with nice views. It was about a flock of 15-25, some came and went but the majority of them hung around for while. For the most part they continually pulled seeds from the cones and ate them. I had been down to the river 3 times this week looking for the Redpolls with no luck so this really made my day and the others that had been looking for them. A big thank you to Ryan for the text message this morning. Later Derek and Bruce showed up and also enjoyed the show. Images of the Common Redpolls eating seeds or gathering them were taken on January 16, 2016.