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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.

Great Horned Owl in Waukesha County Wisconsin on May 9, 2021

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Driving along a road in Waukesha County I spotted a Great Horned Owl off in a distance perched in a tree. I stopped and took a couple of shots from the drivers seat. I’m assuming another adult or owlets were nearby as the owl was looking at a couple of locations nearby on and off. I did not hang around, and continued on my trip. It was a pleasant morning out with temps starting at 40 degrees checking out a few warbler locations in the area. Warblers were around but not in high numbers. Images were taken on May 9, 2021.

The Great Horned Owl…

Looking over to another area were a possible owlet might be…

The other location the Great Horned Owl starred when I was there…

 

American Avocet at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on May 2, 2021

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I checked the Milwaukee lakefront beaches early morning and they were empty. I decided to look for a few warblers at Lake Park, it was pretty birdie but after awhile thought I would check out a few other places. I decided to check the beach at Lakeshore State Park once more before leaving the lakefront. I’m glad I did as there was one lone American Avocet. It was not real active, I think just taking a break from maybe a long flight. While viewing the Avocet a Hudsonian Godwit made a very brief appearance. It was on the beach for maybe 15-30 seconds and off it went. It landed on the opposite end of the beach from where I was, another birder captured a photo for an ID. It was a beautiful morning with mostly sunny skies, low winds and temps in the 60’s to start. Images were taken on May 2, 2021.

The American Avocet…

American Avocet in flight…pedestrians on the beach not knowingly flushed the bird on a few occasions but it usually returned to the beach area…

Here getting something to eat maybe…

So beautiful!

At takeoff…

That bill…

American Avocets and Willets at North Beach in Racine Wisconsin on April 28, 2021

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Word was out that American Avocets were in Racine.  I made the run down there and they were, along with cool Willets. They were at North Beach on Lake Michigan. Probably my favorite bird and bird to photograph as they are so beautiful! Birders are very lucky if they get to lay their eyes on this species once every spring. They put on a nice show just standing around, feeding and taking a couple of times to the sky. These birds are known as one day wonders, typically seen one day and not the next. It was another cool morning with wins out of the northeast, temps in the mid 40’s and overcast. Images were taken on April 28, 2021.

The American Avocets…

They typically face into the wind, being ready for takeoff…I think I counted 26 birds!

Coming in for a landing…

American Avocets and Willets in flight…

Willets at waters edge…some were feeding…

American Avocet…

American Avocets at waters edge…

Willet…

Willet getting something to eat…

Waiting for something to eat…

Hooded Warbler at Lake Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on April 27, 2021

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A stop at Lake Park gave distant views of a Hooded Warbler. While walking across the foot bridge just south of the statue I spotted directly below a Hooded Warbler. From there it moved and rested for a period of time, on a fallen log laying in the ravine. It must of had a long journey as it rested for close to 30 minutes with it’s eyes closed most of the time. I took a shot from a distance and that was it. Other warbler species I saw at the park were Yellow-rumped and Palm. It was a cold morning on the lakefront with good wins from the north. I was dress for March weather. Image was taken on April 27, 2021.

The Hooded Warbler resting on a fallen tree log…

Great Egret at Humboldt Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on April 25, 2021

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Stopping at Humboldt Park was a good choice today with a Great Egret present. It put on a beautiful show for the time I was there trying to get something to eat. Of the 4 times I watched it go for I assume fish it failed and eventually left the park out of sight. The morning started out cold and then the sun finally warmed things up with sunny skies, temps were around 32 degrees.

The Great Egret…near the island…

Perched here, looking and waiting for something to eat…showing its beautiful plumes…

The Great Egret goes for something to eat…

Chasing something…

That catch failed and the egret heads back to the perch…

Flies to anther spot…

Another try and fails to get something to eat from what I think…

Perched pretty…

And to another location at the pond…

On the island waiting for something to come by…

Green Heron at Greenfield Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on April 20, 2021

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While doing a walk around today at Greenfield Park a colorful Green Heron along one of the islands caught my eye. The bird did not hang around, but just enough for a photo. Other species to note at the park were a pair of Wood Ducks walking in the grass, a few in Pee-Soup-Pond and a couple of Blue-winged Teal and Pied-billed Grebes out in the open water. It was a cloudy day with steady breeze from the north and temps only in the mid 30’s. Images were taken on April 20, 2021.

The Green Heron…

The Wood Duck, male…

Common Loon at the Fox River in Waukesha Wisconsin on April 15, 2021

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My first birding stop of the day was at the Fox River in Waukesha and it provided nice looks at a Common Loon. While I was there the loon did some fishing for food, had a Bullhead for a snack, resting, and just some floating around doing nothing. It was a nice surprise to see the loon at the river as the river has been quiet for the last couple of weeks. It was mostly cloudy with a few breaks of sun, cold temps around 38 degrees and a strong wind coming down the river out of the north. It really felt like January. Images were taken on April 15, 2021.

The Common Loon…

Those beautiful colors…

Catches a nice Bullhead…

Took awhile to get this fish to settle down…

Down it went, the loon swallowed it!

The stretch…

Resting with one eye on watch…

Just up from a dive…

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at Grant Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on April 14, 2021

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One of my birding stops today was seeing if the reported Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was still present. After 4 days this juvenile bird is still hanging around. It was perched 20 feet off the ground in a Willow tree over looking a small pond. It was a cloudy day, cold with temps only at 37 degrees and a good north wind making it feel like winter. Image was taken on April 14, 2021.

Eastern Screech Owl in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on March 5, 2021

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On a fairly well traveled street in Milwaukee County sits an Eastern Screech Owl, gray morph perched in a tree. Seemed like no worries in the world for this beauty that appeared to be sleeping while I was there. A nice spring day with the sun, but temps were still a little on the cool side. Images were taken on March 5, 2021

The Eastern Screech Owl from a distance….

A closeup…

Red-winged Blackbird in Waukesha County Wisconsin on February 27, 2021

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While looking out the kitchen window this afternoon a pair of male Red-winged Blackbirds were present at the feeder. They looked very tired and eat on and off for a couple of hours and then left. On a spring like day came some spring like birds. It was a gorgeous day with plenty of sunshine, temps around 50 degrees.

Mute Swan on the Fox River at Frame Park in Waukesha on February 27, 2021

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One of my birding stops today gave nice views of a Mute Swan at Frame Park on the Fox River  in Waukesha. The river was almost wide open around noon when I was there. There were some ducks present but off a ways, species I saw were Common Goldeneye, Lesser Scaup, Common Merganser, Hooded Merganser and of course Mallards. A location that should be watched closely as ducks were coming and going and it is that time of the year. A beautiful February day with temps around 50 degrees and sunny skies.

The Mute Swan…

A little preening…

Sandhill Cranes in Waukesha County on February 7, 2021

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One of my birding stops today provided nice looks at 4 Sandhill Cranes in Waukesha County. These 4 never migrated and have hung around all winter in the area. The weather today, -8 degrees when I was there and for the next week is very cold for them.  I hope they will hang in there and then temps will start to moderate soon. They are in a location with open water and hopefully they will get things to eat there. Sunny with a light breeze today. Images were taken on February 7, 2021.

Sandhill Cranes, the 4 of them…

Great Horned Owl in Waukesha County Wisconsin on February 4, 2021

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While out birding one of my stops today was to check on a nest that Red-tailed Hawks used last year. I was curious to see if they were on the nest yet. To my surprise a Great Horned Owl was sitting on it like it owned the place. Typically Great Horned Owls will use nests from other birds such as a Red-tailed Hawks nest, as they don’t build their own. I’ll have to check on this one as the weeks go by to see what goes on. It was a cloudy day with nice temps around 30. Images were taken on February 4, 2021

The Great Horned Owl giving nice looks today…

Another view, this nest is very high up…

Barred Owl in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on January 17, 2021

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On one of my birding walks today I was happy to encounter a beautiful Barred Owl. The owl was quietly roosting in a tree which is what this species does during the day. At night they are hunters for small animals  and rodents. It was an overcast day with very light snow flurries, mild temps around 30 degrees. Images were taken on January 17, 2021.

The roosting Barred Owl with some light snow flurries coming down…

A side view of this beautiful bird…

 

Spotted Towhee at Greenfield Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on January 13, 2021

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One of my birding stops today was at Greenfield Park to see if the Spotted Towhee was still present and it was. I hung around for about 20 minutes before it came out of the bushes just west of the waterfall. It gave nice views at that time. This was my second try, seeing it twice now, this rare bird visiting the area. It was an overcast morning with a slight breeze but great temperatures getting near 40. Images were taken on January 13, 2021.

The Spotted Towhee at takeoff…

Look at that tail!!

Hoping from one place to another…

 

 

American Pipit at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin on January 9, 2021

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A stop at McKinley Beach this morning produced 1 American Pipit. It was digging through algae on the beach finding things to eat. It is considered a rare bird on this date at this location because it is a late bird. It was a beautiful January day with temps around 32 degrees and only a slight breeze, sunny skies. Images were taken on January 9, 2021.

American Pipit stops for a moment for a photo…

Food in the bill here, a worm…

The American Pipit digs through algae for things to eat…

Hopping around on the beach, digging through algae is how they find their food…

In their habitat here, in migration, this a late bird…