Category Archives: Bird Categories

Warblers and more at Wehr Nature Center in Milwaukee County Wisconsin April 21- May 17, 2026

By | | ,
1 Comment

The last few days I have birded Wehr Nature Center and a couple of other areas in Milwaukee County plus focusing on warblers and other species present. All and all it has been a fun warbler season so far. As you know what will be there as far as warblers. There are some warblers I have not seen yet, hopefully there is still time in migration. I would say as of today it has been a pretty good year for warblers coming through our area.

Pine Warbler 4/21 Lake Park

Northern Parula 1st year female 4/21 Lake Park

Blue-grey Gnatcatcher 5/3 Wehr Nature Center

Nashville Warbler, male 5/3 Wehr Nature Center

Blue-grey Gnatcatcher 5/3 Wehr Nature Center

Cedar Waxwing 5/3 Wehr Nature Center

Prothonotary Warbler, male 5/5 Fox River Sanctuary Waukesha

Palm Warbler, a wet male 5/5 Fox River Sanctuary Waukesha

American Bittern 5/8 Wehr Nature Center

Olive-sided Flycatcher 5/15 Wehr Nature Center

Prothonotary Warbler, male 5/15 Wehr Nature Center

Canada Warbler,  female 5/15 Wehr Nature Center

Wilson’s Warbler, male 5/15 Wehr Nature Center

Canada Warbler, male 5/17 Wehr Nature Center

Magnolia Warbler, female 5/17 Wehr Nature Center

Bay-breasted Warbler, male 5/17 Wehr Nature Center

Chestnut-sided Warbler, male 5/17 Wehr Nature Center

Northern Parula, female 5/17 Wehr Nature Center

American Redstart, male, 1st summer 5/17 Wehr Nature Center

Blackburnian Warbler, female 5/17 Wehr Nature Center

Green Heron 5/17 Wehr Nature Center

Canada Warbler, male 5/17 Wehr Nature Center

Bay-breasted Warbler, male 5/17 Wehr Nature Center

Warblers and more at Wehr Nature Center in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on May 16-17, 2026

By | | ,
3 Comments

The last couple of days I have birded at Wehr Nature Center and the surrounding area for warblers. Things have picked up some for warblers with a couple warmer days now. Still not like the warbler days back 4-5 years ago but still a fun time to be out finding these tiny birds and trying to get photos of them too. You always seem to find other birds than warblers and that is fun too. Mild days with some breeze, partly cloudy skies and temps in the 60’s-70’s. Images were taken on May 16-17, 2026.

Canada Warbler, male

Magnolia Warbler, male

Bay-breasted Warbler, male

Chestnut-sided Warbler, male

Northern Parula, female

American Redstart, male, 1st summer

Blackburnian Warbler, female

American Redstart, female

Green Heron

Canada Warbler, male

Bay-breasted Warbler, male

Olive-sided Flycatcher and more at Wehr Nature Center in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on May 15, 2026

By | | ,
2 Comments

My first birding stop today was Wehr Nature Center and my last. I went back and forth to different locations around that area. The creek area was the best on and off and the bird of the day was the Olive-sided Flycatcher. Warblers were on and off as it has been all week. I got nice looks at the warblers Prothonotary, Canada, Bay-breasted and a Wilson’s. Other warblers that were around Chestnut-sided, American Redstarts and a Black and white. What made the Olive-sided Flycatcher special for me today is that I got this species a couple of days ago at Esterbrook Park making it Wisconsin life bird for me #391 but could not get a decent photo due to conditions. Today at Wehr, the Olive-sided Flycatcher put on a great show for me for 20 minutes and I got plenty of photos of it at tree tops and then going for flying insects and back to the tree top which is what this bird does. It was a pleasant day to be out birding with low winds, mostly sunny skies and temps around 70 degrees. Images were taken on May 15th 2026.

The Olive-sided Flycatcher…

Prothonotary Warbler

Canada Warbler

Wilson’s Warbler

 

Great Horned Owl and Barred Owl owlets in Waukesha and Milwaukee Counties on May 9, 2026

By | | ,
1 Comment

This is the time of the year for warblers but the warblers are not showing up as expected. Next week is typically the best we I think here in SE Wisconsin but time will tell. So warblers being slow I decided to check out a couple of Great Horned and Barred Owl locations to see if the owlets are out of the nest. Two locations gave nice views of both species of owl owlets.

The Barred Owl owlet at a distance Milwaukee County…

An adult Barred Owl watching the owlet from a distance…

The Great Horned Owl owlet Waukesha County…

American Bittern at Wehr Nature Center in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on May 8, 2026

By | | ,
Leave a comment

Early this morning I heard rumblings of an American Bittern at Wehr Nature Center and since I was going there for warblers anyways I thought I would check it out. The bittern was present and giving nice looks from the warbler bridge there. Light was not the best for photos being early but the bird put on a great show moving around below the pond bank there. It eventually moved out into some cattails and out of sight. It was a nice day with some early sun and some winds came later. A few warblers were seen but pretty slow for this time of year. Images were taken on May 8, 2026.

Below the bank of the pond the American Bittern moves along slowly…

In and out of sticks, branches and brush…

Here catching something to eat…

Prothonotary Warbler and Palm Warblers at the Fox River Sanctuary in Waukesha County Wisconsin on May 5, 2026

By | | ,
1 Comment

As far as the big push of warblers coming though this part of the state it has not happened yet. Some great species have showed up and still waiting for others. Today at the Fox River Sanctuary a Prothonotary Warbler caught my eye along the river bank. Other warblers present there were Palms and the Yellow-rumped. It was actually a quiet few minute at that stop, but a Prothonotary is always a nice find. It was a cool morning early with temps around 45 degrees and mostly sunny skies with a few clouds now and then. Images were taken on May 5, 2026.

Prothonotary Warbler

Prothonotary Warbler

The Prothonotary Warbler was getting spiders and insects continually along the river bank…

Always flying from branch to branch along the river bank brush finding things to eat…

Palm Warbler just up from bathing in a puddle…

Palm Warbler

Palm Warbler

Blue-grey Gnatcatcher and more at Wehr Nature Center in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on May 3, 2026

By | |
2 Comments

Migration is on and one of my birding stops this morning was Wehr Nature Center. All the crab apple and apple trees are in full bloom making a great photo opportunity if you can find some of the Blue-grey Gnatcatchers or warblers in them finding things to eat. Blue-grey Gnatcatchers were present along with a Nashville warbler and a flock of Cedar Waxwings came through briefly too. There was a 15 minute moment where that took place and then the birds disappeared for the rest of the time I was there. It was a mild morning but with some steady winds out of the south east, moistly sunny skies. Images were taken on May 3, 2026.

Nashville Warbler looking for things to eat…

Blue-grey Gnatcatcher

Blue-grey Gnatcatcher looking for caterpillars or gnats…

Cedar Waxwing eating a flower petal…

Blue-grey Gnatcatcher finding things to eat…

Nashville Warbler

Blue-grey Gnatcatcher going for something to eat…

Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, something in the bill to eat…

Sharp-tailed Grouse at Namekagon Barrens Wildlife Area in Burnett County Wisconsin on April 26, 2026

By | | ,
Leave a comment

I decided to try for the Sharp-tailed Grouse at Namekagon Barrens Wildlife Area in Burnett County. This bird is considered a Special Concern species in Wisconsin. They have a blind and I got on this idea back in March when they were available to book. A very nice program they have to see this species. I need the Sharp-tailed Grouse for a Wisconsin life bird and this is one way to try for it. I asked Jacob C. if he wanted to come along and he jumped at the opportunity. What is required for this blind opportunity is you must be in the blind at 4:30 am as they want you in your blind 1 hour before sun up so you are settled in when the birds come to the area for their courtship displays at sunrise. The birds showing up to me, this is never a given with wildlife. So we went up a day early and did some scouting around at Namekagon WA which is about 6,500 acres. Just walking around we raised 4 birds, watched them fly off to other areas, it was very exciting. We also wanted to try for them a day early as a 95 percent chance of rain was predicted for the next morning. The next morning we walked 15-20 minute walk in the dark to the blind just before 4:30 am. All of the sudden around 5:30 just getting light 17 birds showed up and they were making a ton of noise and a lot of action too doing their thing. It was very low light at that time but a couple photos were captured as it started to rain. As the rain came, the birds stood still, the displaying was over. The just stood there for about 15 minutes. All of the sudden they all flew off the it was game over. We hung around for over an hour but the birds never returned. We felt the event was complete other than great photos of some of the action as it was too dark when the show was on. The experience was complete because we heard all the displaying sounds, we saw the action, we experienced the walking the land and kicking up a few birds a day earlier which anyone would do walking a wildlife area. I got my Wisconsin life bird #390. It was a couple cold days of high in the low 50’s with steady 8-9 mile an hour winds out of the east Sunday day 1, and Monday a little less winds but wet and cold early morning. Images were taken on April 4, 2026.

A couple of the 17 Sharp-tailed Grouse…

Another…

The blind…

Viewing area…

Willets at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on April 23, 2026

By | | ,
Leave a comment

One of my birding stops this morning on the Milwaukee lakefront gave great looks at Willets. They were spread out some and some were feeding while I was present. There were 10 of them. This beach is actually just north of McKinley but part of that area. It was a sunny day with mild temps around 50 with low winds. Images were taken on April 23, 2026.

3 of them…

Finding things to eat…

Something in the bill…

A pair…

Preening…

Finding more to eat…

Awesome shorebird…

Leucistic American Robin at the Fox River Sanctuary in Waukesha Wisconsin on April 22, 2026

By | | ,
1 Comment

One of my birding stops today was the Fox River Sanctuary in Waukesha. Almost right out of the car was a Leucistic American Robin feeding in the grass finding things to eat. I took a few quick photos as the bird was busy hopping around in the grass not minding my presence. It was a pleasant morning out with sun and low winds, temps in the upper 40’s early on. Images were taken on April 22, 2026.

What a beautiful bird!

Getting something to eat here, small insect…

A green worm in the bill…

Just looking…

Piping Plover in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on April 22, 2026

By | |
2 Comments

I heard a report of a Piping Plover being seen early this morning in Milwaukee County so I thought I would check it out. I was in the area so why not. After some looking I found the bird at waters edge and it was finding things to eat. This is a banned bird and there is some information on it below. This species is considered endangered in Wisconsin. At one time it was said there were 500 to 800 pairs of Piping Plovers nesting in the Great Lakes region, but by 1990, that number had declined to about a dozen pairs, all in northern Michigan. It was a pleasant morning with temps around 45 degree and mostly sunny skies, very little wind. Images were taken on April 22, 2026.

TAG INFORMATION:  The piping plover is a 2 year old female who bred last year in Cathead Bay in Michigan. Part of the Leelanau State Park.

Finding things to eat…

Something in the bill to eat…

Something on the end of the bill, it is what they eat…

Yellow-throated Warbler at Doctors Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on April 17, 2026

By | | ,
5 Comments

A Yellow-throated Warbler, male was being reported at Doctors Park in Milwaukee County. A rare bird for this part of the state as their range is more the very far SW corner of the state and then south.  I was at Lake Park birding and being so close by I made the run up there to check it out. It was present giving nice views. It was near and at the park pavilion back and forth while I was there. The bird found things to eat at the pavilion on louvers and corners of the outside of the building, etc. It also fed on the ground eating what appeared a web of some insect under a picnic table. Thank you to the finder of this bird, I think Mark K and for getting the word out for others to see it. It was a cool day on the lake with temps around 50 degrees, cloudy skies and a breeze. Awesome bird! Images were taken on April 17, 2026.

The Yellow-throated Warbler leaving a branch…

Singing…

With a fly…

Swallowing the fly…

Getting things to eat off a louver at the pavilion…

Perched pretty…

Brown Creepers at Lake Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on April 9, 2026

By | | ,
Leave a comment

A stop at Lake Park in Milwaukee County this morning gave excellent views of Brown Creepers. Some of the trees there had 3 Brown Creepers climbing the tree at one time eating insects, bugs, etc. It was amazing to see so many at one location. It was a beautiful day with plenty of sun, warm temps around 60 degrees and sunny skies. Images were taken on April 9, 2026.

Brown Creeper

They blend in so well…

Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers at Lake Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on April 9, 2026

By | | ,
Leave a comment

When the sap is running in Milwaukee County a great place to stop to see Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers is Lake Park. I stopped today and they were there as the sap is running. There were a lot of birds present and they were very active getting sap from the trees. It is a cool event to see every year if you time it right and they make a stop at the park. Along with the Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers present were Brown Creepers, and there were very many of them too, probably the most I have ever seen at one location. It was a beautiful day with plenty of sun, warm temps around 60 degrees and sunny skies. Images were taken on April 9, 2026.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, male…

The male getting sap…

A female…

Getting that sap…

Brown Creeper

They blend in so well…

Killdeer on the Milwaukee Lakefront in Milwaukee County on March 25, 2026

By | | ,
Leave a comment

One of my birding stops today on the Milwaukee Lakefront gave great looks at a pair of Killdeer. They on occasion fed on things they find in the gavel and a couple of the photos captured one with what I thought was a caterpillar in the bill. I think they will be building a nest at this location soon.  I nice day with cooler temps but sunny skies at times. Images were taken on March 25, 2026.

Wings up…

The Killdeer calling…

The Killdeer finding a caterpillar…

With caterpillar in bill…

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

By | | ,
1 Comment

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

By | | ,
2 Comments

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

By | | ,
2 Comments

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

By | | ,
2 Comments

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…