A stop at the Fox River this morning had a good looking Hooded Merganser, this male put on a great show. There was a female in the area but did not come around for the photo shoot. This river will freeze up in a few days with the very cold weather coming so it may not be around long. It was a nice December morning with some sun, mild temps around 36 degree and light winds. Images were taken on December 30, 2024.
Hooded Merganser, male stretching…
Just cruising…
Going to stretch…
Beautiful!
I typically stop at the Fox River in Waukesha for a birding stop in winter months and this morning there were a very large number of Canada Geese. The most I have seen this winter 500-600, they were the length of the river in town, bridge to bridge. I took my bins an started going through them and one caught my eye. The head coloring was different so I got out of the car for some quick photos as birds can leave in seconds. This turns out to be a Quill Lake Goose. It remained there, I watched it for about 5 minutes and then left. It was a cloudy day with a few rain drops coming down, but mild temps around 44 degrees. Images were taken on December 27, 2024.
The Quill Lake Goose stretching…
The Quill Lake Goose stretching…
The Quill Lake Goose with a Canada Goose…
One of my birding stops today was at the Fox River in Waukesha near Frame Park. A Hooded Merganser that is a young male was present. It put on a nice show hanging out with Mallard ducks, it seemed to fit right in with them. It was a mostly cloudy day, cold temps around 28 degrees with a slight wind blowing. Images were taken on December 22, 2024.
The Hooded Merganser, young male stretching…
It was a fun day photographing the beauty of the Wood Ducks in Milwaukee County. The fall colors add an extra dash of color to these beautiful ducks. They were very active at times and sometimes just doing nothing but hanging out. It was mostly sunny with temps at 44 degrees to start. Images were taken on October 17, 2024.
Wood Duck, male
Wood Duck, male
Wood Duck, juvenile female
Wood Duck, juvenile male
Wood Duck, juvenile male, the reflection…
Wood Duck, male with a berry…
Wood Duck, male
Wood Duck, juvenile male with a berry…
Wood Duck, male
Wood Duck, juvenile female
Wood Duck, juvenile male
Wood Duck, juvenile male with a berry…
Wood Duck, male, the colors are stunning!
Driving through Jackson Park in Milwaukee gave nice looks at a Greater- White-fronted Goose. It was hanging around with about 25 Canada Geese. It has been reported on and off the last week and I thought I would try my like at seeing it, it was there when I was there. When I was present and dog walker not knowingly moved the geese into the pond. It must be a common thing at the city park. It was a nice sunny day with pleasant temps around 45 degrees. Images were taken on April 19, 2024.
The Greater White-fronted Goose on shore near the Canada Geese…
Feeding with the Canada Geese…
After getting into the pond to avoid any dog…
Preening…
Off it goes to the middle area of the pond…
It was a fun day photographing the beauty of the Wood Ducks in Milwaukee County. They were very active at times and sometimes just doing nothing but hanging out. It was mostly sunny with steady north winds making it cold with temps at 36 degrees. Images were taken on March 28, 2024.
Wood Duck, this male stretching…
Wood Duck, female, that color on the head…just up from a dive…
Just looking pretty…
Beautiful male Wood Duck…
Stunning female Wood Duck…
x
This female Wood Duck just up from a dive under…
A stop this morning at the Fox River in Waukesha provided nice views of a I’m assuming female Hooded Merganser. Also present was a female Common Merganser. They swam around the river finding things to eat. The pedestrian traffic along the river usually keeps visiting ducks in the middle of the river. I got a break once when this cutie was a little closer to the shore. It was a cold morning with temps around 30 degrees and pretty good winds out of the north coming down the river. The full sun did not help warm things up till mid morning. Images were taken on March 10, 2024.
The female Hooded Merganser…
The female Hooded Merganser…
Has a fish and ate it too…
The female Common Merganser…
Windy day, feathers up…
Another …
It was a fun day photographing the beauty of the Wood Ducks at a city park in Milwaukee. They were very active at times and sometimes just doing nothing but hanging out. It was mostly sunny with steady north winds making it cold with temps at 44 degrees. Images were taken on October 9, 2023
Wood Duck, male
Wood Duck, female
Wood Duck, male
Wood Duck, male preening…
Wood Duck, male
Wood Duck, female
Wood Duck, male first year…
Wood Duck, male
Wood Duck, male
Wood Duck, male
Wood Duck, female
One of my birding stops today provided nice views of a Ross’s Goose in one of the fields at Veterans Park. It was hanging with about 15 Canada Geese feeding on the lawn area. I did not come across any other birds to note at my morning stops, just normal species we see this time of year. It was a nice morning out with some sun, low winds and mild temps around 45 degrees. Images were taken on April 20, 2023
The Ross’s Goose…
Feeding on some grass…
Piece of grass in the bill…
A stop at the Fox River in Waukesha provided nice views of a pair of Redhead Ducks. The male and female centrally located themselves in the middle of the river with pedestrian traffic and dog walkers but it was nice to see a new species of duck there. A few times they found a few things to eat to diving. A beautiful morning with plenty of sunshine, no wind and pleasant temps around 32 degrees early. Images were taken on February 26, 2023.
The pair of Redhead Ducks, male left, female on the right…
The male…
The female…
Just another shot…
One of my birding stops today was Greenfield Park. Not much has been going on there but I saw a flock of Mallards land in on a little open water so I thought I would take a closer look. One beautiful looking male Wood Duck was in the flock swimming around with the Mallards. The Wood Duck seemed to be hanging with a female Mallard. Starting to look like a few birds are coming north. Also I had nice looks at a Red-winged Blackbird. It was cloudy, no wind, nice temps around 43 degrees. Images were taken on February 20, 2023.
The Wood Duck, male…
The Wood Duck hanging with the female Mallard…
Word was out that the Mandarin Duck that was seen last December and early January had returned to South Shore Yacht Club in Milwaukee this morning. If it is the same duck, probably is, it was hiding somewhere else for about the last month. Anyways it put on a nice show this morning and followed a female Mallard around while I was there. It will be interesting if it hangs around. This bird is not a wild bird and considered an escapee, still fun to see. It was a sunny morning but very cold with a good wind out of the north early morning. Images were taken on February 10, 2023.
The Mandarin Duck…
Up on shore for a moment…
In the wave…
One of my birding stops today gave nice views of a Mute Swan at Frame Park on the Fox River in Waukesha. The Mute Swan fed the whole time I was present except for a minute when it did a little preening. The river was fully open with no ice when I was there around 9:00 am. Also present were a handful of Common Goldeneye and of course Mallards along with roughly 200 Canada Geese. A little sun in the morning but started to haze over with mild temps around 32 degrees, low winds. Images were taken on January 15, 2023.
The Mute Swan, just hanging out on the river getting things to eat…
Going down for something to eat…
Just out of the water…
Preening…
One of my birding stops today provided nice looks at 2 Trumpeter Swans at the Bark River Trail in Waukesha County. The Trumpeters fed the whole time I was present. It was stirring the water with their feet, diving and eating what they stirred up. A few Mallards were present always trying to get in by them for that food. It was a pleasant morning with temps around 26 degrees for the start of January and a nice sunny day to go along with that, low winds. Images were taken on January 9, 2023.
One of two Trumpeter Swans present…
Stirring up the river bottom getting food…
Down for food…
Just up from under water…
Feeding, this was typical…
More stirring the river bottom for food…
Going down for feeding…
Word was out that a Mandarin Duck was present at South Shore Yacht Club in Milwaukee. I have never seen one and being considered one of the most beautiful ducks I decided to make a run down to see if it was present. Yes it was, along with other birders and photographers. This bird is not a wild bird and considered an escapee, still fun to see. What a beautiful bird!! Nice sun in the morning and warming temps near 50 expected. Images were taken on December 29, 2022.
Preening…
In the water at a distance…
While out birding I came across a beautiful Hooded Merganser that was a juvenile female. It gave nice views for a few minutes before moving off. It was a partly cloudy day with low winds but temperature were around 37 degrees, sorta chilly. Images were taken on November 14, 2022.
The Hooded Merganser…
Down for a drink…
Some preening…
More preening…
In coming…
Nice looking duck…
Just a little shaking off…
It was a fun day photographing the beauty of the Wood Ducks and Mallards at a city park in Milwaukee. They were very active at times and sometimes just doing nothing but sitting around.
Wood Duck, male with a crab apple…
Wood Duck, male…
Wood Duck, female with a crab apple…
Wood Duck, male…
Mallard, female with a crab apple…
Wood Duck, male…
Wood Duck, male…
Mallard, female with a crab apple…
Wood Duck, female with a crab apple…
Wood Duck, male stretching…
Wood Duck, male…
Wood Duck, male with a crab apple…
Wood Duck, female
Mallard, female with a crab apple…
Mallard, female, crab apple that got away…
Mallard, female with a crab apple…
Just a good looking Wood Duck, male…
Wood Duck, male…
Wood Duck, male…
Wood Duck, female…with a crab apple…
Wood Duck, male…that wind…
Wood Duck, male…talking…
When I saw the report of a Brown Booby being reported in La Crosse Wisconsin it sounded impossible! A bird that lives south of the US in the oceans of Mexico, east and west was a bird I wanted on my WI life list. It was too late in the day to make the run up there as it would be dark but put together a trip for early morning. Jym and Nathanal went along for the ride with me. Leaving at 3 am from Waukesha and arriving at 5:30 am worked out well, a few minutes before light. After about 20 minutes the bird was found opposite the eagle watch parking lot on the other side of the Black River perched in a tree. After about 15 minutes the bird left the perch and flew around some over the open water, eventually landing in the water. The next couple of hours the bird repeated the flying and landing on the water giving excellent views and pretty far for photos every 10 minutes but never came close up but remained towards the other side of the river or body of water opening. What a great find, the original finder of the exciting bird was Tim Collins, and it was actually found 2 days earlier, this being the 3rd day. A big thank you to Tim for getting the word out on this bird. It was a beautiful morning with temps around 60 degrees and no wind and some clouds. I hope it hangs around for a while for others to enjoy. Life bird #370 for my Wisconsin life list.
At first decent light, the Brown Booby was found perched in a tree on the other side of the river…
Brown Booby during one of its flights over the river at a distance…
In flight…
Just floating around, the bird seemed to be comfortable…
In flight, the bird put on a great show!
In flight…
There have been a few birding surprises this spring and they have not stopped showing up yet. In Dane County a Fulvous Whistling-Duck was found and the word got out. We were up north when I saw the post in wisbird, but only a little over an hour drive I thought it was a smart move to head south. This is only the second Wisconsin state record for this bird species so it is very rare here in the state. The normal range for this duck is central Mexico coastlines, South America, Florida east coast and is known to breed on the east Texas coast. I need it on my state life list! No wasting time we arrive and a few birders were around to give some pointers on where to see this gem. With about a 1/4 mile hike walking at top speed I came to a shoreline with other birders, we did not see the duck! After a partial walk back and communication with others we went back to the spot and it was along the shore sorta tucked in. It flew out off of the shore and gave nice views for a few minutes. What a beautiful duck and a new state life bird #366. A big thank you goes out to Marcus Brown for getting the word out on this duck for others to see. As of 4:00 PM 5/17/22, the bird had not been relocated on this day, so one day wonder? It will be interesting to see if this bird is re-found in the days ahead.It was a beautiful day with plenty of sun, low winds. Images were taken on May 16, 2022.
The Fulvous Whistling-Duck about 150 feet from shore…
Incoming…but turned around..
The Fulvous Whistling-Duck with a female Mallard…they hung around together for a few minutes while I was there…
I had the opportunity to photograph some Wood Ducks and did not pass it up. These beautiful ducks gave nice views on a gorgeous sunny day but with the wind it almost felt like winter. Images were taken on April 14, 2022.
Wood Duck, male
Wood Duck, male
Wood Duck, female
Wood Duck, female
Wood Duck, male
Wood Duck, male
Wood Duck, female
Wood Duck, male
Wood Duck, male
Wood Duck, male
Wood Duck, male on the run…
