Shorebirds

Short-billed Gull at Whitefish Dunes State Park in Door County Wisconsin on July 30, 2025

I saw a report of a rare to the area, Short-billed Gull being seen at Whitefish Dunes State Park on Lake Michigan in Door County on July 23. I made 3 trips up to Door County over the last week to look for this gull and on the 3rd try today I was rewarded with finding the gull. The normal range for this gull is the US west coast through Alaska, it is considered a second-cycle gull. When I arrived at 8:00 am I was the only person on the beach and there was only 1 flock of 500 gulls to look through. I looked the flock over well twice in 30 minutes. Gulls were coming in as they do so I just continued to keep looking through them. All of the sudden right in front of me 75 feet away I spotted the gull. I finally found one different from the rest with a short bill, some brown on the upper back and grayish legs. This was different from the other Ring-billed Gulls and a few American Herring in the flock. I also spotted a Laughing Gull. To say the least, it was a very exciting moment after 2 other tries. There are other state records but it has been many years, someone said 2007 but I’m not sure on that. Formally called a Mew Gull. Original finder of this gull back on July 23 was Tom Prestby, a big thank you to him for the find and getting the word out for others to come try for this exciting gull. It was a pleasant morning with cloudy skies, and a light breeze off Lake Michigan with temps around 65 degrees. Images were taken on July 30, 2025. Wisconsin Life Bird #383

The Short-billed Gull…

Short-billed Gull stretching next to a Ring-billed Gull…

After some good time had passed a few visitors started walking the beach. This gull started to move around some with others, a few gulls took to the lake.

Some preening took place…

The Laughing Gull on the other end of the flock…this bird was flushed early on by walkers…

Kelp Gull nesting with an American Herring Gull producing a hybrid chick at Jones Island in Milwaukee Wisconsin on June 14, 2025

By admin | June 14, 2025 - 2:15 pm |June 14, 2025 Bird Categories, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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A super rare gull, a Kelp Gull is currently nesting with an American Herring Gull on Milwaukee’s Lakefront. The nest is on top of a cargo warehouse on Jones Island along Lake Michigan. The Kelp Gull is typically found in Southern South American, Africa, New Zealand and Australia, so it is very rare even in the US. Thoughts now are that it may have nested at the same location last year. Where this gull goes when not at the nest is unknown. Both adults appear to take turns protecting the chick near the nest (5-10′ from nest), but sometimes too, both adults are present. After some time had passed the Kelp Gull decided to take to the sky and head east then north out over the lake. An amazing find by Tom Schultz while biking across the Hoan Bridge during a biking event at the lakefront early May. The Kelp Gull identification was confirmed by Amar Ayyash. This would obviously be a Wisconsin state life bird for me so it was a must for me to check it all out. It was a beautiful morning out arriving at 5:30 AM with temps around 58 degrees and a good wind off the lake out of the east, mostly sunny skies while I was there. I had my winter close on! Lifebird #381 for Wisconsin. Images were taken on June 14, 2025.

The Kelp Gull with the Kelp x American Herring Gull (hybrid) chick

The mate, the American Herring Gull with the hybrid chick…also a couple of American Herring chicks on the left…

Decided to leave the nest area and head east and then north over the lake…

Both the Kelp and American Herring Gull with the chick on the nest…the chick is looking at us…

Nest is at end of the red arrow…

Some gull harassing going on here…

Kelp Gull next to nest…

Franklin’s Gull at Bradford Beach in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on May 17, 2025

By admin | May 19, 2025 - 7:50 pm |May 19, 2025 Bird Categories, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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While birding Lake Michigan on the lakefront in Milwaukee a Franklin’s Gull gave great views. It was by itself on the beach on May 17, 2025. It was partly cloudy, cool temps around 50 degrees and light winds. Images were taken on May 17, 2025.

The Franklin’s Gull…

At a distance…

Laughing Gull at South Shore Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on May 24, 2024

By admin | May 24, 2024 - 6:59 pm |May 24, 2024 Bird Categories, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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One of my birding stops this morning gave nice views of a 1st year Laughing Gull. This gull was not in full breeding plumage yet being a 1st year but still a cool gull to find. This location was at the beach at South Shore Park in Bay View. Laughing Gulls come up as a rare bird for this area, typically see a couple every year here in Southeastern Wisconsin. It was a morning with some sun, light breeze, mild temps. Images were taken on May 24, 2024.

The 1st year Laughing Gull…

Preening…

Scratching…

More preening…

And more preening…

Glaucous-winged Gull at Prairie du Sac Dam in Sauk County Wisconsin on February 18, 2024

By admin | February 18, 2024 - 12:51 pm |February 19, 2024 Bird Categories, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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Late Saturday afternoon I got wind of a very rare for Wisconsin, an adult Glaucous-winged Gull, being reported at the Prairie du Sac Dam in Sauk County. This gull noamally winters on the west coast of California and breeds along the west coast of Canada and Alaska in the summer. I needed this bird for my Wisconsin life list so I thought I might as well try for it. I arrived there at the dam early morning with plenty darkness. As it got lighter more birders showed up. It was seen by a couple of birders about 30 minutes after it got light but I did not get my eyes on it. There were easily 200 plus gulls flying over the Wisconsin River so it was very challenging to spot for this gull. After another hour or so had passed, it was once again re-found and I got some distant photos shooting into the sun just below the dam. It gave nice views but photos were another story. It was seen for 5 minutes and then it was out of sight again. It was a sunny morning with mild temps with a little bit of a breeze. Photos taken on February 18, 2024. Wisconsin life bird #376.

Ancient Murrelet at George Pinney County Park in Door County Wisconsin on November 21, 2023

By admin | November 21, 2023 - 7:06 pm |November 21, 2023 Bird Categories, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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It was 12 noon and I saw a message of a Ancient Murrelet in Door County! The exact location was George Pinney County Park. It looked like a 3 hour drive and it looked like I had enough daylight to get there with some time to look for it. Wow, what a great bird and rare bird for the state. They winter on the California coast and breed on the west coast from Canada thru Alaska. When I arrived there were a group of birders on the bird which was about 75-100 feet from shore. It was diving often and gave nice looks when up. Wow again on this bird! A big thank you to the person who found this bird and got the word out for others to see it. I hope it hangs around for a while. My Wisconsin life bird #375. Another Ancient Murrelet was also seen in Ashland County Wisconsin just yesterday. It was a cloudy day with a light breeze out of the north. Images were taken on November 21, 2023

The Ancient Murrelet…

The Ancient Murrelet did a lot of diving while I was there…

Iceland Gull at Frame Park on the Fox River in Waukesha on November 20, 2023

By admin | November 20, 2023 - 1:29 pm |November 20, 2023 Bird Categories, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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I typically stop at the Fox River in the mornings this time of year when birding and it has really been quiet. Today was the first surprise this fall with a 2nd cycle Iceland Gull, Kumlien’s subspecies. I have never seen one before on the Fox River. It is a place where Ring-billed Gulls hang out year round. A couple of Ring-billed Gulls dived at this bird while I was there, it looked like they did not want it around. After a few minutes looking up and down the river I turned around and the gull was gone, but probably still in the area. It was a gloomy morning with cloudy skies, low winds, but mild temps for this time of year. Images were taken on November 20, 2023.

The 2nd cycle Iceland Gull, Kumlien’s subspecies…

With a Ring-billed Gull…

Taking off…

Black-headed Gull at South Side Municipal Beach in Sheboygan Wisconsin on June 13, 2022

By admin | June 13, 2022 - 4:05 pm |June 14, 2022 Bird Categories, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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I saw a report of a rare Black-headed Gull found at Sheboygan’s North Point late evening. I got up early and headed to Sheboygan and was there at sun up. After doing some searching at different locations and coming up empty I got a message that there were a lot of Bonaparte Gulls at South Side Municipal Beach. I checked it out and there were a 1,000 gulls there! I messaged a bunch of birding friends that were at North Point and they came over to help in the search. After looking about 45 minutes the gull was found. We all stayed very far away from the gulls as they took a large section of the beach shoreline, not wanting to flush them. It was preening most of the time and hard to spot. All I could capture was one photo from the event but it was enough to make it my 369th Wisconsin life bird. It was a gorgeous morning with temps around 58 degrees, low winds and sunshine. Images were taken on June 13, 2022.

The Black-headed Gull in the middle of the photo with the reddish bill…

A small part of the overall gull population on the beach…

One time a walker flushed the birds, they took to the sky but returned…

In search of the Black-headed Gull…the gulls a long ways away…

California Gull at Johnson Creek in Jefferson County Wisconsin on October 20, 2020

By admin | October 20, 2020 - 1:51 pm |October 20, 2020 Bird Categories, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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I saw the report of a California Gull, rare for this area at Johnson Creek and decided to check it out this morning. Far from it’s normal range of the west coast but some do come inland a few states off breeding season. I arrived at the location reported, a new large concrete Kwik Trip parking lot still under construction north of the interstate. When I arrived, present was Jim F in his car and had the gull already located. So that made it easy for me with the couple of hundred gulls present with some always coming and going. The gull did stand out though with the mantle being a little darker and the gull being a little larger than a Ring-billed Gull. It was resting when I arrived, eyes closed I would say. After about 25 minutes the gull coughed up a large pellet, I thought wow! A few minutes later it took flight and headed east towards the landfill. I noticed the gull only had one foot. A big thank you to Spence, Christin and Sandra for finding this awesome rare gull and getting the word out. Not a lifer as I saw one here back at this location in 2012. It was a cold cloudy morning, with some wind making it feel pretty cold! Images were taken on October 20, 2020.

The California Gull…with Ring-billed Gulls…

Resting when I arrived…

A wing stretch, leg stretch…1 foot…using its wing to balance…

Coughing up that LARGE pellet, which gulls do…

Maybe more to come but other gulls, Ring-billed Gulls looking on…

It was just time to take off I guess and head to the landfill…

The gulls were not flushed, it was just time to go…

Heading east…

The bill…

Preening…

Another one of when I arrived…

Bonaparte’s Gulls at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin on April 15, 2019

By admin | April 15, 2019 - 7:10 pm |April 15, 2019 Bird Categories, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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I birded some of the lakefront this morning in Milwaukee and it was pretty slow. The only place I could find a little action was north of McKinley Beach at the gravel beach. There were Bonaparte’s Gulls feeding heavy there, about 20 of them, thinking these are all adults. Some Ring-billed Gulls were also present standing on the shore by the Bonaparte’s and appeared they weren’t happy that someone was in their fishing spot! After some shots, more Ring-billed Gulls came in and I left. I photographed the Bonaparte’s Gulls last year a few feet away at McKinley Beach on April 16, one day off! It was a beautiful morning even though there was 3″ of snow on the ground with 29 degrees when I walked along the shore. Images were taken on April 15, 2019.

Bonaparte’s Gull, adult

Something in the bill to eat…

Something in the bill, feeding on crustaceans or marine worms…

Something in the bill, probably feeding on crustaceans or marine worms…

Looking for something to eat, then the heads goes down and they get it…

Something in the bill…

Flying by…

Flying by….

Just before landing…

How they are grouped up sometimes when they feed along the shore, they sit in the waves at the shore…this is typical…

A close up…

Turning the head to grab something here…

Just looking for something to eat…

One of the Ring-billed Gulls watches from the shore, they are in my fishing spot!

Herring Gull enjoys some of a Rock Bass at the Fox River in Waukesha Wisconsin on February 20, 2019

By admin | February 20, 2019 - 2:38 pm |February 20, 2019 Bird Categories, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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I just birded around some of the Waukesha area today with the snowy-misty weather. I stopped at a couple places in Waukesha along the Fox River and the highlight was a Herring Gull eating a Rock Base that it had just captured. I’m not sure how it actually got the fish but I can assume it dove for it. When I saw the Herring Gull on the ice at waters edge, the fish was still flopping around. The gull stabbed the Rock Bass very many times to finally kill it while taking bites in between. It took quite a few stabs to really put this fish out! When it appeared to be finished eating the fish for the time being, it rinsed the fish in the river, what was left of it and set it back on the ice, maybe for later. At the end of the event, the gull went in for a drink. It was misting out with 32 degrees during the event with gray skies. Images were taken on February 20, 2019

*Some images could be graphic*

Herring Gull stabbing the Rock Bass when I approached…

Turning the fish over…

Taking a few steps with the fish as it had slide towards the water…

Going to set the fish down…

Tail of the fish still moving…

A bite to eat here…

Taking a couple of bites…the tail still moving…

More bites…

Here, pulling something off to eat…

Eating some of the good stuff in side, some of the entrails…

More good stuff…

And more good stuff…

Picking up the fish and taking it over to the water for a rinse…

Just before the rinse…

The rinse…

Then back up on the ice…

Then a short walk to set it down…

Setting the fish down…

At the end, the gull goes in for a drink…

Arctic Tern in Sheboygan Wisconsin on June 15, 2018

By admin | June 15, 2018 - 8:09 pm |June 17, 2018 Bird Categories, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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After returning home from birding some of the lakefront in Milwaukee in the morning I realized my birding was not finished for the day. I saw the rare bird report of an Arctic Tern found by Amy K up at Sheboygan. I needed this bird for my Wisconsin state life list so I decided to make the run up around 12:30 pm. My last try for this species was back on May 21, 2016 when there was one present at the time of seeing the famous White-winged Tern in Manitowoc, but I missed that bird by a day. I got a hold of Amy and she told me exactly where she saw the Arctic Tern and from where. I picked up Bruce on the way up as he had an interest in seeing this bird. We arrived around 2:00 pm and went to the hot spot, the Blue Harbor Pier. We could see very many gulls and some terns from the pier on the rocks in the harbor, but unfortunately it was too far to get an ID. We tried by the sailing club and met Barry B there, but could not ID the Arctic Tern 100% from there with the distance. None of us brought a scope! We knew our only hope was to wait for a birder with a scope to show up. Along came Davor G with his scope. We headed back over to the pier and with in a minute or two Davor had the tern in his scope. The bird was about 1/4 mile away from us so images are not much, just a couple of doc shots. Big thank you to Amy K for finding the rare bird and getting the word out to others, and Davor for nailing this bird in his scope. There was a lot of excitement had with all of us and a few birders that showed up after the big find. A mostly sunny period when I was there, stiff breeze off the lake where, felt very cool and it made me have to have two light coats on. Images were taken on June 15, 2018.

Arctic Tern surrounded by Common Terns…bird is a couple inches above the round hole in the rock…image taken at about 1/4 mile from tern..

Red arrow to see the tern location…just above the round hole in the rock…

Arctic Tern

Binomial name: Sterna paradisaea

Category: Gulls, Tern, and Skimmers

Size: 12” long, 31” wing span

Weight: 3.9 oz

Note: Breeding grounds for this species is the High Arctic and wintering is in the Antarctic, migrating across the oceans each year, what a distance!

Preening…

Head turned in as it was preening…

A Laughing Gull was also present giving nice views at a distance from the Sailing Club…

Caspian Terns at Bradford Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin on April 18, 2018

By admin | April 18, 2018 - 3:47 pm |April 18, 2018 Bird Categories, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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Birding along the Milwaukee lakefront I found my first Caspian Terns of the year. From the parking lot I saw 3 on the beach nearby a flock of Ring-billed Gulls. When I got on the beach area, 1 lone tern was present as pedestrians were in the area and must have flushed the other 2 birds. The bird took to the sky twice as I stood at a distance and observed. Only new birds for the year I saw today. A cloudy day, still cold around 30 degrees with the wind out of the north with more snow expected. Images were taken on April 18, 2018.

Caspian Tern

In flight…

Bonaparte’s Gulls at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin on April 16, 2018

By admin | April 16, 2018 - 9:27 pm |April 27, 2018 Bird Categories, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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Stopping at McKinley Beach this morning gave nice views of Bonaparte’s Gulls feeding in the wave action hitting the shore. We see them for a very short time in spring in migration so I tried to capture some of what they do while they make brief stops in the area heading north. It was a light snow flurry day with cool temps and still winter coat weather even though it is mid April with good snow on the ground. Images were taken on April 16, 2018

Bonaparte’s Gulls lined up along the wave action on the shoreline finding things to eat…

Something to eat in the bill….

Watching and waiting for the next piece of food….

Just waiting for the sight of food…

Feeding on the wave…

It’s a matter of survival, in search of food, it’s all eyes…

Looking and waiting for food…has something on the left…

One on the left has something…

On shore, did some preening….

Something in the bill…

Trying to balance here…

Just flew in…

It is all about getting something to eat…

Just flew in…

Got something to eat here..

Reaching for something….

Laughing Gull at the Port Washington Harbor in Ozaukee County Wisconsin on February 28, 2018

By admin | February 28, 2018 - 8:07 pm |March 1, 2018 Bird Categories, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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I made a run up to Port Washington in Ozaukee County early this morning in hopes to see the Laughing Gull that was reported yesterday. Upon arriving at 7:00 am, I could see the adult Laughing Gull after making about 10 steps away from the car. Wow, what a stunning gull! This gull is rare here as it is a East Coast bird that. The gull was located at the rough beach-sandy shore on the north end of the marina. The bird pretty much ate most of the time I observed it, on and off during a 3 hour stay, I traveled to Coal Dock Park for awhile and then returned. Ring-billed Gulls gave it a hard time on and off with a little chasing. The harbor was full of gulls everywhere you looked. Hopefully more rare birds will be found at this location as it has been really great most of the winter. Birders I have not seen for awhile showed for this gull, Daryl T, Tom W, Ted K and John M. We all had a fun time enjoying the great show the gull put on and talking bird stories too. A big thank you to Barry Baumann for finding this bird yesterday and getting the word out for others to see it. This was not a life bird as I saw one at Coal Dock Park back in June of 2014. It was a beautiful morning with mild temps, low winds, and mostly sunny skies. Images were taken on February 28, 2018.

Laughing Gull, wet head just after some bathing…

Laughing Gull

Binomial name: Larus Atricilla

Category: Gulls,Terns, and Skimmers

Size: 16.5” long, 40” wing span

Weight: 11 Oz

Cool Fact: Normal range for this gull is the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast of the United States.