Category Archives: Bird Categories

American Flamingos, 3 adults and 2 juveniles at South Beach at Port Washington in Ozaukee County Wisconsin on September 22, 2023

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Are you kidding me? 5 American Flamingos giving great views  at South Beach at Port Washington in Ozaukee County this afternoon. I got a text message and I asked myself, are you kidding me? Within 5 minutes we were on the road headed to Port Washington. Arriving at the beach area, next to impossible to get a parking spot but did. Moments later at the beach area it was amazing to see 5 American Flamingos standing 40 feet off of shore resting. 3 Adults and 2 to juveniles have wandered out of their normal range which is the southern tip of Florida, Cuba and South American. This was so exciting!!! They rested the time I was there from probably a long flight. Life bird for Wisconsin #375! A sunny day with a nice breeze and mild temps. Images were taken on September 22, 2023.

American Flamingos, 2 adults and 1 juvenile.

American Flamingo, adult

The 5 of them…

American Flamingo, juvenile…

American Flamingo preening…

American Flamingo adult…

American Flamingos…

American Flamingo, adult…

Lesser Yellowlegs at the South Milwaukee Mill Pond in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on August 12, 2023

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One of my birding stops today gave nice looks at Lesser Yellowlegs at the South Milwaukee Mill Pond. Water level there is very low right now and it provides some great habitat for shorebirds migrating south. About 7 were present and often moved around on the pond feeding. It was a beautiful day with mild temps and plenty of sunshine with a nice breeze too. Images were taken on August 12, 2023.

A Lesser Yellowlegs looking for something to eat…

Going for something to eat…

Scratching…

Preening…

More preening…

Looking pretty…

Just resting…

Looking for something to eat…

And more preening…

Blooming Native Wildflowers in Wisconsin Summer 2023

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I have tried to capture some of the recent beauty of some summer blooming native wildflowers. Wildflower images have been taken in the yard here in Waukesha or Marquette County. Most wildflower here are native to Wisconsin. The summer started out with a few rains but things then dried up some with out a good rain for 6 weeks. A few recent rains in late July have brought on some nice blooms.

Red Bee Balm, Monarda didyma, not a Wisconsin native…

Pale Purple Coneflower, Echinacea palida

Fire Pink, Silene virginica

Smooth Phlox, Phlox glaberrima interior, endangered species in Wisconsin…

Poke Milkweed, Asclepias exaltata

Sand Coreopsis, Coreopsis lanceolata, villosa

Ozark Coneflower, Echinacea paradoxa, not a Wisconsin native…

Prairie Cinquefoil, Drymocallis arguta

Swamp Milkweed, Asclepias incarnata

Swamp Milkweed, Asclepias incarnata

Wild Quinine, Parthenium integrifolium

Purple Poppy Mallow, Callirhoe involucrata, not a Wisconsin native…

Wild Bergamot, Monarda fistulosa

Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta

Queen of the Prairie, Filipendula rubra

Michigan Lily, Lilium michiganense

Harebell, Campanula rotundifolia

California Poppy, Eschscholzia californica, not a Wisconsin native…

Royal Catchfly, Silene regia, not a Wisconsin native…

Rattlesnake Master, Eryngium yuccifolium

Butterfly Milkweed, Asclepias tuberosa

Michigan Lily, Lilium michiganense

Hoary Vervain, Verbena stricta

Roseate Spoonbill at Ken Euers Wetland Preserve in Brown County Wisconsin on July 29, 2023

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I received a text message early morning that a Roseate Spoonbill was being seen at Ken Euers Wetland Preserve in Brown County. Not a big surprise as this is probably the same bird that was found on July 26 near this location. This is SO RARE!! A bird that breeds in southern Texas and Florida and south here in the state! This species has not been seen in Wisconsin since the 1800’s! I jumped in the car and headed up to this location. When I arrived 2 hours later the bird was still present and it was resting on a berm a few feet above the water in the impoundment with a few Great Egrets.  It rested over an hour before flying in a ditch out of sight and then walked over to an area where Great Egrets were feeding. The bird hung with them and fed with them. This bird was a couple 100 yards away so photos are distant. A nice life bird for the state of Wisconsin, #374. Thanks to the finder of this bird and getting the word out. I hope this bird hangs around for others to see. It was a beautiful day with milder temps, full sun and a little breeze. Images were taken on July 29, 2023.

The Roseate Spoonbill…

The Roseate Spoonbill resting when I arrived…

A look at the spoonbill on this bird…

The Roseate Spoonbill…

The Roseate Spoonbill walking over to the Great Egrets…

The Roseate Spoonbill hanging out with a Great Egret and Great Blue Heron…

Just another shot of this rare visitor to the state…

Limpkin at Case Eagle Park in Racine County Wisconsin on July 21, 2023

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My second day in search for the reported Limpkin at Case Eagle Park was a winner. The Limpkin is a Florida bird so it is very rare to have one in Wisconsin. I think the 3rd bird in the last 2 years but never before that. The bird was far down the river from the dam and feeding along a river bank in the shade when found. It moved around some and I only saw it find a clam, crack it open and eat some of the insides. What an exciting bird, it moved along the river shore very, very slowly. It perched once for 45 minutes but then came back down in the water to look for more food. It was a beautiful day, full sun, a light wind and no bugs out in the deep woods along the river. Images were taken on July 21, 2023.

The Limpkin…calling “Kree-ow, Kra-ow” sound…

Walking so very slowly along the river searching for food…

Getting the big clam here, cracked it open a short time later and ate something from it…

Getting a better grip…

Going down for something here…

Preening…

The Limpkin was perched here for 45 minutes…

Calling…

Dunlins at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on May 29, 2023

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A birding stop today gave nice views of 5 Dunlins. They were found at the far north end of McKinley Beach, some call it pebble beach. One of the Dunlins was a non-breeding adult. What a beautiful species!! I caught a little bit of their feeding action of finding things to eat that had washed up on the beach or in the water at the shore edge. It was a beautiful morning with full sun and  temps were around 70 degrees. Images were taken on May 29, 2023.

One of the Dunlins in breeding plumage near the shore getting things to eat…

They are always finding things to eat…

Dunlin, a non-breeding adult…

Another of the non-breeding adult Dunlin plumage…

At waters edge finding things to eat…

Something in the bill here…

Ruddy Turnstones at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on May 25, 2023

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One of my birding stops today gave nice views of 4 Ruddy Turnstones all males.  They were found at the far north end of McKinley Beach, some call it pebble beach. Also present was one Semipalmated Plover, a male. While I was there they were flushed a couple of times by walkers but always returned to the beach. I caught a little bit of their feeding action of finding things to eat that had washed up on the beach. It was a beautiful morning with full sun and a good breeze off the lake, almost felt cold at times, temps were around 60 degrees. Images were taken on May 25, 2023.

One of the 4 Ruddy Turnstones…

Going for something here to eat…

Something in the bill here, it is small…

Getting something here to eat…

A Semipalmated Plover, male…

Just another shot!

Ruddy Turnstones at Bender Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on May 22, 2023

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One of my birding stops today provided nice views of 2 Ruddy Turnstones at Bender Park. They fed on the big rocks for bugs the time I was there. They moved in and around the rocks non stop finding things to eat. It was a beautiful day with full sun and mild temps, hardly a breeze. Images taken on May 22, 2023.

Ruddy Turnstone, male moving around on the rocks finding things to eat…

Finding a bug…

This is all they did while I was there, find things to eat…

The 2…

From one rock to another…

Looking for a bug…

Looking for bugs…

Giving nice looks from a distance…

Bobolinks at Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha County Wisconsin on May 22, 2023

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It is that time of the year and I thought I would check to see if the Bobolinks are back at Retzer Nature Center. There were about 9 of them, they were giving nice views from a distance. Males were chasing around some females. These are interesting birds to follow as they move to different spots, the males calling to the females. There is no sense in trying to figure out where they will land next. I stood at one location and they once in a while landed near me for a couple of photos. Always fun to watch these birds. It was a sunny day with mild temps around  70 degrees. Images were taken on May 22, 2023.

Bobolink, male calling to a female…

Bobolink, male in flight…

Bobolink, female…

Bobolink, female calling to a male…

A little of something here…birds displaying…

Bobolink, male perched on the old wildflower cane from last year…

Bobolink, female at takeoff…

Bobolink, female perched and looking for a male…

Another in flight…

And another in flight, this male…

Calling and waiting for a female…

Scarlet Tanager at the Fox River Sanctuary in Waukesha Wisconsin on May 13, 2023

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My first birding stop of the day was the Fox River Sanctuary in Waukesha to see how the warbler action was. There were a few warblers present but they were all high up feeding. A flash of brilliant red caught my eyes, it was a male Scarlet Tanager. It was high in the tree tops when I found it. After a couple minutes of watching it, flew down to the river and perched on a tree branch that fell in the river. It sang for about 2 minutes in front of me at eye level and then flew back up in a big oak to do some more feeding. It was beautiful! It was a cloudy morning with low winds and mild temps around 60 degrees. Images were taken on May 13, 2023.

The Scarlet Tanager singing…

Just another view of this beautiful bird…

Willets at South Shore Park in Bayview Wisconsin on April 30, 2023

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With all the excitement at Sheridan Park with the Flame-colored Tanager there was also something going on nearby at South Shore Park in Bayview. 3 Willets were present getting things to eat and I’m sure also a rest stop in their trip flying north to their breeding grounds. Always nice to see this species around the 1st of May. It was a dark cloudy day and stiff winds off the lake from the east with temps around 38 degrees. Images were taken on April 30, 2023.

Two of the Willets walking along the beach finding things to eat…

Finding something here to eat…

That leg…

Getting something here…

Flame-colored Tanager at Sheridan Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on April 30, 2023

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After reading some reports late Saturday night of Western Tanager reported that was misidentified and now was considered a Flame-colored Tanager sounded very exciting. From what I heard this species had only been reported a couple times in the south western US, Arizona and Texas so it is so very far out of it’s normal range. This bird lives in Mexico. The location was Sheridan Park so getting down there at sun up seemed like the thing to do. Could it still be there the next day? It was! After walking the bluff at the park with a few other birder for 1 1/2 hours the female bird was re-found.  It gave nice views eating gnats along the bluff in trees looking down. What a big event! Life bird 373 for my Wisconsin list! It was a dark cloudy day and stiff winds off the lake from the east, temps around 38 degrees. Images were taken on April 30, 2023.

Hopping around in Sumac just below the bluff eating gnats…

The bird was always looking for the next gnat…

Looking up for a gnat…

Just before leaving the branch for a gnat…

Back view…

Ross’s Goose at Veterans Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on April 20, 2023

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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…

Northern Mockingbird at Grant Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on April 18, 2023

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A Northern Mockingbird was reported at Grant Park yesterday April 17th. I decided to make the trip down there today to see if it was still present, it was. It put on a nice show moving around the beach picnic area and then on to the river outlet area, all in short grass. It was always looking and listening for food as it moved around the short grass areas. At one time it pulled out a night crawler just like an American Robin would and ate it. It tossed the worm around some killing it and then down it went. What a beautiful bird along with the day it was with temps around 50 degrees and full sun. A little wind at times, then it was cold. Images were taken on April 18, 2023.

The beautiful Northern Mockingbird…

Looking and listening for something to eat…

It pulls a night crawler out of the ground…

Looks like it got the whole night crawler…

Takes a short break after all that pulling, looks pretty tasty…

Does some stabbing to settle it down…

The bird then spends sometime tossing it around making sure it is maybe dead or edible…

Night crawler in mid-air…

More of the same…

And more of the same…

Starting to take it in…

Going down…

Almost down…

A shot in the tree, as it moved around, sometimes into trees…

Eastern Screech Owl, Gray Morph in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on March 27, 2023

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One of my birding stops today provided nice views of an Eastern Screech Owl, gray morph. It was resting, its eyes were closed for the most part in a tree cavity. I only hung around for a moment. It was a sunny day with mild temps around 45 degrees, a pleasant morning to be out birding. Images were taken on March 27, 2023.

The Eastern Screech Owl just soaking up some sun…

Blends in so well…

Precious…

Great Blue Herons at a rookery in southeast Wisconsin on March 24, 2023

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With birding still slow I stopped at a rookery that I have not been to for a few years to see if the Great Blue Herons had returned. Yes they did with about 10 birds and about 9 active nests. The birds were just standing on nests when I arrived at a distance. I did not see any repair work on the nests being done yet or herons bringing in branches to fix things up for the new season. Who knows when they arrived back, maybe it was just yesterday. I took a few photos and left as I did not want to disturb them as I’m sure they had things to do. They say a winter storm is coming! It was a beautiful sunny day with mild temps around 40, low winds. Images were taken on March 24, 2023.

This Great Blue Heron was coming in to perch…

still coming in…

Great Blue Heron just sitting on the nest….no other action while I was present…

Perched high…

Another Great Blue Heron just sitting on the nest…

Perched above the nest…

Perched pretty…

Great Horned Owl owlets in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on March 21, 2023

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A Great Horned Owl nest in Milwaukee County is starting to show signs of life. The nest is holding 2 owlets as the mother keeps her eye on the nest from a long distance. It was a nice day with some sun, lows winds and temps in the 40’s. Images were taken on March 21, 2023.

First one owlet appears…

Then a second…

Great Horned Owl owlet in Waukesha County Wisconsin on March 20, 2023

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My last birding stop of the day was to check on an old nest off a highway in Waukesha County. This nest was not used last year. Present was an adult Great Horned Owl which flew from the nest before I got a photo off and an owlet which of course stayed in the nest. This nest is very far off the highway so the photo is a distant shot. I hung around a while with hopes the adult would return with some food but even though it was warmer today, the wind made if feel still like winter, I did not hang around. Temps around 43 degrees, steady winds from the west, mostly sunny skies. Image was taken on March 20, 2023.

The Great Horned Owl, owlet on the nest waiting…

 

Killdeer on the Milwaukee lakefront in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on March 8, 2023

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One on my birding stops this morning provided nice looks at a pair of Killdeer. They were mating or called the a cloacal kiss and finding a few things to eat too. I have one photo of the two birds mating. It was a nice morning with some filtered sun, low winds and mild temps around 35 degrees. Images were taken on March 8, 2023.

The Killdeer…

Mating…

Walking around in the grass finding a few things to eat…