Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies Archives - Window to Wildlife

Ruddy Turnstones at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin on May 23, 2025

My first birding stops this morning were going to be the beaches along Lake Michigan in Milwaukee for shorebirds. McKinley Beach had 4 Ruddy Turnstones feeding on an algae mat at the beach. They were finding things to eat at the beach on the mat, fueling up for more of their journey north to where they will breed. It was a beautiful morning with temps around 47 degrees, full sun with some winds out of the NE. Images were taken on May 23, 2025.

Here the Ruddy Turnstone has something in the bill to eat…probably a crustacean

Something in the bill to eat…

This is one place Ruddy Turnstones find their food, on algae mats at a beach, with each wave in stirs the mats up and their food is everywhere…

Killdeer chicks in Waukesha County Wisconsin on May 7, 2025

By admin | May 7, 2025 - 7:58 pm |May 7, 2025 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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I have been following a location in Waukesha County that has had 6 Killdeer adults on it. I stop often hoping to see the little chicks running around. This morning as I looked the area over I spotted 3 young chicks doing just that. There is still an adult on a nest so there are more chicks coming I would think. Actually looking at the size of these chicks I think they may have been out for a while. This is a nice location as I have monitored and followed all this from my car. It was a pleasant morning with some sun, lows winds early and temps around 46 degrees. Images were taken on May 7, 2025.

One of 3 Killdeer chicks…

American Avocets at Bradford Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin on May 7, 2025

By admin | May 7, 2025 - 5:49 pm |May 7, 2025 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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This time of the year I check the beaches on the Milwaukee Lakefront in case anything has shown up. Birds come and go but when I got to Bradford Beach I spotted with my bins some American Avocets pretty far to the north on the beach. Being a cold and windy day, few people were on the beach which was a good thing. But something I did not plan for was a lot of gulls and they were continuously harassing the Avocets forcing them north. I got near them once with some luck but then eventually the gulls forced them out on the water and out of sight. I went back to Pebble Beach which was the next beach to the south, and they were there but it was the same situation. I took a few shots in just a couple of minutes and they left with gulls chasing them. The American Avocets never had time to eat or rest while I watched them, they were always moving. Only one time two of the birds maybe had a bite or a drink of water. Still got to see them which is always a thrill. It was a partly cloudy day with some good winds at times with temps around 56 on the lakefront. Images were taken on May 7, 2025.

4 of the 5 American Avocets…

The 5…

One of the few moments they were in the water…

Maybe a drink or bite…

The gulls were always a couple feet away and moving them…

Willets at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on April 27, 2025

By admin | April 27, 2025 - 11:43 am |April 27, 2025 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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One of my birding stops along the lakefront, McKinley Beach in Milwaukee provided great looks at 3 Willets. The actual location was Pebble Beach which is just north of the flag pole. They fed while I was there getting things to eat in the wave action. It was sun and clouds, nice temps around 50 with low winds. Images were taken on April 27, 2025.

The 3 Willets on the beach…

The Willet finding something to eat…

In the wave…

Looking for things to eat…

Wilson’s Snipe at Pennsylvania Avenue at Oak Creek in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on April 16, 2025

By admin | April 16, 2025 - 6:03 pm |April 16, 2025 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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The birding highlight of the day was the Wilson’s Snipe. There were about 15 of these shorebirds on Pennsylvania Avenue, some in the ditch and some in the field. They forged along the ditch and field and found things to eat while I was there, probing the ditch bank and field. On occasion they would rest. They blend in so well, easy to miss. It was a nice sunny day with temps around 50 degrees, a slight wind but nothing like we have had. Images were taken on April 16, 2025

The Wilson’s Snipe

Probing and finding things to eat…

The back view…

Sometimes in the water moving up and down the ditch…

Killdeer in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on April 3, 2025

By admin | April 3, 2025 - 7:56 pm |April 3, 2025 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

White Wagtail at Portage Park in Sturgeon Bay in Door County Wisconsin on December 29, 2024

By admin | December 29, 2024 - 1:08 pm |December 29, 2024 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies, Uncategorized

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Mega Rarity! Door County has produced another unbelievable bird, a White Wagtail! A bird that’s normal range is Asia, Europe and some of Africa. There have been a few other sightings in the US but spread out over very many years. 1st state record for Wisconsin! The bird was seen yesterday but I felt with time running out in the day with light I decided to make the run this morning. Leaving the house at 3:30 am I arrived in darkness, but I don’t want to be late. I was the first out to the area where the bird was seen yesterday. Just as it was getting light after 15 minutes I spotted the bird bopping around finding things to eat I assume. I called a couple other birders that had arrived and 3 three of us watched it in and out of the rocky ground. Birders arrived as many as at least 20 had great views of the bird for about an 1 1/2 hours before it came down the beach area shoreline where I was as I was headed out. For me Wisconsin life bird #382. A very big thank you goes out to Candy and Rush Evans, super great birders in Sturgeon Bay as they found this awesome bird at the park and got the word out for others to see it. It was a cloudy day with some light fog, mild temps around 36 degrees and light winds that picked up at times. Images are so-so with the cloudy day conditions and the distance of the bird from all of us. Images were taken on December 29, 2024.

The White Wagtail at the beach area…

Typical to see the White Wagtail on rocks with the tail bobbing…

Nice back view…

It did get a few things to eat as it moved down the beach shoreline…

Buff-breasted Sandpipers, Black-bellied Plovers and more at the Milwaukee lakefront in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on September 8, 2024

By admin | September 8, 2024 - 11:01 am |September 8, 2024 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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A couple of stops on the Milwaukee lakefront provided great looks at some migrating shorebirds. Lakeshore State Park had 3 Buff-breasted Sandpipers and 3 Black-bellied Plovers. Pebble Beach near McKinley Beach had 5 Semipalmated Plovers, 3 Semipalmated Sandpipers and 2 Sanderlings. The shorebirds at Lakeshore State Park moved around from the beach to the inland short grass area a couple of times near the beach while I was there. Nice to see these birds stopping along the lake on a beautiful morning with some sun and cool temps around 50 degrees. Images were taken on September 8, 2024.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper…

Buff-breasted Sandpiper…

Buff-breasted Sandpiper, something in the bill…

Black-bellied Plover…

Black-bellied Plover, preening…

Black-bellied Plover, shaking off…

Black-bellied Plover, finding things to eat…

Buff-breasted Sandpiper bathing…

Buff-breasted Sandpiper …

Buff-breasted Sandpiper after bathing…

Semipalmated Sandpiper…

Semipalmated Sandpiper finding things to eat…

Semipalmated Sandpiper, just looking pretty…

Semipalmated Plover…

Sanderling…

Sanderling…

Sanderling…

Killdeer chicks in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on June 3, 2024

By admin | June 3, 2024 - 9:08 pm |June 4, 2024 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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While birding the Milwaukee County lakefront I came across a couple of Killdeer chicks. 2 adults were close by with one sitting on a nest. It was a beautiful morning with plenty of sunshine, cool temps early and low winds. Images were taken on June 3, 2024.

Killdeer chick stretching…

Adult Killdeer on the nest close by…

Killdeer adult just in the area…

American Avocets at Bradford Beach in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on April 24, 2024

By admin | April 24, 2024 - 3:35 pm |April 25, 2024 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

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Word was out that American Avocets were moving north along the Milwaukee Lakefront. They had made very brief stops, just for moments at Grant Park, South Shore Yacht Club, Pebble Beach and finally taking a rest and doing some feeding at Bradford Beach. It was very cold, 37 degree, windy and cloudy too. I heard 37 birds were present and they all hung out in one area. The gulls were constantly in their faces so for the most part they were a tight group. Images were taken on April 24, 2024.

Some of the group of the American Avocets…

Such beautiful birds!!!

One here with something to eat in the bill…

Finding things to eat…

Some up, some down…

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

By admin | August 12, 2023 - 12:33 pm |August 12, 2023 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

4 Comments

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…

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

By admin | May 29, 2023 - 1:36 pm |May 29, 2023 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

3 Comments

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…

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

By admin | April 30, 2023 - 3:20 pm |April 30, 2023 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

2 Comments

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…

Willets at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin on April 29, 2022

By admin | April 29, 2022 - 9:19 pm |May 2, 2022 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

3 Comments

I stopped by McKinley Beach and it was a nice surprise to see 24 Willets. They were spread out all over the beach finding things to eat. No pedestrians or dogs were around so they were just doing their thing. Some looked very tired as they were probably were just stopping for a break on their migration trip. It was a nice afternoon with some sun and warmer temps around 50 degrees. Images were taken on April 29, 2022.

A group of the Willets on the beach…

Walking the beach finding things to eat…

Something to eat in the bill…

A pair…

Some larger waves were coming in…

Getting something to eat underwater…

That tongue…

Closeup…

In the bubbles…

One resting its eyes…

Preening…

More preening…

The birds feathers, protection for their body…

Just resting…

Purple Sandpipers at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on January 17, 2022

By admin | January 17, 2022 - 9:03 pm |January 17, 2022 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

6 Comments

The rare species for the area, the Purple Sandpiper found on January 1, 2022 is still hanging around on the Milwaukee lakefront. Another Purple Sandpiper has also joined it so there are two now for the last week or so. I have not been down to the lakefront for some time and decided to check them out. They both were present at the beach area and gave nice views. The first one I found was feeding along the icy shore and the second I found bathing underneath a rocky area. It was a cloudy morning but temps has eased some from the last week, today was 23 degrees, low winds, it was pleasant. Images were taken on January 17, 2022.

The Purple Sandpiper, bird #1 finding things to eat along the shore…

The Purple Sandpiper, bird #2 found under some large rocks bathing…

Flew around under the rocks, maybe stretching those wings?

Purple Sandpiper at McKinley Marina in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on January 1, 2022

By admin | January 1, 2022 - 11:30 am |January 1, 2022 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

6 Comments

It was a nice surprise to hear of a Purple Sandpiper at McKinley Beach this morning on New Year’s Day. When I arrived at the Milwaukee lakefront it was still present feeding along a little sand area just south of the beach. This bird was found by Jessica H, nice find and thank you for getting the word out for others to see. A cold and cloudy morning with good winds off the lake at about 20 degrees. Image were taken on January 1, 2022.

The Purple Sandpiper finding things to eat…

Black-bellied Plover at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on September 6, 2021

By admin | September 6, 2021 - 9:51 am |September 6, 2021 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

4 Comments

Walking Lakeshore State Park I observed a Black-bellied Plover at the beach area. This juvenile bird gave nice views. It walked back and forth along the beach area getting things to eat. It was a gorgeous morning with sunny skies and pleasant temperatures. Images were taken on September 6, 2021.

The Black-bellied Plover, juvenile…

Something in the bill to eat…

Down it went…

Close up…

The bird was finding plenty to eat…

More things to eat…

Some preening…

Just another shot…

A stretch…

A back view…

And more to eat…

Another nice treat…

Shorebirds at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin on June 4, 2021

By admin | June 4, 2021 - 3:02 pm |June 4, 2021 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

Short-billed Dowitchers at Grant Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on May 13, 2021

By admin | May 15, 2021 - 9:07 pm |May 15, 2021 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

Sanderling at South Shore Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on May 10, 2021

By admin | May 10, 2021 - 8:32 pm |May 10, 2021 Bird Categories, Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

2 Comments

Hitting a few beaches along the Milwaukee lakefront produced one Sanderling at South Shore Park. The bird was looking beautiful going into its breeding plumage. The bird fed up and down the beach shoreline and sometimes being flushed by walkers which use this beach. It was a cold day out with good winds coming off the lake at 40 degree temps, I did not see the sun till later in the day. Images were taken on May 10, 2021.