Birding along the lakefront in Milwaukee this morning I came across the Greater White-fronted Goose that was reported yesterday in with a flock of Canada Geese. It would be nice to photograph this beautiful goose in the water but you have to take what you can get. It seemed very … Continue reading
While birding in the South Kettle Moraine in Waukesha County the highlight was a pair of Sandhill Cranes in the snow. They looked cold as temperatures were around 20 degrees. I noticed too a good part of the time I observed them they stood on 1 leg. Maybe they don’t … Continue reading
The highlight out birding today was setting my binoculars on a couple of Barred Owls. They did a little flying around on their own and surprisingly one could not be relocated as they just blend in. Image is one of the two seen. Image was taken on February 23, 2017 … Continue reading
I saw a first today in the Southern Kettle Moraine in Waukesha County. Sandhill Cranes painting themselves by preening mud into their feathers. They are known to do this to change their colors to blend in more with their surroundings. It was said by a friend of mine that iron … Continue reading
Doing some birding in Waukesha County today I came across 3 Killdeer. They appeared to be finding something to eat in the short grasses. They also did some calling and that is what got my attention to start with. Their visit was short lived after one spent a couple minutes … Continue reading
I made a quick run out to the South Kettle Moraine this morning and the highlight was a Sandhill Crane off the road. I saw another Sandhill Crane out in a field nearby, there are a few coming in with the warm weather. Another bird to note was a Snow … Continue reading
Doing some birding in Grant Park this morning I came across this Coyote. Always exciting to see one of these and to think they are in the woods many times just watching you. It was a mild day for February with temps around 42 degrees and mostly sunny skies. Image … Continue reading
I had been birding the lakefront in Milwaukee when I got a call from Mike W, thanks Mike. He stated Tom W had found a Slaty-backed Gull at Northridge Lakes. With a quick ride over there, and some birders having it in their scopes it put a spike in what … Continue reading
It was quiet on the lakefront in Milwaukee this morning. Only thing I could come up with for a few shots was a female Red-breasted Merganser at South Shore Yacht Club. It did extensive preening and then went on to relax. It hung out with about 50 Mallards that were … Continue reading
Making a stop today at Grant Park in Milwaukee County a Dark-eyed Junco, Oregon Junco made a brief appearance at the feeder there. The junco was present for about 30 seconds and then it left. I hung around for about 20 minutes and it did not reappear. The feeder was … Continue reading
I have not been out to Johnson Creek in Jefferson County lately so I gave it a try mid morning. There were a lot of gulls over the dump but only a couple hundred loafed at the Kohl’s outlot south of I94. It was nice to see 2 Glaucous Gulls … Continue reading
Got a glimpse of a Red Fox doing a brief hunting before it left the area. Always a treat to see one of these. Images were taken on January 30, 2017. Red Fox Scientific name: Vulpes vulpes Type: Mammal Habitat: Forests, grasslands, mountains, savanna, agricultural lands and deserts. Red Foxes … Continue reading
I spent some time today trying to catch up with the Ross’s Goose that made a quick stop yesterday as reported at South Shore Yacht Club in Milwaukee. I found it early afternoon hanging out with some Canada Geese at Bay View Park on the lakefront. This is a grass … Continue reading
The last few days I have hit the lakefront in Milwaukee with hopes to see the Harlequin Duck that was reported a few days ago. Today and getting into the afternoon finishing up a lap at Lakeshore State Park I spotted the 1st year male Harlequin Duck east of the … Continue reading
A stop at the Fox River in Waukesha late morning today gave nice views of a Hooded Merganser, male. It hung around with a large flock of Mallards at times. Once it came up on the shore as someone had tossed out some corn, it appeared to eat a piece. … Continue reading
On my way home from doing some birding in Milwaukee County it was a big surprise to see 2 Sandhill Cranes. They were foraging on a hilltop far off the roadway in old hay field on the south end of Waukesha, I stopped for a couple of distant shots. There … Continue reading
I did some birding along the lakefront this morning in Milwaukee. Many diving ducks were present in the harbor and a few Red-breasted Mergansers were within lens range. Other ducks and 100’s of them were Greater Scaup and Common Goldeneyes. Ice just left the harbor in the last day or … Continue reading
Long-eared Owl in Wisconsin on January 6, 2017 Long-eared Owl Binomial name: Asio otus Category: Typical Owls Size: 15” long, 36” wing span Weight: 9 oz
Eastern Screech-Owl in Wisconsin on January 3, 2017 Eastern Screech-Owl Binomial name: Otus asio Category: Typical Owls Size: 8.5” long, 20” wing span Weight: 6 oz
I have put together a collection of some of the Wisconsin birding moments from the year 2016. The collection includes vagrants, special visitors, or just the beautiful birds that nest here or migrate through the state of Wisconsin. All images were taken in 2016. It was a very exciting year … Continue reading
