Making another drive in Milwaukee with hopes of seeing the rare Western Kingbird today was rewarding. This was my 3rd try for this very rare and elusive vagrant for the state of Wisconsin. For some birders it was their 5th try! The bird first found by Tom W on October … Continue reading
I had to make a run up to Marquette County and did some general birding. I found a place where birds were coming and going at a water source and took a few images to share. Flocks of birds were coming through. A large flock of Sandhill Cranes circling above … Continue reading
Birding Lakeshore State Park this morning produced an adult Bonaparte’s Gull, nonbreeding plumage. It was hanging out with about 20 Ring-billed Gulls. All the gulls were flushed with a fire department group coming in for some underwater diving practice. The Bonaparte’s Gull did not return to the area after it … Continue reading
Birding on the Milwaukee lakefront this morning was quiet. The only birds to note were some White-crowned Sparrows, adults and 1st winter birds and I also saw a few small flocks of Dark-eyed Juncos. The White-crowned Sparrows were feeding near a tall grass area and jumped out once in awhile … Continue reading
I did some birding on the Milwaukee lakefront early this morning and some of the places hit were the Magic Hedge, Bradford and McKinley Beaches, Veterans and Lakeshore State Park, for the most part it was very slow. Yellow-rumped Warblers were at most locations. The highlight was a Forster’s Tern, … Continue reading
I joined the Lake Park bird walk half way through it after doing some birding on the lakefront. The general lakefront was very quiet with only a few Yellow-rumped Warblers at the Magic Hedge. After I joined the bird walk the highlight was a Gray-cheeked Thrush which only gave views … Continue reading
American Elk in Wisconsin on September 24, 2015
Doing some birding out in the South Kettle Moraine today I came across a pair of adult Sandhill Cranes. I enjoyed the show of two adults as they walked around, feed, went for water and preened. Turning more gray, they are going into their winter plumage. Soon they will congregate … Continue reading
I checked out the Veterans Park this morning in Milwaukee for the Blue Morph Snow Goose that was recently reported. It was present in a flock of about 20 Canada Geese. It did some preening and pulling out some old feathers while I was present. Thanks to Jennifer for finding … Continue reading
I made a run to the Milwaukee lakefront this morning to see what if any shorebirds were present. My first stop was Bradford Beach and some shorebirds were hanging out. Last nights storms that came through made for some change as it has been slow so far this fall at … Continue reading
I checked out the Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha for birds this morning. I was surprised how quiet the morning was and walked a large part of the nature center property. The highlight was a Common Nighthawk resting in a good size partially dead ash tree. It never moved and … Continue reading
At least 2 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are still hanging around the yard here in Waukesha County. Bottle Gentian has been a favorite once again as it is in full bloom now. Still amazes me how their bill goes into the top, then inside so carefully for the nectar and the plant … Continue reading
I made a trip up to Horicon Marsh in Dodge and Fond du Lac Counties in Wisconsin today. Overall quiet, but a few of the bigger species made themselves known. Great Egrets, American White Pelicans and Green Herons were some of the highlights. A tree laying in the water with … Continue reading
While doing some birding at Greenfield Park in West Allis this morning I came across a Green Heron catching and eating an American Bullfrog. The bullfrog struggled to get away, and the 1st summer Green Heron struggled to kill it. Finally after a few minutes the Green Heron got control … Continue reading
A pair of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are still hanging around the yard here in Waukesha County. One of the plants they really enjoy is the Scarlet Sage. The stunning scarlet color and great nectar source make this plant a real hummer favorite. I took a few minutes today to photograph this … Continue reading
Birding at Greenfield Park this morning provided some nice looks at birds in action. Some of the highlights were species Black-crowned Night Heron, Green Heron, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Crested Flycatcher and Wood Ducks. An adult Green Heron set out insects for bait on the water that brought in a few … Continue reading
Doing some birding out in the South Kettle Moraine today I came across this family of Sandhill Cranes. I enjoyed the show of two adults and one colt that is almost adult size now. Soon they will congregate in large numbers at staging areas and then migrate to wintering areas … Continue reading
A few American Mink have been hanging out near the Fox River in Waukesha. They are not seen often but putting some time in you can get lucky. They move fast along the rocks along the river stopping at their locations searching for food in and out of the water. … Continue reading
I made the run down to Myers Park in Racine in hopes to see the Virginia Rail that was reported. I did get a glimpse of it and a doc shot. It was only out of the tall grass for a couple seconds and then disappeared. I waited for about … Continue reading
I stopped on the way home from up north this afternoon at County V ponds to see if the Marbled Godwit that has been reported was still present. As I pulled up behind another birder in his car there, I got out and asked him. The kind birder showed me … Continue reading
