Doing some birding along the lakefront in Milwaukee, the highlight this morning was a beautiful Short-eared Owl that took flight at Lakeshore State Park when some walkers flushed it near to where I was. The owl flew off but then returned a couple minutes later. It gave nice views but I looked away for a moment and then back and it was gone. I never saw it leave or where it went. Another bird to note for the morning was a beautiful Glaucous Gull far out from Bradford Beach, the first sighting of the fall that I know of on the Milwaukee lakefront. It was hanging with ~100 Red-breasted Mergansers. I returned a little later and none of the above species were present. It was a pretty cold morning with stiff winds out of the NW, cloudy skies. Still a fun morning out birding. Images were taken on October 28, 2017.
Short-eared Owl, looking over the area after a return flight from out on the big lake…
Short-eared Owl
Binomial name: Asio flammeus
Category: Typical Owls
Size: 15” long, 38” wing span
Weight: 12 oz
Note: Breeds in parts of northern and southern Canada and all of Alaska in the summer. Winters in parts of the midwest, southern US and both east and west coast of the US.
Short-eared Owl, coming back to shore after a flight out over the water…
Short-eared Owl, looking over the area after a return flight from out on the big lake…
Just looking around…
Glaucous Gull, 2nd cycle out from Bradford Beach
It’s once again some magnificent pictures ,thank you for the info .I learn so much from your site .
You never cease to amaze me Jim!
Keep at it.
Great photos.
Such great images Jim. We have four owl boxes ready and we are waiting for our Eastern Screech Owls to return—can’t wait!!
Thank you for inspiring all of us with your wonderful photos.
Awesome , clear pics. We have been seeing them at Killsnake Nature Center the last week and have been waiting for the perfect picture. Thanks for sharing all your fabulous finds.
You were certainly in the right place at the right time. Beautiful photos!
Great photos again, Jim. How wonderful for you to see and photograph the bird in daylight, since this is a bird most often seen at dusk.
What a remarkable bird – such drama in his flight over the water, wings the color of fall foliage. Such intensity in his face, a touch of humor in the tufts. You’ve really captured his spirit, Jim!
Beautiful shots again. We are the benefactors of your hard work. Thank you !
Lovely photos! And what cool birds.
Owls are incredibly complex creatures. Through the centuries, they’ve become ingrained into mythology because of their amazing hunting abilities, their fierceness, and their seeming ties to the supernatural. The more I learn about owls, the more I realize I know little about them. I could spend a lifetime watching them interacting with nature and learn so much. Thanks for sharing the pictures of one of Milwaukee’s beautiful owls.