While birding Lake Park in Milwaukee one of the highlights was a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher feeding on gnats and then a little preening. A cold day and winds off the lake, it sure did not feel like spring. Images were taken on May 11, 2018.
Getting those gnats on sumac…
Looking…
Tail spread…
Perched pretty…
Some preening…
More preening…
Resting…
Looking for the next gnat…
A stop at Lake Park in Milwaukee this morning gave nice views of many Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. One was cooperative for the camera while preening and hanging out. The Red-headed Woodpeckers are still hanging around near the lighthouse and the FOY Baltimore Oriole sang high up in a tree in that area too, to mention a few highlights. A few Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers were also seen. A Wild Turkey also hung out near the bird feeder. Pretty quiet for the beginning of May but it felt like winter weather with a stiff wind off the with 41 degrees early in the day. Images were taken on May 5, 2017.
Binomial name: Polioptila caerulea
Category: Gnatcatchers and Gnatwrens
Size: 4.5” long, 6” wing span
Weight: .21 oz
Preening
Stretching
Scratching
More scratching
Preening
Wild Turkey near the bird feeder
Birding at the Fox River Sanctuary yesterday in Waukesha Wisconsin I came across a couple Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. These birds were present along with many Yellow-rumped Warlbers that were there coming through. They continued to move through the trees and brush searching and getting insects for food. Image taken April 22, 2014.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher April 22, 2014
Binomial name: Polioptila caerulea
Category: Gnatcatchers and Gnatwrens
Size: 4.5” long, 6” wing span
Weight: 0.21 oz.
Habitat: Breeds habitat is from Southern Ontario to the southwestern US and Mexico in open deciduous woodlands and thickets along stream banks.
Diet: The Blue-gray Gnatcatchers main diet while forging in trees and shrubs are small insects and sometimes spiders. These birds can be seen hovering over plant and tree foliage, flushing insects. The bobbing tail also helps in the flushing of insects.
Nesting: The cup-shaped nest can be found at any height and is constructed of plant down, spider webbing, covered with lichen flakes. The nest usually holds 3-6 pale blue eggs. Both feed the young after hatching.
Cool Facts: This bird resembles a small Northern Mockingbird.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher May 13, 2013
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher May 13, 2013
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher May 13, 2013
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher May 15, 2012
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher May 31, 2011 Vernon Marsh
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher May 31, 2011 Vernon Marsh
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher May 31, 2011 Vernon Marsh
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher May 31, 2011 Vernon Marsh
