One of my birding stops today produced nice looks of a Eastern Screech Owl in a natural nest cavity in Milwaukee County. It is that time of the year where owls are seen sitting in the hole of a natural cavity enjoying some sun on a cold day. It was a pleasant day with temps around 27 degrees, full sun, a calm breeze. Image was taken on January 9, 2025.
A nice find, a pair of Eastern Screech Owls in Southeastern Wisconsin, a red and gray morph. They looked so cute snuggled together on a cold morning, 12 degrees at the time the photo was taken. Image was taken on January 21, 2022.
On a fairly well traveled street in Milwaukee County sits an Eastern Screech Owl, gray morph perched in a tree. Seemed like no worries in the world for this beauty that appeared to be sleeping while I was there. A nice spring day with the sun, but temps were still a little on the cool side. Images were taken on March 5, 2021
The Eastern Screech Owl from a distance….
A closeup…
Eastern Screech Owl, a red morph just hanging, catching some rest in Milwaukee County on January 14, 2021.
The Eastern Screech Owl…
After birding the morning in Waukesha County, it was a nice surprise to come home to a Eastern Screech-Owl in the backyard. I stayed about 100 feet away and took a couple of photos from the house. I put up 2 houses 3 years ago, finally there is a house guest in one of them. Hope it hangs around. A cold day with highs of only 23 degrees out here in Waukesha County, sun has been out most of the afternoon, with some wind. Images were taken on February 27, 2020.
Eastern Screech-Owl, red morph catching some sunshine…
At a distance, the owl stays perched watching…
Doing a chore in the yard the Eastern Screech Owl watches me, stayed perched here into the dark…
One of my birding stops today provided nice views of an Eastern Screech Owl, gray morph. It was resting, its eyes were closed. It was a cloudy day with mild temps, a pleasant morning to be out birding. Images were taken on January 30, 2020.
Eastern Screech Owl resting in its cavity…
An Eastern Screech Owl enjoying some sunshine in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on February 21, 2019. This beautiful owl was the highlight of the day. Still, in my opinion very quiet in Milwaukee County Parks. A little action around feeders. 1,000’s of ducks along the Milwaukee lakefront, Common Goldeneye, Greater Scaup and some Red-breasted Mergansers in the areas I checked. It was a gorgeous day with plenty of sunshine, low winds, temps around 30 degrees.
Eastern Screech Owl, red morph soaking up some sunshine…
At a long distance…
While out birding the last couple of days I have come across 4 Eastern Screech Owls. These beautiful owls were all found in deciduous trees with the natural cavities facing to the south or southwest. It appeared they were all out in the cavity opening soaking up the warm sun with the nice warm December weather we are having. The 1st image is the Eastern Screech Owl, grey morph that has been seen almost regularly, but not always at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center in Milwaukee. The other 3 were also taken in Milwaukee County.
Eastern Screech Owl, grey morph #1 with blood on the bill from a recent meal at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Eastern Screech Owl, red morph #2
Eastern Screech Owl, red morph #3
Eastern Screech Owl, red morph #4
Eastern Screech Owl, red morph #4
Nice to see this Eastern Screech Owl in Milwaukee County while out birding. The owl gave nice views but never opened its eyes while I was there. Just looking cozy up in a natural cavity. It was a beautiful morning out with plenty of sunshine and mild temps. Images were taken on December 10, 2018.
Eastern Screech Owl, red morph
I decided to make a run up to the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center this morning in search for any owl species. Walking a trail there I spotted this beautiful gray morph sound a sleep. It was a chilly 12 degrees when I left for birding but with full sun and no wind, it was a very pleasant day to be out. First owl of the season for me, it was nice to see one again. Images were taken on November 14, 2018.
A sleeping Eastern Screech Owl, gray morph…
At a distance…
While out birding I came across a Eastern Screech-Owl sitting in a natural cavity. The owl sat there not doing much but was keeping track of a couple of Grey Squirrels that caught its attention. I will say it is the year of the Eastern Screech-Owl, this is the 5th different one I have seen. It was another cool day with temps in the upper 50’s midday, with plenty of sun but with an east wind made for a chilly day for this time of year. Images were taken on April 29, 2018.
Eastern Screech-Owl resting peacefully in a natural cavity…
Eyes on a Grey Squirrel a tree away…
Looking out yonder…
Looking below at another Grey Squirrel…
Nice to see this Eastern Screech Owl in Milwaukee County. The owl came up from in the hole and gave nice views but never opened its eyes while I was there. Just looking cozy up in a natural cavity. It was a beautiful morning out with plenty of sunshine and mild temps. Images were taken on March 10, 2018.
Doing some birding today in Milwaukee County I came across a Eastern Screech Owl, gray phase. It was resting in a natural captivity. After a couple minutes I looked again, and it was gone, probably went back in the hole. Almost felt like spring with plenty of sunshine and the warm temps around 40, next to no wind, very pleasant. Images were taken on February 14, 2018.
This Red Phase Eastern Screech Owl was sleeping away in Milwaukee County this morning when found. In the pines, it blended right in. Images were taken on February 12, 2018
Eastern Screech Owl, red phase
A shot from a little farther back while it slept…
Birding along the lakefront in Milwaukee, one of the highlights was a Eastern Screech Owl, grey morph. Found in a spruce tree, giving nice views and just resting in the sun. It was a cold day, high of 24 maybe but nice sunny skies. Image was taken on January 17, 2018.
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
On a very foggy morning…
Eastern Screech-Owl, adult red morph in Waukesha County on December 28, 2016
An Eastern Screech-Owl, a red morph giving great views this afternoon in Milwaukee County Wisconsin. What a beautiful owl! Always amazes me how they blend in with the habitat you see them in, but that is one reason they can survive. Images were taken on April 9, 2016.
Eastern Screech-Owl
Binomial name: Otus asio
Category: Typical Owls
Size: 8.5” long, 20” wing span
Weight: 6 oz
I did a little birding this morning on the lakefront on Milwaukee’s south side. The Lake Express Ferry had ~6 Killdeer and they were for the most part hunkered down with the snow that fell yesterday waiting for things to warm up and melt. South Shore Yacht Club had up to 8 Horned Grebes going into breeding plumage. Dave G, thank you Dave, alerted me of 2 Common Loons near the Petroleum Pier when I was at the Express, by the time I got over there, there was still one present in breeding plumage. The loon pretty much stayed out away from shore but it is really nice to see the first loon of the year. After returning to SSYC I ran into a team of birder-photograhers, Todd, Caron, Keith, Valerie and Bruce too. Todd told me about a Eastern Screech Owl he had just found and I checked it out, thank you Todd. Cool to see a Eastern Screech Owl in a natural cavity. It was a fun morning out with some friends I have not seen for awhile and meeting some new ones too. Sunny morning with a bright blue sky cool temps, but winds made it still feel like winter. Images were taken on March 25, 2016.
Eastern Screech Owl
Binomial name: Otus asio
Category: Typical Owls
Size: 8.5” long, 20” wing span
Weight: 6 oz
Amazing how the owl blends in with the habitat
Horned Grebe
Horned Grebe
Horned Grebe preening
Horned Grebe
Horned Grebe
Common Loon, distant shot
Killdeer in the snow!
Killdeer
Killdeer calling
Killdeer resting
Killdeer
Killdeer
Killdeer
