Willets at South Shore Yacht Club in Milwaukee Wisconsin on April 29, 2016

I birded the lakefront in Milwaukee from mid-morning till later afternoon and the highlight were Willets at South Shore Yacht Club. There were 4 Willets and they were feeding just south of the beach area for awhile and then they moved onto a pier to rest. There were a few dog walkers and do not think they will hang around long there. There were 100’s of Bonaparte’s Gulls south of the boat landing there and a few hanging around the beach area. I saw the first Black-crowned Night-Heron of the spring at Veteran’s Park near the lagoon. One Semipalmated Sandpiper and a few Caspian Terns at McKinley Marina and that was about it. I walked what I thought was a good part of Lake Park, not one warbler. Only one Ruby-crowned Kinglet and a few Blue-gray Gnatcatchers to report there. The day ended with some Willets so that made my day. Images were taken on April 29, 2016.

Willet

Willet

Binomial name: Catoptrophorus semipalmatus

Category: Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

Size: 15” long, 26” wing span

Weight: 8  oz

Willets

Willet

Willet eyeing up it’s next bite

Willet going for what it eats

Willet

Willet

Willets

Food in the bill

Willet

Willet

Willet

Willet

Willet

Willet

Bonaparte’s Gull, adult

Bonaparte’s Gull, adult

Bonaparte’s Gull, adult going for what it eats

Bonaparte’s Gull, adult

Bonaparte’s Gull, immature

Bonaparte’s Gull, adult

Bonaparte’s Gull, adult going for what it eats

Bonaparte’s Gull, adult

Bonaparte’s Gull, adult

Black-crowned Night-Heron

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher seeing what it wants to eat at Lake Park

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher going for what it wants at Lake Park

Horned Grebe at Lakeshore State Park

Caspian Terns at McKinley Marina