I have put together a collection of some of the Wisconsin birding moments from the year 2020. The collection includes vagrants, special visitors, or just the beautiful birds that nest here or migrate through the state of Wisconsin. All images were taken in 2020. It was a very exciting year with the birds and also birding with some old birding friends and meeting some new ones, too. Thanks to everyone who helped make this happen. When putting this post together, once again, it amazes me what birds were seen this year here in Wisconsin!
Snowy Owl in Milwaukee County January 4, 2020
Snowy Owl in Milwaukee County January 4, 2020
Cedar Waxwing at Greenfield Park in Milwaukee County January 21, 2020
Cedar Waxwing eating berries at Greenfield Park in Milwaukee County January 21, 2020
Harris’s Sparrow, male at the Mequon Nature Preserve in Ozaukee County January 21, 2020
Hooded Merganser, male at the Fox River in Waukesha County January 30, 2020
Hooded Merganser, male at the Fox River in Waukesha County January 30, 2020
Downy Woodpecker in Waukesha County January 31, 2020
Eastern Screech Owl, gray morph in Milwaukee County January 30, 2020
Redhead, male on the Fox River Waukesha County February 10, 2020
Long-eared Owl in Milwaukee County February 4, 2020
Eastern Screech Owl, red morph catching some sunshine in the yard Waukesha County February 27, 2020
Doing a chore in the yard the Eastern Screech Owl watches me, Waukesha County February 27, 2020
Doing a chore in the yard the Eastern Screech Owl watches me, Waukesha County February 27, 2020
Sandhill Cranes on the Bark River in Waukesha County March 4, 2020
Trumpeter Swans the pair, at Frame Park in Waukesha March 4, 2020
Northern Shrike, some blood on the bill at the County Grounds Milwaukee County March 17, 2020…
Northern Harrier in the South Kettle Moraine Waukesha County March 21, 2020
Hooded Merganser, male, at the Fox River in Waukesha March 22, 2020
Long-eared Owl in Southeastern Wisconsin April 2, 2020
Long-eared Owl in Southeastern Wisconsin April 2, 2020
A Killdeer preening in Milwaukee County April 5, 2020
Red-headed Woodpecker in Marquette County April 5, 2020
Golden-crowned Sparrow, this rare bird in Calumet County April 7, 2020
Wood Duck, male in Milwaukee County April 9, 2020
Wood Duck, male in Milwaukee County April 9, 2020
Wood Duck, female in Milwaukee County April 9, 2020
The rare Tufted Duck, male at Fresh Air Park in Winnebago County April 16, 2020
A Great Horned Owl owlet, this one on the nest, the other close by in Oconomowoc Waukesha County April 18, 2020
Osprey flyover at Greenfield Park Milwaukee County April 20, 2020
Great Horned Owl just hanging out in Waukesha County April 21, 2020
Horned Grebe at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee County April 22, 2020
Indigo Bunting, male in Waukesha County May 4, 2020
Black-throated Gray Warbler in Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County May 6, 2020
Eastern Towhee, male in Marquette County May 5, 2020
Eastern Towhee, female in Marquette County May 5, 2020
Black-throated Blue, male at Wehr Nature Center Milwaukee County May 13, 2020
Black-throated Green, male at Wehr Nature Center Milwaukee County May 13, 2020
Mourning Warbler, male at Wehr Nature Center Milwaukee County May 13, 2020
Cape May Warbler, male at Wehr Nature Center Milwaukee County May 13, 2020
Prothonotary Warbler, male at Wehr Nature Center Milwaukee County May 16, 2020
Canada Warbler, male at Wehr Nature Center Milwaukee County May 16, 2020
Blackburnian Warbler, male at Wehr Nature Center Milwaukee County May 16, 2020
Bay-breasted Warbler, male at Wehr Nature Center Milwaukee County May 16, 2020
Red-headed Woodpecker in Marquette County May 15, 2020
Mountain Bluebird, female in Taylor County May 15, 2020
Western Tanager, male in Waukesha County May 21, 2020
Sandhill Crane just passed a grub worm to the colt Waukesha County May 24, 2020
Sandhill Crane colt stretching those wings Waukesha County May 24, 2020
Black-bellied Whistling Duck, male at Washinton Park Milwaukee County May 27, 2020
Black-bellied Whistling Duck, male at Washinton Park Milwaukee County May 27, 2020
Barred Owl in Milwaukee County June 1, 2020
Barred Owl owlet Milwaukee County June 1, 2020
The Yellow-billed Cuckoo Milwaukee County June 7, 2020
Sandhill Crane rolling over the eggs on the nest Milwaukee County June 7, 2020
Sandhill Crane sitting on the nest Milwaukee County June 7, 2020
Alder Flycatcher in the South Kettle Moraine Waukesha County June 8, 2020
Bobolink, male at Retzer Nature Center Waukesha County June 16, 2020
Bobolink, female with food in the bill, looks like a Daddy Long Legs at Retzer Nature Center Waukesha County June 16, 2020
Common Loon stretching in Sawyer County July 4, 2020
Common Loon, chick in Sawyer County July 4, 2020
Great Blue Heron at Greenfield Park in Milwaukee County July 8, 2020
Eastern Bluebird, female in the yard in Waukesha County July 8, 2020
Sandhill Crane in the South Kettle Moraine in Waukesha County July 19,2020
Red-headed Woodpecker in Marquette County July 20, 2020
Great Egret shaken off in Burlington in Racine County July 21, 2020
Great Egret with something to eat in Burlington in Racine County July 21, 2020
Mexican Violetear Hummingbird in Crawford County August 2, 2020
Red-headed Woodpecker in Marquette County August 4, 2020
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, male at Boerner Botanical Gardens in Milwaukee County August 23, 2020
Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee County August 26, 2020
American Golden Plover at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee County August 28, 2020
Green Heron at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee County August 28, 2020
Green Heron at Lakeshore State Park with a nice Rock Bass Milwaukee County August 28, 2020
Ruby-throated Hummingbird at Boerner Botanical Gardens August 28, 2020
Semipalmated Plover at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee County September 9, 2020
Sanderling at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee County September 9, 2020
Great Egret, hunting for something to eat at Greenfield Park in Milwaukee County September 9, 2020
Great Egret, with a catch at Greenfield Park in Milwaukee County September 9, 2020
Sora with a worm to eat at Veteran’s Park in Milwaukee County September 9, 2020
Nelson’s Sharpe-tailed Sparrow at Veteran’s Park in Milwaukee County September 23, 2020
Least Sandpiper at Veteran’s Park in Milwaukee County September 29, 2020
Northern Waterthrush at Veteran’s Park in Milwaukee County September 29, 2020
Harris’s Sparrow at Lake Park in Milwaukee County October 2, 2020
Pine Siskin getting things to eat in Milwaukee County October 9, 2020
Peregrine Falcon at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee County October 11, 2020
Horned Lark at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee County October 11, 2020
California Gull coughing up a large pellet at Johnson Creek in Jefferson County October 20, 2020
Snow Bunting at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee County October 25, 2020
Dunlin getting back up on the rock after a little slip at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee County October 26, 2020
White-rumped Sandpiper at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee County October 30, 2020
Sanderling at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee County October 31, 2020
Dunlins at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee County October 31, 2020
Tufted Titmouse in Marquette County November 2, 2020
The Long-eared Owl in Southeast Wisconsin on November 11, 2020
Sandhill Crane in Oconomowoc in Waukesha County November 14, 2020
Sandhill Crane adult with juvenile in Oconomowoc in Waukesha County November 14, 2020
Sanderling posing pretty at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee County November 19, 2020
Evening Grosbeak at Grant Park in Milwaukee County December 1, 2020
Common Redpoll at Summerfest Grounds in Milwaukee County December 8, 2020
The Snowy Owl fluffing up those feathers at the Lake Express in Milwaukee County December 13, 2020
Bullock’s Oriole, young male in Door County on December 15, 2020
Bullock’s Oriole in Door County on December 15, 2020
The Allen’s Hummingbird at a distance in Green County on December 18, 2020
The Harlequin Duck, 1st year male at Port Washington in Ozaukee County December 28, 2020
The Harlequin Ducks habitat of fast moving water and rocks, this was close to that at Port Washington in Ozaukee County December 28, 2020
Long-tailed Duck, male at Port Washington in Ozaukee County on December 28, 2020
Long-tailed Duck at take off at Port Washington in Ozaukee County on December 28, 2020
Always like your photos but those owls wow looking forward to see what you see in 2021 I am sure it will be awesome. Thank you
Great photos as usual, Jim! I think my favorite is the preening Killdeer. Never seen that view before.
Extraordinary photos Jim! We are fortunate to have you in Wisconsin to share the birds you capture in pictures. Thank you!
Outstanding collection of photos! Love the detail and learning from your photos catching them in action.
Beautiful pictures, Jim. You always leave me striving to do better.
Happy New Year!
Stunning photos!
Jim, your photos are inspirational! I learn so much from you – the birds, their habitats and how you set up your photos. Thank you so much for sharing your sightings.
Wonderful!
Your gallery makes my heart sing.
Well done!
Always a pleasure to view your photographs. In my 70 years of looking for birds, I have only found Long-eared Owls twice. My father was an original director of WSO. He started me on birds when I was 8 years old. Being out of the country for 20 years of 28 years in the military could have something to do with the Owl. Although those years jump started me to over 3,500 difference species. May 2021 bring you a plethora of great birds to see and photograph.
Thank you for taking the time to put this together and share with everyone. Since joining this group I have seen so many different species that travel thru our area from the groups photos and I hope to locate some! -AMAZING!
Amazing photos! Thank you for sharing them.
The male Eastern Towhee stands out for me. It’s a great look at the underside of his tail! I didn’t know it would show that much white.
Thanks for these inspiring photos from your birding this year.
Gorgeous photos! Thanks for sharing.
Wonderful!! Thank you for sharing.
Beautiful, as always, Jim!
Very nice year in review. Thanks for putting this together. Was very enjoyable to see such great photos and a wide selection of birds.
Just wow! Stunning images of some wonderful finds. You had a great 2020 despite….you know.
Fantastic photos! What a beautiful collection. It was a great way to start my day!
What type of camera do you recommend?
Awesome pictures of some beautiful creatures! Thanks for sharing!
Wonderful photos! Thanks so much for sharing these with us.
They’re an education as well as beautiful