Worm-eating Warbler at Whitnall Park

Jeremy6 Comments

This morning I found a Worm-eating Warbler foraging along a creek at Whitnall Park. I kept hearing leaves crunching and when I finally turned to see what it was, it was already within 25′ of me. I didn’t even need binoculars to confirm, I could see clearly with my eyes. I couldn’t believe it! I turned my camera, and it quickly took off. I watched where it went, and then I saw a bird zoom out of the approximate area. I got my binoculars on it, and it turned out to be a female Magnolia Warbler. I had lost it! I then found it and lost it two more times, over the 2 hours. I have no idea where it went. I figured I would chase the reported, Yellow-breasted Chat at Lake Park. I spent a little over 2 hours down there and decided to go back to Whitnall in the late afternoon. After walking around about an hour and a half, I found it again, but way to the west of where I originally had it. The bird moved about an 1/8 mile or so. This time, I relocated it in a wider open area, without all the dense shrubs. I got off a few pictures and down it went into the water, bath time! So exciting to be able to see this rare warbler in the water! Photos below are from early this morning and late this afternoon. Enjoy!

White-eyed Vireo at Warnimont Park Golf Course

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I found a White-eyed Vireo in a group of pine trees between the 8th and 9th holes along Lake Dr. The rare birds just continue to be found at this park, so far this year! I usually do pretty good with this species in Milwaukee County each year, but it was totally unexpected today. I only saw it for a minute or so and it was gone. I had a very good morning walking the entire golf course. I proceeded to walk south to the center grassy area of the park and then loop back to the north. I ended up 94 species and 19 warblers for the morning. New warblers for the year included Black-throated Blue, Golden-winged, Blue-winged, Blackburnian, Magnolia and American Redstart. The Western Kingbird was also still being seen by the archery range. However, it was mostly way up at the treetops when I left. Photos of the vireo are from this morning. Enjoy!

Western Kingbird at Warnimont Park

Jeremy2 Comments

We continue to get western flycatchers in the state this spring, and today provided a Western Kingbird. This bird was associating with 8 Eastern Kingbirds in the sumac trees, behind the archery targets. They were all eating midges out of the spiderwebs, just like the tanagers were the other week. They moved around some, but for the most part stuck around in the same general area. As of this writing 2:10pm, it is still being seen. There was also a beautiful male Scarlet Tanager, who was very cooperative atop the sumacs as well. A first year male Orchard Oriole also made an appearance. Photos of the kingbird were taken this morning. Enjoy!

Western Tanager in Greendale

Jeremy12 Comments

This bird was reported via eBird, but without an exact location. A friend took her dogs for a walk around the neighborhood and was able to find it. She let me know where she saw it. I drove down the street she saw it on, and I happened to see it sitting in a tree that was just starting to leaf out. Pure luck to stumble across this lifer that easily, I couldn’t believe it! I watched it for a few minutes and then it flew across the street, and into an arborvitae tree. It bounced around a few branches and then settled in. It started preening and fluffing feathers. After about 20 minutes or so, it flew down to the ground and grabbed a bee, then sat at eye level briefly and back up it went. Again, it flew across the street, this time to an orange feeder. Shortly after, a Baltimore Oriole started chattering and chased it away. It flew up high and to the southeast. I have not seen or heard of a sighting since then. This is an incredibly beautiful bird, especially when the sun shines on it. I’m glad I took a little detour from work when I did today, or I may not have seen it. Photos are from this morning, 5/4. Enjoy!

Prothonotary Warbler at Warnimont Park

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An uncommon but extraordinarily stunning warbler when seen! On 4/26, this male did not disappoint. He appeared less than 15′ from me at first, and then worked its way along the edge of the bluff, feeding on midges. He first showed along the path, just north of the trail, that runs east of the archery range. He continued north, along the thickest part of the trail. I watched him for several minutes and then as fast as he appeared, he was gone! I don’t think anyone else saw him the rest of that evening. Photos below are from Tuesday 4/26. Enjoy!

Say’s Phoebe at Forest Home Cemetery

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This bird was found early Sunday morning but was lost right away. It was relocated on Monday morning and again disappeared. Again, it was relocated and seen for several hours until it disappeared for a while. I was not able to get there until about 5pm and there were at least 8 others searching for it. I eventually found it in the “chapel garden crypts”. When I first saw it, I watched it fly about 5′ to four different places on the grass, presumably chasing insects. I watched this bird for the next 45 minutes or so and it generally worked this one area the entire time. It even flew into the chapel area and sat on the pegs of the wall. It was grabbing insects right of the chapel wall. At one point it was almost dinner for a Cooper’s Hawk. It was feeding down in the grass of the garden area and the hawk came flying in from the south. The hawk was within a few feet of it until they got to the black steel fence, in which the phoebe went through it and the hawk had to go up and over. That quick change of direction for the hawk, allowed enough time for the phoebe to escape. Wow, what an intense 15 seconds! If the fence wasn’t there, I’m almost positive it would have been dinner. Nature at its finest! As of 7pm 5/23, it was still being seen. I’ve included a map of the cemetery as a guide, if someone decides to search for it. It appears to be moving all over the cemetery. It has been seen at the garden crypts, #17, #36, #40 and today by #14 and #19 area. Good luck if you try for it! Photos below are from 5/2/22. Enjoy!

ForestHomeMap.jpg (927×1200) (foresthomecemetery.com)

*Update* as of 8am Wednesday morning, it is currently being seen in near section 17 & 20. Good luck!

Summer & Scarlet Tanagers at Warnimont Park

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Summer Tanagers are quite uncommon for Milwaukee, although I usually see one each year. This past week however, there were 3 at Warnimont Park, all molting males! So beautiful with the mixture of red and greenish yellow. They were feeding along the bluff on spider webs, that had caught midges in them. As of today, 5/1 there was still one being seen at the southern end of the park, by the Kelly Senior Center. This week also brought in early Scarlet Tanagers as well. They are common in the area but are usually high up in the trees, therefore tough to photograph. This week however, they were on the ground or at eye level. There were at least 3 of them too! Two males and a female. These three were also doing the same, feeding in the spider webs that were loaded with midges. Funny to watch both species having the same feeding behavior. A real treat to see these birds so close! Photos below are from this past week. Enjoy!

Hooded Warblers at Warnimont Park 4/25 & 4/26

Jeremy4 Comments

There have been 2 Hooded Warblers along the bluff, behind the archery range at Warnimont Park. One was still seen today, but was on the golf course, just across from the archery range. I’m guessing the brutal east winds on Wednesday, forced them away from the lake a little. This is one of my favorite warblers and they were just posing for the camera Monday and Tuesday, while I was there. It was hard not to sit and watch them all day, but there was so much else going on too. Every time I would make a pass back and see one, I’d stop an admire a little more! Photos below are from Monday and Tuesday this week. Enjoy!

Kentucky Warblers at Warnimont & Sheridan Parks

Jeremy4 Comments

A Kentucky Warbler was found and photographed late Sunday evening. I was able to get a pinned location from a friend and shared it with my group. It was relocated Monday morning in the same general area. I left work and headed over there. Monday ended up being absolutely insane for birds! I had 98 species and 17 warblers at Warnimont Park. It felt like a mid-May spring day, not an April 25th day. I never made back to work that day, well only to pick up my tools and head back to Warnimont. The same day another Kentucky Warbler was found, along the bluff behind the archery range. This one was a female! both of those birds were still present on Tuesday as well. Then yesterday, a third Kentucky Warbler was found at Sheridan Park. He was hopping around the ground, underneath the Pine trees on the south side of the pond. He was still present as of last night and providing excellent views. I just sat on the ground and waited for him to hop right to me! Pretty crazy that we have 3 Kentucky Warblers within a mile of each! Good luck if you try! Photos below are from the last 3 days. Enjoy!

Ash-throated Flycatcher & Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at Wind Point in Racine 4/27/22

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Wow, what a morning!!! Scissor-tailed Flycatcher had been seen there the past several days, but an Ash-throated Flycatcher was photographed last night and confirmed to be one. I met a friend around sunrise, and we began searching for the Ash-throated Flycatcher. We split up to cover more ground. I ended walking along the beach to the golf clubhouse and didn’t find it. I started heading back and got a text she had it, back by the lighthouse. I ran over there and were joined by others in searching the tree line. It had gone down to the beach side, which was blocked somewhat by the wind. That’s where I would’ve been too! For the next 45 or so minutes it was feeding south along the beach. This was a life bird for me!

After watching the Ash-throated Flycatcher for a while, I drove over to the golf clubhouse parking lot and walked down to the beach. I looked to my left and a friend was taking pictures of something. I looked through my binoculars, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher! I walked to the north a little and it was perched on some rocks and sticks on the beach. Just incredible! I watched him for 20 or so minutes and decided it was time to go to work. Have to do that once in a while. Photos below are from this morning. Enjoy!