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!
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!
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!
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!
A Prairie Warbler was found at Warnimont this morning and I was able to relocate it about 200 yards to the northeast, almost an hour later. I was walking down a trail and I heard it sing. I’m very familiar with the song, which really helped out. I started walking towards the song and then waited, heard again and continued walking to it. I stopped and listened, heard again and ended up walking just past it. I went back and then a little to the north and there he was, sitting atop Red Twig Dogwood! It was on the south side of the large “butterfly” ravine in the center of the park, closer to the east. He was just singing away. After a minute or so, he flew up into a tree and fed. Shortly after feeding, flew down into the shrubs again and continued singing, along with some preening. He repeated that procedure again and that is when I left him. Also feeding with him were an Orange-crowned, Nashville, Palm and several Yellow-rumped Warblers. Another awesome warbler at the start of the warbler migration! I don’t think it was relocated much after that and if it was, not in the same spot. Good luck if you try for it tomorrow, though I don’t think it’s very chasable. Pictures are from this morning. Enjoy!
Today a Lark Sparrow was found at the entrance to the ferry. When I arrived, it was feeding in the grass right off the walking path. I was only able to watch it for a few minutes and then a person walking flushed it. It flew across the street, and I lost it. I scanned the across the street with my binoculars but couldn’t find it. By the evening, it was relocated in the same general area. Photos below are from the brief time watching it feed. Enjoy!
A great way to kick off the warbler season, with a Yellow-throated Warbler! The next four weeks warblers will be increasing each day in the Milwaukee area and it’s always nice to see some rare ones to the state. This bird was found hopping around a mulch pile, just off a walking path, that crossed the road. I walked right up to path and sat on the ground. The bird paid no attention to me, while it fed continuously on insects the entire time I was there. I sat and watched it for about 45 minutes. Such a beautiful bird and even better to have a chance to view it at extremely close distances. After I left, I was told that an American Kestrel attacked it, narrowly missing it. After that, it flew towards the pond and was seen near the steps leading to the water. As of 5pm, I heard it had disappeared. Hopefully it will stick around for others to see as well. Good luck if you try for it! Photos below are from early this afternoon. Enjoy!
* Update * As of 8:33am 4/21, it is currently being seen at the mulch pile again. Here is a pin location on Google maps if you are interested in seeing it. Good luck! https://maps.app.goo.gl/LL5aJWS5SUTun4odA
* Update * Still being seen all day, Saturday 4/23, at the map link provided in first update. Good luck!
Just a gallery featuring the ducks I was able to photograph this month, with the limited time I had available. All were taken in Milwaukee County. Enjoy!
I was in Florida for 5 weeks this winter and it was amazing! This wasn’t just a bird vacation, rather a relaxing, enjoying the daily sun and not being in Wisconsin for winter type of vacation. I think I did less bird things than I would normally do, but I still ended up with over 150 species and 12 life birds. I tried to focus on a few birds that I had not seen before and without spending too much time driving for them. Snail Kite was a top priority, which I made a separate post about earlier this week. I also saw that Vermilion Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird and Tricolored Munia (ABA bird) were being seen at Torry Island. I made several trips there but was unsuccessful with the Tricolored Munia. I found the other two, along with a Blue Grosbeak and several Painted Buntings. There was also an Indigo x Painted Bunting seen occasionally and I found that as well. Another spot I focused on was Three Lakes WMA. I saw that Brown-headed Nuthatch, Red-cockaded Woodpecker and Bachman’s Sparrow were seen among others. I had seen all three before, but I wanted to spend more time with photos on them. I did the Lake Apopka Wildlife Dr, which is only open on the weekends, and is an 11-mile one way drive. It’s basically water or marsh on both sides of the road and is incredible for photography. Another awesome place was St Marks NWR, which has been hosting an American Flamingo (ABA bird) for over a year. This time I was able to go and see it, among many other things. All in all, it was a very enjoyable time spent in Florida. I took over 15,000 photos and edited over 400, while down there! This is a very large photo gallery post, so please take your time going through it. If you have any questions or would like more info on any of the places I visited, feel free to contact me. Enjoy!
Torry Island/Lake Okeechobee, FL
St Marks National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, FL
Three Lakes WMA, FL
Lake Tohopekaliga, FL
Newton Park, FL
Apalachicola National Estuarine Reserve–Unit 4, St George Island, FL
Yesterday afternoon there was a beautiful male Northern Pintail at the yacht club. He was hanging out with 50 or so Mallards and 4 American Black Ducks, near the boat launch. This was the best view of a male that I ever had. So close and really tame! If someone would walk past or drive by, he swam out a little bit, but always came right back to the shore. I just wish I would’ve had some sunlight for the photos. I sat in my truck and watched the ducks for a little over and hour. Spring migration is definitely underway, with new birds arriving daily. Pictures are from the afternoon. Enjoy!
