Worm-eating Warbler at Shorewood Nature Preserve 5/8/23

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I went to Shorewood Nature Preserve this afternoon/evening to look for the reported Summer Tanager. The rain was supposed to stop by 2pm, then by 5pm and it’s still raining as I type this at 9:30pm. The local meteorologists sure know how to do their job!!! So, I was stuck walking around this park in the rain. Also reported from there this morning, were Yellow-throated, Prothonotary and Hooded Warblers. Of course, I wanted to get photos of those three as well. When I arrived, I walked down the bluff, headed on the north path and made a loop. It was very quiet, and I didn’t see or hear much. I then went towards the lake and found a small pocket of warblers, mostly Palm and Yellow-rumped. I walked the beach north, to the park edge and still nothing. I walked back to the path, and I finally found the Summer Tanager. It was feeding high in the treetops. I watched it for a little while and it never came lower or cooperated for that matter. I gave up on it and focused back on finding the warblers. I headed back north and as soon as I crossed the large fallen tree, a dull warbler jumped up from the ground in the raspberry bushes. I assumed it was an Orange-crowned, since they are usually low in the thicker growth and the color matched. It was very close to me, but there were to many branches to clearly see. I looked through my binoculars, tried to quickly focus and got a fast glimpse of black stripes on the head. I knew right away, Worm-eating Warbler!!! I love finding these guys. Of course, I lost it right away. There is so much thick undergrowth in the park, I wasn’t sure if I would find it again. I continued on the path and ended up circling back around to where I first saw it, no luck. I walked forward again going towards the lake and taking a different path north. I started getting close to the black fence at the park edge and saw a bird fly a short distance. I got it in my binoculars, and it was a Northern Waterthrush. Sigh. Then I saw something right next to the waterthrush move and there it was! A couple of weak chip notes and it was gone again, flying towards the brush pile at the base of the bluff. I didn’t know if it went in there or continued up the bluff. So, I set up shop by the brush pile and waited. After 15 minutes or so, it popped out and provided some pretty short, decent looks. I was shooting in silent mode on my camera, but I think it still heard or maybe just was knew I was there, because it flew up the bluff a short distance. At that point, I figured I wouldn’t see it anymore. By this time, I had already spent almost 3 hours walking around in the rain. I made one more quick loop through the entire park and most singing had already stopped, so I called it a night. I did find Blue-winged and Hooded Warblers though and ended with 18 warbler species. I missed on the Yellow-throated and Prothonotary Warblers. I guess I will need to wait for a later date with those two. Photos below are from this evening, while rain soaked and a chilly east wind. The pin location below is approximately where I last saw it. Good luck! Enjoy!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/V7ijcXd6hqPuY8Rp9

Kentucky Warbler at Warnimont Park 5/7/23

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In addition to the Loggerhead Shrike, I also found a Kentucky Warbler! It was in the same exact spot as the one last year. I stopped right where the trail 3-ways off and was going to check my phone. The bird pops up and I just assumed it was a Common Yellowthroat, since I heard 2 singing in the area. When it did, it was only 10′ from me. It turned and looked right at me, and I said, “woah, a Kentucky Warbler!” It was so close I didn’t need my binoculars. I sent out the pin location and there were already a few people real close by. The next 15 minutes, it was not to be found. The area is only about a 30′ circle, but it is the thickest most thick garbage to look through! I was wondering if it moved further south without us knowing, so I started walking the path. Within a minute, it had popped back up and showed for everyone. I quickly got back, and I spent the next 2 hours standing there watching it feed and then go down and hide, which I’m guessing it was sleeping. I did the same routine the entire time watching it. I was really trying to get photos of it, but it just would not come out into the open. I suppose watching a Kentucky Warbler feed, at times of only 6′ away is a prize worthy enough. The photos below are the best I could manage in the entire time there. I have a feeling it’s still around and the pin location below is where it was seen. Good luck if you try. Enjoy!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/T9CNoHDsJvJDydRz5

Loggerhead Shrike at Warnimont Park 5/7/23

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This afternoon, I found a Loggerhead Shrike along hole #6 on the golf course. This is the hole with the pond in it. I always have real good birds along that stretch, so I wanted to check it before heading further south to in the park. I was scanning the water at the edge of the woods, and I saw something fly that was gray, white and black. I quickly got on it and realized it was a Loggerhead Shrike. What a surprise! I had very good views of it at first. However, that late in the afternoon on a sunny spring day, the heat distortion is usually terrible, and it was today. It was very tough to get photos that were unaffected by it. I managed a few though. The photos below are from the late afternoon today. Enjoy!

Kinglets and Gnatcatchers at Warnimont Park in April

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Both Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were plentiful at Warnimont Park this past week. While all 3 are common, sometimes it is easy to overlook them while trying to find other birds that are not as common. I enjoy photographing them each year, but I never edit or share the photos. This year I decided to change that! I was rather fortunate to have had several Ruby-crowned Kinglets, with their bright crowns sticking up, chasing females around. Usually that is very hard to photograph, since they are so fast moving and hardly ever sit still. They are everywhere right now and easy to find. Most of the male Golden-crowned Kinglets are already past us. While they have the fire orange down the middle of the yellow crown, the females still have a bright yellow crown, and are just as pretty. Their numbers are lower this late than the other two, but I usually find a few every time out. Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are starting to arrive in big numbers. The male is beautiful with the bold blue color, dark line across the eyebrow and bright white eye ring. They are rather tame and will feed in the shrubs right in front of you. The photos below were taken during the last week of April. Enjoy!

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Flame-colored Tanager in Milwaukee 4/30/23!!!!!

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This mega rarity was found yesterday evening along the bluff at Sheridan Park, just behind the pond. I don’t think this species has ever been seen in the United States outside of Arizona or Texas. Even those sightings are limited as well. I arrived this morning about 5:45am. It took almost two hours before the bird finally showed. It was about 100 yards north of where it was seen yesterday evening. It was just feeding on the newly hatched midges, bouncing around the branches. It put on a spectacular show for about 15 minutes, only about 25′ in front of everyone. It was always at eye level or below, due to it being on the bluff. It certainly did not seem to mind all the binoculars and cameras pointed at it. The bird was still present when I left. However, I have since heard that it went down into the thickness of the brush on the bluff and out of sight. I will provide a pin to where it was seen. Hopefully it shows itself again, as I’m sure there are plenty of people waiting for it! Photos below are from early this morning. Enjoy!

*** update, as of 11:40am it was relocated to the south, by the old, paved service drive that goes to the beach. That is east of the playground, along the bluff. ***

*** update 2, it was still being seen as of last light, feeding along the bluff edge. It was back by the original location or the pin posted below. Good luck! ***

*** update 3, it is still being seen 5/2 at 8am, down on the bluff between the 2 northern most jetties. Good luck! ***

https://maps.app.goo.gl/smQE9He8jUbJFB9X8

Prairie Warbler along Sheridan Drive

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A Prairie Warbler was found along Sheridan Drive this morning. I left work after I saw the eBird report. I had no idea which part of the drive it was seen, but I know their song very well and figured I would be able to find it. I came in from the north side of the drive and drove slowly south towards Warnimont Park. I had all my windows down and was not able to hear. I turned around at the entrance to Warnimont Park and drove slowly north towards Sheridan Park. About a third of the way up and I heard the song one time. I parked and got out. I walked towards the tree line on the west side of the drive and searched. For the next 5 minutes, I didn’t hear it again. I started walking a little north and all of a sudden, I heard him! Then I heard the song again and I finally tracked him down. I love the Prairie Warbler and their song. They are rather rare for the state, but we have been pretty lucky with them the last few years. I watched him for 20 minutes or so and left to finish up a few things at work. I figured I would come back in the late afternoon, when the sun isn’t as high or as harsh. I got back to Sheridan Drive around 3:30pm. I walked to where I last saw him and waited. I didn’t hear much of anything, so started walking north. A couple other people had joined me in search of him, as well. We were talking, when I heard him sing. I looked in the direction of the song and found him at eye level 30′ away. I pointed him out to the others, and we followed him a bit to the north. The midges are already out, so there are plenty of insects to snack on. He was just feeding in the leafed-out shrubs, on the west side of the tree line. He put on a very good show for a few minutes, providing some excellent views for us. I will give a pin location to where I saw it. With the weather pattern not being very good the next few days, I imagine it will stick around. Photos below are from the afternoon. Enjoy!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/RMm1SDw8Z9xW1nj67

Painted Redstart… in Wisconsin??? YES!

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A Painted Redstart was found Sunday afternoon at Spring Green Preserve in Sauk County. I heard this was our 3rd state record! I didn’t think I would have time to get out there this week with work, but I finished everything I had to do Monday by 1pm and headed out. I arrived there just after 3pm. According to a pin dropped for a location to the bird, it was just over a mile walk to get there. Once I got to the approximate location, I stopped and listened. Sure enough, there it was, calling from the treetops. It took several minutes to find it after hearing it. The majority of the time, he hung out in the same tree, however he also moved around quite a bit. It was reported that it would disappear at times this morning, so when it took off towards the north, I followed it. I watched it go up the bluff and lost it. I walked back in there and up the bluff and relocated it about 100 yards farther up. From there, he went back to his favorite tree. I stayed up on the bluff and waited to see if he would come back. After 15 minutes or so, he flew back towards the bluff. When he came back towards me, he would feed on the trunks of the trees, sometimes going close to the ground, flash his tail around and flit about as if he was trying to attract attention, which unfortunately there won’t be any around for him. I noticed that he had this pattern, so I just stood up there for over 3 hours waiting from him to go back and forth. I was rewarded with some pretty decent views, although trying to capture photos was very difficult, he was extremely fast. Plus, there were branches everywhere and I was looking into the light, most of the times. Thankfully, clouds came in and cut down on the harsh light. This is an absolutely stunning bird! I’m really glad I was able to get out there this afternoon. I will provide a pin below, to his favorite tree, which is about 100′ off the trail to the east. Good luck if you try for it! He seems perfectly content with where he is. Photos below are from Monday afternoon/evening. Enjoy!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/n4PA44iLRHHH9gez9

Grasshopper Sparrow at Grant Park Beach 4/18/23

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A Grasshopper Sparrow was discovered near the Northern Mockingbird this morning at the Grant Park Beach. It was on the north side of the parking lot, along the tree line and out into the grass area. I stopped after work and it was still in the same general area. It moved around with several Dark-eyed Juncos and a couple American Robins. This bird is a little early for the year, and is the third good sparrow in the last five days in Milwaukee County. While not as rare as the last two, this one is still not as common. I really enjoy seeing this species each year. Photos below are from the afternoon. Enjoy!

Northern Mockingbird at Grant Park Beach 4/17/23

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After work today, I thought I’d head down to Grant Park and see if the feeder area had any good birds. When the weather is brutal, like it was this afternoon, the feeders usually host some good birds. On my way to the feeders, I stopped at the beach parking lot and decided to walk out to the concrete pier and see what was around. No more than 30′ from my truck and I find a Northern Mockingbird! I didn’t even bring my camera with me. I ran back to the truck and got it setup. I walked to where I last saw it but I could not find it. I figured it had to be in the grasses somewhere, so I walked towards the lake. As I walked farther, there is a gap between the grass dunes and there it was! So, I circled back around towards the parking lot, to try for a better view. As soon as I got over there, it flew right out in front of me and fed for several minutes. It was quite active, moving very fast over the grassy areas, feeding. It was hanging with 7 American Robins, 1 Savannah Sparrow and 1 Field Sparrow. I watched it go from the sandy area of the beach, all the way to the west side of parking lot and then across the outlet to the yacht club side. Eventually, it ended up on the parking lot side again. It was extremely windy and very chilly, especially compared to the last week of beautiful weather. This was a completely unexpected bird for the day, which makes it all the more rewarding. Photos below are from the afternoon. Enjoy!

Juneau Lagoon Rare Sparrows

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With the extremely warm weather and strong South/Southwest winds this past week, some early migrants showed up. On 4/12, a Henslow’s Sparrow was found, along the east side of the lagoon. It was a sneaky little bird and very tough to get good full looks at. This is quite common with this species. Then on 4/14, a LeConte’s Sparrow was found, about 50 yards away from where the Henslow’s was seen. It flushed into a nearby evergreen and moved about in there for a few minutes, before going back down to the grassy area. It didn’t stay there long though, as a Red-winged Blackbird chased it away and I never relocated it. Apparently, it was threatened by a little grass sparrow! As far as I know, they were each only seen one day. Photos below are from their respective days. Enjoy!

Henslow’s Sparrow

LeConte’s Sparrow