A Yellow-breasted Chat was found on the golf course at Lake Park yesterday. It was hanging out in 3 different thickets, between holes 1 and 2. When it was singing, it was easy to find, but if silent not so much. It really blends right in, even with the bold yellow throat and breast. By the time I got there in the afternoon, it was eating out in the open, but up high. It would pop out on the backside of the thicket, for a few minutes and then go back in and sing for a little bit. Then I’m guessing it would take a nap, because I couldn’t hear or see it for 20 minutes or so at a time. As of noon Tuesday, this bird is still being seen. Photos are from Monday afternoon, the couple hours I was there. Enjoy!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
These owls are very hard to find and blend in with their surroundings incredibly well. You can be looking right at them and not see them. They are nocturnal and sleep during the day. Consistent activity around a roosting site can cause them to expend too much energy that is needed for the nightly hunting. If you ever stumble across a roost, please use discretion and proper etiquette. That being said, they are very approachable (within reason) and will let you know if you are too close based on their facial expressions. I will try to show you the various stages that they show you, with the 4 owls at this particular roost, in the following pictures:
Acknowledging you but showing content
Notice that they might look at you, but their eyes are mostly closed. They still watch their surroundings, in case of any potential threats, but are fine with your presence. They will most likely go back to sleep, but you should keep your distance.
A little too close for comfort
Notice how their eyes are mostly open. They are intent on watching you, to make sure you are not a threat to them. At this point you should move away slowly and give them their space, so they can return to sleeping.
Too close, back off
Notice their eyes are wide open and they consider you an immediate threat. If you end up at this point, try to move away very slow and quietly. Failure to do so will most likely end up in flushing one or more from the roost.
I stopped by the Kelly Senior Center, on the south end of Warnimont Park this afternoon. I was hoping to find something cool and I did, my third Harris’s Sparrow in less than a week! Funny that I find another too, because I almost went back to Whitnall today instead. I didn’t get very good photos of the two at Wehr Nature Center, so I contemplated going there again. Like the Wehr birds, it was with several White-crowned and a couple White-throated Sparrows. They would come out of the trees and feed in the grass, for extended times. When the wind would kick up and blow the leaves around, they would all fly back into the trees and then come back out. They moved around quite frequently, along the tree lines. The majority of the time, they were all in the grass area with the bird feeders. I also had 11 warbler species, however most were very uncooperative and didn’t want their picture taken today. I’m guessing the bird will stick around a few days this week, considering its in good habitat, with good food sources. Good luck if you try! Enjoy!
