Umm… Some Privacy Please???

Jeremy8 Comments

I was also fairly lucky with some warblers bathing, right in front of me. Lake Park and Whitnall Park are usually very good places to view this behavior. Whitnall Park has a creek that runs through it and is accessible in many areas. Lake Park has ravines and most of the time a small stream of water running through them. The key to finding where they bathe, is finding protection near the water. By this, I mean they want to come down into a tree overhanging or next to the water, a small bush near it or raspberry vines that are thicker for examples. This way they feel protected at a vulnerable moment and have a hiding spot should there be any danger. In my experience, when one comes down, be prepared because more are coming and coming fast! It happens so quickly and poof, they’re gone! I’ve had up to 6 different warblers in one little pool before. A lot of times I just happen to stumble upon them bathing. However, if you have more patience you can choose to sit and wait, but it may take a couple hours before you get any action. The photos below have been taken the few weeks in the Milwaukee area. Enjoy!

Who’s taking my picture???

Jeremy18 Comments

This spring so many warblers have looked directly at me while photographing them. I will get them like that occasionally, but not like this year. It has been all of the warbler species too, not just a few of them. I’m not sure if they see the huge front element on my lens, that reflects back at them or if they hear the camera shutter clicking 10 frames per second. Either way I’ve found it to be quite funny how the photos turn out. Something different than seeing the normal profile picture. Photos below are from the last few weeks in the Milwaukee area. Enjoy!

Cerulean Warbler at Lake Park

Jeremy6 Comments

In addition to the Connecticut Warbler being so cooperative yesterday, a beautiful male Cerulean Warbler put on quite a show for a few of us. I was able to locate it by song and watched it move along the trees to the east side of the locust ravine. There I was able to go up from the ravine and get some rather low pictures of this bird, that thought it was higher up. The bonus of having steep ravines! We watched it for about 10 minutes feeding on insects and singing his little heart out, bouncing around the branches. After that, he flew off to the east bluff, near the new bridge being constructed. I was able to relocate him about 45 minutes later, on the east side of the locust ravine again. It sounds like it was seen again today, though I never heard it while I was there. Maybe it will stick around a few more days. Photos below are from yesterday morning. Enjoy!

Yellow-breasted Chat at Lake Park

Jeremy4 Comments

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!

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!

Prothonotary Warbler at Warnimont Park

Jeremy4 Comments

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!

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!

Prairie Warbler at Warnimont Park

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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!

Yellow-throated Warbler at Greenfield Park

Jeremy7 Comments

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!

Mourning Warblers in Milwaukee County

Jeremy5 Comments

This spring has been excellent for Mourning Warblers, in Milwaukee. Just the last week alone, I have had no less than 4 at any park I go to. These are one of my favorite warblers and I love when we have years like this! In normal years you just go sit by the logjam at Whitnall Park, and wait to see them come hopping through. Since we can’t do that anymore, I thought it would be tough to get good looks at any, especially with the leaf out weeks early. That hasn’t been the case though. It’s almost like I’ve been spoiled by them. Lake Park has been incredible for Mourning Warblers! A couple of days there, I had at least 6. They can usually be found foraging on the sides of the ravines. Warnimont Park was also very good and Whitnall Park had a few, along the creek on the north side of the park, away from the Wehr Nature Center. Pictures below are from the last couple weeks, in Milwaukee County. Enjoy!

Lake Park

Warnimont Park

Whitnall Park