White-eyed Vireo at Warnimont Park Golf Course

Jeremy4 Comments

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!

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!

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!

Northern Pintail at South Shore Yacht Club

Jeremy11 Comments

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!

Long-eared Owls in 2022

Jeremy2 Comments

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.

Tufted Duck in Milwaukee

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A Tufted Duck was found on Sunday 12/26, at the Hoan Bridge Harbor/Petroleum Pier in Milwaukee. It was still present as of today, 1/1. This bird has been enjoyed my many people from different states. I think it will be the third state record. Unfortunately, it’s usually far out and a scope is needed for good looks at it. I’m only 15 minutes away from the area and had off of work last week, so I was able to check every day for it. Finally, yesterday morning it came rather close when moving from the South end to the North end. I was able to get fairly decent photos of it. Of course, the sun was nonexistent for most of the week, so lighting was terrible which is typical for winter in Wisconsin. It’s nice that it stuck around for people to see, and it seems like it will be here for a while, as long as there is open water. I’m sure most people have seen it that wanted too, if not, good luck if you try for it! Photos below are from the week. Enjoy!

* Help to view the Tufted Duck… There are 3 access points underneath the Hoan Bridge. The southern one is usually locked. The middle one is usually open and gives you access to 75% of the area. The Northern one is right in front of the Petroleum Pier and gives you access to the last 25%. The Tufted Duck prefers to hang around the pier area, sometimes going on the north side of it, with very little view and no access. I have seen the duck on the southern end twice, so they all move around. It’s usually 100-200 yards out.

Red-necked Grebe in Milwaukee

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There has been a Red-necked Grebe in the Milwaukee Harbor the last couple days. It has been seen north, near Lakeshore State Park and south into the river mouth. Today I spent a few hours starting at sunrise and never saw it. Right away, a tug boat went down the river, which didn’t help. There were a couple hundred mergansers, that all took flight and scattered. It’s possible that it was in or near that group early on. Then it was reported near the lighthouse around 11am, go figure. I went back down there and it was starting to head up the river mouth, by the time I arrived. I watched it for about 45 minutes and it was moving slowly west. When I left, it was around the first bend, heading south towards Jones Island. The one that came through in January of ’20 was in winter plumage, but this one is near breeding plumage. It is a very pretty bird! Pictures below are from the late morning. Enjoy!