Milwaukee Lakeshore Birding

After having overnighted in Milwaukee following Farm Aid, my spouse and I checked out the bird activity at South Shore Yacht Club, the Coast Guard Impoundment and Lakeshore State Park on Sunday afternoon.  Although birds weren't necessarily numerous, the sightings were top quality. At the yacht club we had close looks at a colorful Ruddy Turnstone, a single Dunlin and a 15+ minute display of a Peregrine Falcon hunting the flocks of Rock Pigeons and gulls.

Dunlin

Ruddy Turnstone

Ruddy Turnstone

Peregrine chasing Rock Pigeons

Peregrine Falcon

Peregrine Falcon

Peregrine Falcon

The Coast Guard Impoundment was fairly uneventful. However, we were treated to close range views of a Cooper's Hawk perched along the fence as well as a Northern Harrier hunting the wetland.

Lakeshore State Park was fairly birdy with much migrant activity in the trees bordering Harbor Drive as well as in the prairie plantings at the park entrance.  Golden-crowned Kinglets were the predominate bird among an odd assortment of birds including Palm Warbler, Brown Creeper and Red-breasted Nuthatch.  The weary migrants made for easy photography opportunities allowing me to approach most birds within a few feet.  Most amazing was the diversity of species we saw in a small narrow prairie planting approaching the park which included the following: Orange-crowned Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Tree Sparrow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Downy Woodpecker and Song Sparrow.

This little puff ball is a Golden-crowned Kinglet trying to warm

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Tree Sparrow

Finally my first of the year WI Orange-crowned Warbler

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Downy Woodpecker