Lake Michigan Gales, November 4, 2018

Last weekend Peter and I joined our good friend Aaron for our annual lakeshore birding trip along the western shore of Lake Michigan. The route we have been running the past few years is a bit truncated compared to the trip Aaron led for years for Madison Audubon. In recent times we've birded essentially from South Shore Yacht Club in Milwaukee to the Sheboygan waterfront. I can remember past years starting as far south as Oak Creek or even Wind Point. But with the closing of South Metro Pier and no rarities to chase further south we've been sticking to the Milwaukee to Sheboygan route.

Milwaukee Breakwater Lighthouse, Milwaukee, WI 

This year the weather forecast was shitty with rain, gale force winds in the 20-30 mph range and 7-11 foot waves predicted. Lake Michigan delivered on that promise with winds in the 25-40 mph and phenomenal waves cresting along the lakeshore.

McKinley Beach overlook, Milwaukee, WI

Sometimes brutal weather can result in incredible birding. So I had my hopes up that our sacrifice to the weather would pay off with some extreme rarity. Nope. It was a struggle to focus and locate distant waterbirds between the giant waves. Rain on our optics further challenged our visibility.

McKinley Beach overlook engulfed in waves, Milwaukee, WI

Despite "deteriorating conditions" (there's an inside joke in there), we managed to see all three scoter species, a lone Long-tailed duck and a couple of interesting gulls. But overall the bird was underwhelming with us dipping on the Harlequin Duck and Eared Grebe reported the day before in Sheboygan.

Iceland Gull(they are all Iceland now), Lakeshore State Park, Milwaukee, WI (before the rain)

Lesser Black-backed Gull, Lakeshore State Park, Milwaukee, WI (before the rain)

However, I was still happy to have braved the weather to witness the might of Lake Michigan. Her power was reminiscent of the greatest of the Great Lakes, Lake Superior. And yes, my feet were submerged in about a foot of water in the video below captured in Milwaukee at McKinley Marina (first clip) and Port Washington (second clip). Truly incredible!