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Juvenile Great Horned Owls in their nest, northside of Milwaukee. One of the parents is lurking nearby.

Black-legged Kittiwake, Port Washington , WI.

I’ve created another blog dedicated to my bird recordings. Bird Voices.

on November 8, 2009, along the main dike road through Horicon Marsh. I was amazed at how close this 1st year Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) allowed me to approach. When I first noticed the bird, it was being harassed by a Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus)

I’ve set up a Bird Sound Gallery. Much more to come when I get the time to process my recordings.

I spent the morning at the Bong State Recreation Area in Kenosha County, WI. I arrived early enough to see a Short-eared Owl hunting over the grasslands at 6:05 AM. I watched it for about 10 minutes and then it disappeared into the grasses, presumably to roost for the day. After the sun came up I found a pair of Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) investigating a nesting box next to one of the parking lots. The morning light was very nice for some photographs.

Yesterday I spent the morning at Vernon Marsh in Waukesha County, WI. Great early spring day to be out. At 6:00 AM there were 3-4 American Woodcock peenting and performing their flightsong display. The Great Blue Herons are back on the nests, and a variety of waterfowl were in evidence.

The hightlight for me was a pair of Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator)

They spent a little time brawling with a pair of Mute Swans, which they managed to push away. The Trumpeters (and the Mutes) seemed quite oblivious to the presence of nearby bow-fishers who were hunting carp to use as fertilizer.

Mourning Dove in the cold, early morning, Racine, WI.

Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) in the Sax-Zim bog of Minnesota. They reminded me of overgrown shrikes, with their rapid wing beats and low flight from one open perch to another. I also had the thrill of encountering a Moose. Much to my surprise, it came clambering out of the woods, took one look at me, and clambered back in.

A very cooperative Snowy Owl was at the Milwaukee Coast Guard Impoundment this morning.

Tags: Snowy Owl