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Milwaukee Lakefront Field Trip Report 2025

Our group of 24 gathered at the South Shore Yacht Club, with relatively mild temperatures (about 30 degrees) and light to moderate winds from the south and southwest – not too bad for this trip.  Many warm greetings were exchanged among the participants.

Upon arrival, folks began scanning the waterbirds that were present near the marina, and a nice variety of ducks was present, including CANADA GEESEMALLARDS, single AMERICAN BLACK DUCK and RING-NECKED DUCK, lots of GREATER SCAUP with a few LESSERS also present, BUFFLEHEADSCOMMON GOLDENEYE, all three species of MERGANSERS, and also a few RUDDY DUCKS.  About a dozen AMERICAN COOTS were spotted near the rocks of the breakwater, and we also observed AMERICAN HERRING GULLS, a RING-BILLED GULL, and a nice adult GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL.

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Photo: Tom Schultz

Our next stop was the Lake Express Ferry Terminal, where a very large raft of GREATER SCAUP was present, along with a variety of other ducks – including at least one REDHEAD.  Well off to the south we found another GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL standing on the ice, and about 40 AMERICAN HERRING GULLS were present.  Also spotted from there was a PEREGRINE FALCON, perched atop a nearby apartment building!

Milwaukee Lakefront 2025 <b>Peregrine Falcon</b> - Port Washington - Mike Gumtow.jpg

Peregrine Falcon by Mike Gumtow

Continuing northward, we made a brief visit to the McKinley Marina, but it was iced in and not much was present, so our next stop was the parking lot at North Point Snack Bar.  A large raft of COMMON GOLDENEYE was present, probably at least 800, and we spent some time scanning for anything different – and sure enough, we suddenly spotted a female BLACK SCOTER!  There were big waves rolling in, so the bird was riding up and down, but eventually everyone managed to get decent looks.

Our next destination was the shoreline just south of the Linnwood Treatment Plant, where more COMMON GOLDENEYE were present, as were a few GREATER SCAUPRED-BREASTED MERGANSERS and BUFFLEHEADS.  Unfortunately, we were unable to find the HARLEQUIN DUCK that had recently been reported there.

From there was took a longer drive north to Port Washington, where we met up at Coal Dock Park.  Another PEREGRINE FALCON was spotted, sitting on the power plant, and a few ducks were present in the nearby channel.  Swimming just offshore was a LONG-TAILED DUCK, giving us good looks, along with several RED-BREASTED MERGANSER.  Then, on the nearby pond we found a variety of waterfowl, including BUFFLEHEADSMALLARDSHOODED MERGANSERS and also a couple of male CANVASBACKS.

There were close to 1,000 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS swimming around in the harbor, along with some other ducks, but the highlight there was a RED-THROATED LOON that was swimming and diving – at times just off the breakwater where we stood.

Milwaukee Lakefront 2025 <b>Red-throated Loon</b> - Port Washington - Mike Gumtow.jpg

Red-throated Loon by Mike Gumtow

Our final stops for the day were at Sheboygan, initially viewing the outer harbor.  There were a few ducks and gulls present, with the best being an adult GLAUCOUS GULL.  An ICELAND GULL was also observed, but unfortunately it flew off before everyone could get a look.  While there, we got a report about a SNOWY OWL that was being seen on the north side of the marina, so we quickly drove over and were able to get at look as it sat among the large rocks.

Milwaukee Lakefront 2025 <b>Snowy Owl</b> - Sheboygan marina - Jennie Lanzendorf.jpg

Snowy Owl by Jennie Lazendorf

We then headed over toward North Point, and found another group of gulls standing along the shore.  Among several HERRING and RING-BILLED GULLS were four adult ICELAND GULLS (THAYER’S type), showing their dark eyes and prominent white spots on the tips of their outer primaries.  We then made a last stop at the river, right near the 8th Street bridge where a hybrid COMMON GOLDENEYE x HOODED MERGANSER had been reported.  We had great looks at this unique bird as it swam among some COMMON GOLDENEYE and RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS.

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Iceland Gull (Thayer's) by Tom Schultz

This was the conclusion of a very nice January field trip, during which we had found a lot of the target birds that we’d been hoping for.  The ending temperature was about 32 degrees, so not too bad for mid January. Thanks to everyone who attended!

Tom Schultz, WSO Field Trip Committee