August is when many of the shorebird species start to migrate back through Milwaukee, and later in the month, the first of the warblers return, too. Hundreds of Common Nighthawks can be seen and heard flying overhead at dusk on their migration this time of year. Historically, August has been one of the best fall months in the county for rarities, from a Yellow-throated Warbler, to a Loggerhead Shrike, and Yellow-crowned Night-Herons. It seems there’s always something to be excited about!

Pennsylvania Ave./Oak Creek Pkwy #8 and Root River Pkwy #18

Both of these fields are good spots to check for shorebirds, and get very high numbers of them. However, since they’re farm fields, these hotspots hinge on the status of the vegetation in the fields. Last year it was excellent here, but right now it doesn’t look like the fields are suitable for shorebirds, as there are different crops planted here this year which are still covering the fields. The dance studio pond on Pennsylvania will get Great Egrets, Green Herons, and Ospreys.

Key species: American Avocet, Stilt Sandpiper, Baird’s Sandpiper, American Golden-Plover, most other shorebirds expected at this time, Great Egret, Horned Lark, Bobolink.

South Metro Pier and Grant Park

Once you walk down around 150 steps to the beach at South Metro, there’s an algae mat that forms in late summer, which is great for shorebirds such as last month’s first ever Milwaukee record of a Snowy Plover. The parking lot area has also been a place where European Goldfinches have hung out over the past couple years. Nearby Grant Beach is still good for rare gulls (finally got my lifer Franklin’s here last month), as well as shorebirds like the Red Knot that showed up in 2014.

Key species: Red Knot, Baird’s Sandpiper, most other shorebirds expected at this time, Little Gull, Franklin’s Gull, Dickcissel.

Lakeshore SP

Lakeshore is again one of the best spots for shorebirds in the county, with rarities showing up yearly. Oddly enough, in 2010, there was even the only August record of a Mew Gull in Wisconsin seen here.

Key species: Baird’s Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, American Golden-Plover, most other shorebirds expected at this time, Mew Gull.

Havenwoods SF

Havenwoods is still a great place to find lingering summer species in August, as well as a decent spot for migrating raptors and the earliest returning warblers. In 2019, there was the first Milwaukee County Loggerhead Shrike record since 1956 (and only the 3rd Milwaukee record ever, the other being in 1948).

Key species: Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Sora, Virginia Rail, Red-shouldered Hawk, Northern Harrier, Loggerhead Shrike, Sedge Wren, Connecticut Warbler, Henslow’s Sparrow, Yellow-headed Blackbird.

Bradford Beach and McKinley Beach/Breakwall

Both beaches are great spots for shorebirds, with Bradford being one of, if not the best place to find Piping Plovers in Milwaukee. One even showed up last month! An algae mat forms at McKinley later in the month, and the walkable breakwall produces great close up photo opportunities for shorebirds.

Key species: Piping Plover, Baird’s Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Red Knot, Short-billed Dowitcher, Willet, and most other shorebirds expected at this time.