While these months mark the end of fall, they also mark the end of warbler season, and by November, the majority of shorebirds too. But even though most of the birds are moving out, there are also some that start to come to Milwaukee for the winter around this time, including many of the diving ducks and scoters, some of the gull species, and winter finches (if it’s a good year for them). The most notable rarities from this time of year include: Pacific Loon, Red Phalarope, Bell’s Vireo, Yellow-browed Warbler, Phainopepla, Brambling, Smith’s Longspur, and Townsend’s Warbler.

Bradford Beach/Linnwood

Starting in late October, all three scoters return to Linnwood for the winter, as well as the occasional rarer species, such as Harlequin Duck, Western Grebe, and Eared Grebe. Historically, Bradford Beach and the rocks along the lakefront have had Purple Sandpipers, Red Phalaropes, and American Avocets. Last year was an unusually good year for flyby Short-eared Owls, with multiple records along the lakefront from Lakeshore up to Linnwood. In October of 2006, a Yellow-browed Warbler was seen here, making it the only record of that species in the lower 48 states at that time, and it is one of, if not the rarest bird ever seen in Milwaukee County!

Key species: Northern Pintail, Canvasback, King Eider, Harlequin Duck, Long-tailed Duck, Red-throated Loon, Red-necked Grebe, Western Grebe, Eared Grebe, American Avocet, Purple Sandpiper, Red Phalarope, Black-legged Kittiwake, Franklin’s Gull, Sabine’s Gull, California Gull, American White Pelican, Snowy Egret, Short-eared Owl, Snowy Owl, Yellow-browed Warbler, Common Redpoll, Prairie Warbler, LeConte’s Sparrow, Harris’s Sparrow.

McKinley Beach/Lakeshore SP

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These parks have been the best hotspots in the county to find Horned Larks, Lapland Longspurs, and Snow Buntings, with all of them usually reliably found in both months. A Smith’s Longspur also made it to Lakeshore back in October of 1995, and a Western Meadowlark was seen at both parks last year.

Key species: Western Grebe, Black-bellied Plover, White-rumped Sandpiper, Franklin’s Gull, American White Pelican, American Bittern, Short-eared Owl, Horned Lark, American Pipit, Common Redpoll, Smith’s Longspur, Lapland Longspur, Snow Bunting, Yellow-breasted Chat, Vesper Sparrow, LeConte’s Sparrow, Nelson’s Sparrow, Henslow’s Sparrow, Western Meadowlark.

Doctors Park

With last year’s irruption of winter finches, from late October through December, Doctors was one of the most reliable places to see them, especially crossbills, with both species seen regularly. An Evening Grosbeak and Common Redpolls were also seen here last year, although these were only single records. Doctors is also a great spot for loons and grebes, with multiple sightings of Red-necked Grebe, and Red-throated Loon, as well as a single Pacific Loon record.

Key species: Tundra Swan, Canvasback, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Harlequin Duck, Red-necked Grebe, Red-throated Loon, Pacific Loon, Red Phalarope, Northern Goshawk, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Pileated Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, Evening Grosbeak, White-winged Crossbill, Red Crossbill, Purple Finch, Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll, Hooded Warbler.

Warnimont County Park/Sheridan Park/Drive

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Warnimont has been a good park to find the rarer sparrows, with Grasshopper, LeConte’s, Harris’s, and Vesper, all being recorded here. In 2006, a Townsend’s Warbler was seen at Sheridan for around a week, and in 2019, the second latest Wisconsin record of a Bell’s Vireo was recorded at Warnimont.

Key species: Harlequin Duck, Pacific Loon, American White Pelican, Bell’s Vireo, White-eyed Vireo, Western Kingbird, Carolina Wren, White-winged Crossbill, Red Crossbill, Common Redpoll, Grasshopper Sparrow, LeConte’s Sparrow, Harris’s Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Townsend’s Warbler.

Grant Park/Oak Creek Outlet to Lake Michigan

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Grant is another park that was a reliable place for winter finches last year, with both crossbills, Common Redpolls, and Evening Grosbeaks that visited the feeders even into February. The three main areas to see these birds were the pine and spruce trees around Picnic Area 5, the feeders, and the service yard area by Picnic Area 3. November has historically been a time of other non-finch rarities at Grant, including Prairie Warbler and Townsend’s Solitaire in 2012, and even a Phainopepla in 1993!

Key species: Harlequin Duck, Black-bellied Plover, Red-shouldered Hawk, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Carolina Wren, Townsend’s Solitaire, Bohemian Waxwing, Phainopepla, American Pipit, European Goldfinch, Pine Siskin, White-winged Crossbill, Red Crossbill, Evening Grosbeak, Purple Finch, Common Redpoll, Snow Bunting, LeConte’s Sparrow, Nelson’s Sparrow, Harris’s Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Prairie Warbler, Summer Tanager.