Monthly Archives: June 2020

Well, here’s an oldie but goodie, I hope. Sure, we’ve seen plenty of deer before, and I can positively assert that I already have pictures of this one due to the long thin identifying mark down her left side, but still, it’s nice to see such a magnificent creature out enjoying the park right afterContinue reading “Something old, something new…”

A lot of cool new things to cover on this beautiful summer morning, so let me get right to it. First up are a couple of reader photos of the week, “sent in” by Donna, a keen observer and long-time reader. By “sent in”, I mean she invited me to stop by and bring myContinue reading “Plenty of flowers and critters about…”

The wild chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) is finally opening, and some little pollinators are already all over it! I think these little guys or gals are all hoverflies of some tiny variety. Another type of thistle has opened, unfortunately the invasive Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) this time, but it is also popular with the pollinators. OnContinue reading “Summer kicks into full bloom…”

As promised yesterday, here are some of the new blossoms in the park. Left and right both appear to be pale purple coneflower or prairie coneflower (Echinacea pallida) growing by the connection to the Oakleaf trail just south of the middle parking lot. The middle looks like common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) blossoms covered with antsContinue reading “A smorgasbord”

I learned all kinds of new things yesterday. It was nap time again for mom and her ducklings around noon again, and don’t worry, all 5 were still there. It’s just that this little pile o’cuteness on the river bank made the best photo. Also, chipmunks climb trees just fine, it turns out, a factContinue reading “Speaking of old dogs…”

Those of you who read these words and don’t just look at the pretty pictures (and you know who you are) may recall me mentioning yesterday that there were no water fowl on the pond. Well, I found a whole bunch down on the river, instead! Yesterday afternoon I spotted two families of mallards: oneContinue reading “Where the wild things are…”

And most of the critters in the park seemed to see it that way, too. Sure, there were a couple of rabbits about, and plenty of birds were singing from the safety of their well foliated branches, but the pond was still, and I saw nary a mosquito even when on the trail beside theContinue reading “Another good morning for sleeping in…”

It’s a cool and breezy morning with not much new to see. Instead, I propose we take a look at who else was out on Sunday afternoon, when the air was warm, and the breeze was mild. First up is a silver-spotted skipper (Epargyreus clarus), of which we first saw an example just over aContinue reading “Cool Tuesday”

It looked like it was going to rain on a quiet and sleepy Monday morning in Estabrook Park after all the excitement of Fathers’ Day and the Summer Solstice this past weekend. I did see a couple of the baby bunnies just north of the beer garden again, but there were no deer on theContinue reading “Sleepy Monday”

Happy Summer, everybody! I hope you all survived your raucous Solstice parties unscathed, or at least barely scathed. Oh! And Happy Fathers’ to all the dads out there, including mine! I hope you are all enjoying your new neckties as much as our painted turtle buddy from Friday. You can just see the pride inContinue reading “Happy Days!”