First, the good news. A monarch butterfly seemed to really enjoy that eastern purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) on which we saw a green inchworm just yesterday.
A few birds seem much more willing to pose for a picture recently. From top/left to bottom/right, we’ve got an American goldfinch, who we last saw on some Canada thistle; what appears to be an juvenile eastern phoebe, whose elders I’ve never seen sit still for so long; and our new best buddy, the indigo bunting, showing off his blue wings this time so we know for sure he’s not a blue grosbeak.
Those dryad’s saddle, aka pheasant’s back (Cerioporus squamosus) that were “in the “pig nose” stage” just three days ago sure have grown!
Finally, the sad news. The wood duck hen was by herself on the pond again this morning, and of the five mallard ducklings, including the yellow one, only four remain. 😢
So it goes, I guess. Perhaps that the price for having minks.
Signs of Life in Estabrook Park 