A late arrival…

It was just a little warmer this morning than recent days so there was no photogenic mist on the river or over the falls and the grass was not wet with dew. Although it has cleared up now, there was also some overcast, but it was still another beautiful day in a long string of beautiful days at Estabrook Park.

A youngish-looking great blue heron was hunting on the river between nice green lily pads and arrowhead leaves instead of against a grey bank of mud and dried sticks for a change.

The young cormorant is still on the pond for the 14th straight day and was drying out after what I hope was a successful fishing expedition when I came by this morning.

As I was trying to capture the perfect cormorant image, I could hear a new incessant chirp in the trees across the pond, so I put the lens cap back on and walked around to investigate. I never did find out who was chirping, but I sure found out why it was chirping. Say hello to our newest arrival, what I believe to be a Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) and a young one by the looks of those brown feathers on its back.

I hope none of you are thinking that I’m claiming this is the first Cooper’s hawk in Estabrook Park or even that this one has just arrived. All I’m claiming is that it has taken me all summer to finally find and photograph one. Heck, it might even be a juvenile sharp-shinned hawk, but the two features we’re supposed to check, skinny legs and belly streaks are conveniently concealed from our view in the one image I managed to capture before it took off. Oh well. I’m doing the best I can.

Finally, this little cutie really wanted to meet you all, so here he or she is. I know rabbits are a dime-a-dozen these days, in the park and probably your yards, but when they try so hard to get me to take their picture, I can hardly resist, and who could, right?

Lastly, and I realize I’m going out on a limb here, but I’ve started a petition on MoveOn.Org urging Milwaukee County Parks to “keep the parkway through Estabrook Park closed to motorized traffic.” You can read the details here, if you want, and even add your name, if you agree with me. Thank you for your consideration.