Not a whole lot to report today. I was enjoying the beautiful weather in the park both yesterday afternoon and this morning but took a total of only 15 pictures instead of my usual daily average of over 100. It seems as though all the actors are waiting for the scene change so they can start Act II. Some will be getting a costume change (goldfinch), a few are warming up their vocal cords (cardinals, chickadees, juncos, and even a blue jay or two), and we’re all anxiously awaiting a huge influx of new characters (wood ducks, orioles, warblers, etc.).
Meanwhile, I did spot another bald eagle this morning, drifting north along the river this time, and as I kept my eye on the tree tops where it went out of sight, ducks started filling the sky like hornets from a disturbed nest.
I am surprised by the recent boldness displayed by the female cardinals. This one was out in the bright morning sun and even chirping a bit. When I started taking pictures in March last spring, one of the most elusive birds I sought was a female northern cardinal. Maybe by late March, they no longer have any incentive to show off their finery.
Lastly, I spotted our cute little veery/hermit thrush below the falls again on Tuesday, but it didn’t make the cut after I spotted the pair of beaver later that morning.
Signs of Life in Estabrook Park 
Hi Andrew! My husband and I are soooooo wanting to see the bald eagle(s) and wondering if you could share, more specifically, where your sightings were. We’ve walked along the river a couple times now but typically in the afternoon and are thinking we should set our alarm to get a chance to see the majesty. We typically start at the kid’s playground (along the river) and head North till we get to Hampton. Is this the area or would you suggest heading South instead, towards Capitol and Hubbard? Thanks always for sharing your ventures; we LOVE them!
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Hi Kelly!
I think the three main ingredients to a sighting are 1. luck to look up at the right moment, 2. ice on the river to the north forcing the eagles to come south to hunt, and 3. ducks on the water.
I’ve only had about a half dozen sightings, and I think they’ve all been in the morning. One was over the big field on the way from the river to the pond, and the rest were over the river. One or two were south of the falls, and the others were over the falls or slightly north. I’m sure I’ve missed additional sightings for just not looking up at the right moment.
Earlier in the winter, before the water north of the falls mostly froze over, there were dozens of ducks there. Now they tend to congregate on the river south of the kid’s playground where it never froze over. My sighting over the falls today was probably more due to having a lot of sky to see there, since there are no ducks there now, and the eagle was just on its way back home after a fishing expedition.
For all I know, they fly a regular circuit, but there are just so many things to see in the park that I don’t watch the sky closely enough to have noticed.
Good luck to you and your husband, and let me know if you have any luck.
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That eagle ~ just beautiful! Lauren said this week she saw 2 circling the farm where she works. I hope this means their numbers are growing everywhere. Love the cardinal too. We have a pair who show up under the feeder at dusk.
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