They’re back …. the wood ducks that is. I spotted my first pair on the river this morning just off the south shore of the northern island basking in the morning sun. Some of you long-time readers may recall that my very first post from the park was to announce that I had spotted wood ducks on the pond, back on March 26, 2020. Seems like a hundred years ago, eh?
Besides all the geese and mallards, I was surprised to see that the wood ducks were also accompanied by our old pals, the buffleheads, now that all the goldeneyes and mergansers seem to have moved on to colder waters up north.
Meanwhile, on the pond, a few mallards come and go, it appears that the second pair of geese is there to stay, the fifth wheel is gone, but the gadwall hen is still sticking around. Perhaps if the two pair of geese can keep the island between them, everyone will be happy. There’s no sign of nesting yet.
Lastly, as I reluctantly walked home, I noticed a large bird, looking like a raptor, towing a stick as it swooped up into a tree. Sure enough, once I got my binoculars out, it appears that a Cooper’s hawk is building a nest high up in an oak tree overlooking the bluff. It took off after a bit, and as I continued to look, I thought it came back to perch even closer. I soon realized that it was a completely different bird, a red tailed hawk, this time, if I had to guess. What are the odds of see that again, right?
Cooper’s hawk 
Red-tailed hawk
Anyway, I did my best to memorize where to look for the Cooper’s hawk nest, so I can check in on that and keep you posted.
Signs of Life in Estabrook Park 