Happy Mother’s Day!

The thick cloud cover continues in Estabrook Park, so I didn’t see any pictures worth taking until I hiked back down to the river after visiting the pond. At the base of stairway 5, across from the southern island, there was a lone mallard hen standing on the riverbank. I tried to get off the stairs and up the path without bothering her, but she hopped into the water anyway, and I said I was sorry and didn’t think more of it.

A little farther up the trail, however, I spotted a bunch of fishing gear that some kindly angler had left for me, I suppose to fill out my collection, and as I headed to the water’s edge to collect it, I accidently flushed a little bird out of hiding. At first glance, I thought it might be the sora again, but by the time it hit the water, I could see that it was a duckling instead. So could its mom, as it turns out, and the mallard hen was already making a beeline across the water towards us. Happily, the two soon met, I didn’t give chase, and here’s a picture of the little one telling Mom all about its big adventure while she gives me a stern look.

In short order, those two rejoined the other two ducklings waiting on the far shore, and they all started preening themselves as if nothing had happened at all. I suspect it is the same quartet we last saw on Thursday, and I’m glad to see that they are still doing fine.

After all that excitement, I continued on to the north end where I finally found an indigo bunting who was more intent upon announcing his presence than he was worried about hiding from me for a change. The lighting is terrible, but it’s a step in the right direction.

I also got another crack at a redstart portrait, but I don’t think we’re quite there yet. It’s still quite a striking little bird, though, even in a mediocre picture.

And that’s nearly all I managed this morning, so here’s another look at the magnolia warbler from Friday.

Here’s another look at the rose-breasted grosbeak from Saturday.

Here’s another look at the beaver from Friday.

And here’s the last family of geese I’ve seen in the park, beside the river at the north end on Friday.

Here’s another look at the chipmunk we saw on Thursday.

Lastly, eagle-eyed Lisa pointed out that there was a patch of toadshade, aka prairie trillium (Trillium recurvatum) in bloom on the side of the path, so here’s a pretty little flower for all the moms out there. I hope you have a great day.