Summer gets into full swing…

I know we need rain, but I sure don’t mind taking pictures of the critters in Estabrook Park while the sun is shining. Here’s our favorite indigo bunting belting out his tune.

I’m starting to lose track of all the ducklings on the river, but here’s a mallard hen at the north end with her brood of eleven in tight formation.

As I was counting the birds on the river, look who pissed off a pair of red-winged blackbirds on the far shore. They were hounding it with some vigor. Oddly enough, white-tailed deer are known to eat eggs and chicks when they get the chance, so its presence there might not be as innocent as it may seem.

The osprey made a nice slow pass over the river so even I could get a picture.

More dragonflies are appearing, and here’s a female common whitetail. I read that “they do not migrate [,but] overwinter under water while in the nymph stage of their lifecycle” instead.”

More butterflies are showing up, too, and I spotted a monarch, but it wouldn’t park itself, so here’s a silver-spotted skipper instead.

Here’s a rose-breasted grosbeak trying to rustle up a date.

You may be relieved to hear that I managed to find the wood duck hen with her three ducklings on the pond this morning. I just must have not looked hard enough yesterday.

On my way back south, I came across this American toad.

And finally, at the far south end, this grey catbird was far more posy than usual these days.