Monthly Archives: June 2023

Ebird, the website and phone app I use to log the birds I see, has recently changed the status of wood ducks to “infrequent”, but that must be for Milwaukee County or all of Wisconsin, ’cause they’re still plentiful in Estabrook Park, and I was greeted at the pond this morning by this trio. TheContinue reading “Yes, we still have wood ducks…”

Things were pretty quiet in Estabrook Park this morning. Perhaps everyone was laying low in anticipation of the Shorewood Farmers Market grand opening today, but who knows. At least this great blue heron was still willing to strike a pose over the river. I did manage to spot a female hairy woodpecker, whom I usedContinue reading “Ducklings stage a comeback…”

The sky was clear of clouds, but it was a bit hazy this morning, and I don’t know if it was moisture or Canada wildfire smoke. In any case, it didn’t seem to bother the critters, and here are the pair of deer, a young buck and doe, crossing the soccer fields with the BenjaminContinue reading “Taking a break from the ducklings…”

It feels like it still hasn’t gotten completely light out this morning, but I eventually gave up waiting for some sunshine and went out anyway. There are a lot of fledglings around begging for food, and I suspect that well describes this male flicker who oddly refused to budge and just kept squawking as IContinue reading “Making do with the light we have…”

It was quite dark and foggy this morning, so I took my sweet time with breakfast and the paper and strolled out the door around 7:30, and I was greeted by this tender scene when I arrived at the pond. As far as I can tell, that is one wood duck drake, pretty far intoContinue reading “Peace and Strife in Estabrook Park”

I didn’t have much time to visit Estabrook this morning, so this has gotta be a quick one. House sparrows are “the most widely distributed wild bird,” and there are probably some right outside your window now, but this handsome devil was picking grass seeds out of the loose soil around the new park benchContinue reading “Scenes at the pond…”

Well, we finally got some much-needed rain, and Estabrook Park looked and felt a bit renewed this morning, but I wasn’t expecting the sub-50°F start. Good thing I hadn’t thrown my coat away yet. Perhaps the change in the weather prompted this great blue heron to say to itself, “I haven’t tried the pond inContinue reading “A change in the weather…”

It never seems to rain very hard today, but the sky is dark, and the wind is blowing, so it is just suboptimal for photography. Plus, the critters in Estabrook haven’t had a break in seventeen straight days, so let’s let them sleep in this morning, and we’ll use some old pictures I found onContinue reading “All new, never-before-seen images…”

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 herContinue reading “Summer gets into full swing…”

I was surprised to find no wood ducks on the pond this morning. I believe that’s the first time since they hatched last week. Perhaps they were on shore somewhere napping, or Mom decided it was time for a road trip, by which I mean a hike down to the river. Maybe we’ll find outContinue reading “Lots of mouths to feed…”