Down a notch…

The current stretch of stupendous weather continues in Estabrook Park, but after all the excitement of yesterday, the critters seemed to be taking things down a notch this morning. I did see, however, my first red-spotted purple butterfly (Limenitis arthemis) of the season, though this one looks seriously roughed up.

I thought maybe it had overwintered, as mourning cloaks do, or migrated up from the south, as monarchs do, but no. They hibernate here as caterpillars, and “life as an adult lasts approximately 6-14 days,” so it seems that this pour thing has just had a really rough 6-14 days.

The wood duck ducklings on the pond looked to be all ready for nap time.

And the young hooded merganser looked about ready to join them.

Meanwhile, the road-dusters, aka Carolina locust (Dissosteira carolina), have returned, and you can expect to watch them flash their dark wings with a light border as they flit a few yards ahead of you on any dusty road.

Things were quiet at the north end. There was no flock of herons, egrets, nor new sandpipers. Instead, here’s a heron with a crayfish from yesterday, …

And the egret with another little fish, also from yesterday.

This catbird serenaded me while I was looking for more butterflies on the wildflowers beside the soccer fields, and when I went to take its picture, it decided also to puff up its feathers, seemingly for a sun bath. You can just make out the small cinnamon patch under its tail that they usually keep well hidden.

Finally, monarchs continue to visit musk thistles, and I continue to find them irresistible.