Calm returns to Estabrook Park.

It was oddly quiet in Estabrook Park this morning. The weather was nice enough, with mostly clear skies, a light breeze, and temps about 10 degrees warmer than yesterday, but the critters were perhaps a bit shellshocked from the recent snowstorm. Nevertheless, there were a few up and about, so here they are.

There were six Canada geese on the pond when I arrived, and after I took a seat on the bench up on the west lawn, they clambered up on the lawn to join me. This particular character came so close, I thought if I held out my hand it might give my fingers a taste. I did not give that a try, but this might be the first time that I can tell where the black iris of a goose ends, and the pupil begins.

At the river, all I saw were mallards. No geese, no raptors, no kingfishers, no visitors. Instead, the best picture I could find was of this female northern cardinal on shore behind me calmly gorging on berries.

Time for another.

And then there was just one left. Well, two, if you count the one by her feet.

On my way back south, I did spot three blue herons, and this is the one warm enough to show its face.

Back at the pond, the light was a little better, and here’s the only wood duck I found today.

The big surprise was this sharp looking visitor, a female or immature male hooded merganser.

It just kept striking different poses against that pretty pond water.

How could I not take these pictures, right?

Anyway, that’s it for the birds today. I almost didn’t take this squirrel’s picture either, until I saw it had its little front paws curled under itself, presumably to warm them up. Plus, the blue sky always makes every picture better.