A curious morning in Estabrook…

Temps were pretty mild this morning in Estabrook Park, but the clouds were thick, and the breeze was stiff, so I didn’t have very high expectations for my visit. I saw the hooded merganser and the wood duck on the pond again, but I figured they weren’t going anywhere, and the light might improve later, so I continued on to the river.

There was a great blue heron on the far side just above the falls, and the light wasn’t any better yet, but they’re sometimes skittish, so I took this picture while I could.

I only saw mallards on the river around the islands at the north end, so I headed back south with a pretty meager bird count so far. To get back to the pond, I took the path that runs through the woods on the south side of the dog park. Along the way, I spotted my first mourning dove, but don’t worry, it was too far away for a picture. Once I stopped walking, however, I just kept noticing more and more birds.

There were a couple dozen robins foraging in the bushes up the little bluff from the stream that runs from the pond to the river. Then a flock of starlings flew in, parked, and started chatting away. Hairy, downy, and red-bellied woodpeckers all started calling. A nuthatch, chickadees, and goldfinches chimed in. More doves arrived, and a blue jay joined the fray. It was getting crazy, and the cherry on top was that one of the goldfinches turned out to be a yellow-rumped warbler, and quite possibly my last one for the season.

They all kept their distance, too, so I didn’t even bother with my camera and just enjoyed the spectacle. There were representatives from six species I hadn’t yet seen today.

Eventually, the concentration of birds dissipated back to normal, and I continued to the pond. As I followed the path around the north end, I startled a Cooper’s hawk who might have been taking a sip at the water’s edge. Happily, it found this perch on the island, just 20 feet away, and let me take this portrait.

I continued on around the pond and found the hooded merganser again.

Along with the wood duck drake, who now appears to be dabbling solo. I haven’t seen the young hen who was with him on Wednesday since then.

Finally, on my way home from the pond, I was stunned to spot a second warbler, an orange-crowned this time, who appeared to be picking seeds out of that gone-by clump of goldenrod. I did see some bugs in the air today, but with the weather we’ve been having lately, I’m glad that it has a backup plan and that it only has to get to Memphis, about 560 miles away, to reach the northern edge of its winter range.